Fast Hatchback suggestions.

[loggyboy]

I want to get some suggestions of some good fast hathbacks to compete in a stock hatch race series.
Heres the Criteria.


Up to 1.6 if 8v or up to 1.4 if 16v. No forced induction.
Classified has hatchback in Parkers guide (if listed)
Must have been available on general catalogued sale and available from stock through normal retail dealer outlets in the UK in January 2005 or earlier.

Ive narrrowed it down to some of my faves - obviously a GTE/GSi nova.

Corsa Sri 1.4 8v
Corsa Sport 1.4 16v
Lupo Sport 1.4 16v
Polo 1.4 16v
Swift Gti 1.3 8v
SportKa 1.6 8v
Clio Sport 1.4 16v (mk1)
106 Xsi Mk1 1.4 8v

Below is the full list of currently eligble cars, but this isnt a definitive list, if a car complys with regs above, it can be submited for approval.


Metro 1.4 GTi
Maestro 1.6 R or S
Visa 1.6
AX GTi
AX GT
Saxo VTR
C2 VTS (for some reason this is the only car exempt from 1.4 16v rule)
Uno
XR2i
XR2
XR3i (mk 3/4)
XR3 (mk4)
Fiesta 1.4 Si
Sportka
RS1600i (1981-84)
MG ZR105.
PEUGEOT: 309XSi
205 GTi 1.6
106XSi 1.6
106 Rallye only in 1600cc
106XSi 1.4 (8 valve)
Clio 1.4 16v
ROVER: 214 (or 1999 214iS)
Swift GTi
Nova 1.6
Corsa
Golf GTi 1.6 (mk1)
Lupo 1.4 Sport


Can anyone think out side of the box for a car that suits and is likely to be a competive choice.

[Adam]

Nova
205 gti
suzuki swift

That would be my list.

The swift is 100bhp, and only a 1.3 16v.

[dave.gsi]

i think thats probably got them all covered! lol

i'd proabably go for a 205 gti if i'm honest. handle well, dead cheap, and a bit of poke.

a 106 ralleye does sound nice but there pretty rare, pretty expensive, and it would be criminal to take it off the road to go racing in it!

[Mike]

^ Aye, id go for the above minus the Nova, personally, Id go 205 and buy up the copias amounts of used rally parts on eBay for them.

[djshaggeh]

205 1.4 8v XS

[loggyboy]

Cant use many rally parts, its a Stock hatch series so mods are very limted.

205 is good, as the later ones had 115 brake, however the regs also limit it to a min weight of 890kg, where as the Nova could be as little 836kg.. meaning the power to weight wouldnt be far off. Plus i prefer rear springs to the skitchy torsion bars.

[loggyboy]

205 1.4 8v XS

why use one of those when i could have a gti?

[dannyb]

Can you use a 'made' car? For example buying a poverty spec shell of any of the above, then sticking all the right parts in to make it a GTi/XR2/GSi etc? Might be the cheapest way to find a clean, non sunroof shell which you can campaign in for a few years.

If you find yourself under 890kg, do they put ballast in the car? If so, are there any regs as to where they put it?

[shepherd]

only FF cars allowed ?

toyota corrola mk1 /mk2 1.4 or 1.6 or mayb a starlet 1.3 sport.

nissan sunny 1.4 or 1.6. i thinks might go well :)

[blue_peg_16v]

a mate of a mate entered this a couple of years ago in a nova gte and finished 3rd in the championship, but there were some quick corsa 1.4s and saxos

[Matt2107]

205 gti's are pretty cheap now.

[mowgli]

the saxo & pug 106 usually clean up......

If there is a decent astra 1.6 or 1.4 16v it would go faster than a nova simply because its wider track & longer wheelbase would help stability.
Back in the eighties gm ran the astra/nova challenge it consisted of rallies, & races. the novas won the rallies, the astras won the races.........

[smcgsi16v]

Another bright green Metro.

[dannyb]

205 gti's are pretty cheap now.

I've not seen a decent cheap one round this way for years! The few I've seen in the last 3-4 years have been either over-priced or rough, high milers. However, there are a plethora of clean boggo ones about which gets me wondering if I could build a good replica... I've also seen a T16-esque bodykit...

[loggyboy]

Can you use a 'made' car? For example buying a poverty spec shell of any of the above, then sticking all the right parts in to make it a GTi/XR2/GSi etc? Might be the cheapest way to find a clean, non sunroof shell which you can campaign in for a few years.
If you find yourself under 890kg, do they put ballast in the car? If so, are there any regs as to where they put it?

Im pretty sure you could do that, nothing ive seen in regs anyway, but using a non sri/gte/gsi shell would mean sacrificing structure for weight loss, and you cant seam or stick weld, only the cage can be welded in. The weight limit for the nova is 836, and ballast is added when you get podiums, not sure about if you can add weight to reach the requirement, but with a cage i cant see reaching it being a problem as all panels need to be standard, its just parts of the interior that can be removed.
Ballast needs to be secured on front or rear passenger floors.


only FF cars allowed ?
toyota corrola mk1 /mk2 1.4 or 1.6 or mayb a starlet 1.3 sport.
nissan sunny 1.4 or 1.6. i thinks might go well :)

I havet seen any reg dictating drive, but car does need to be a clear hatchback (so ae86 etc would probably end up being a coupe)



If there is a decent astra 1.6 or 1.4 16v it would go faster than a nova simply because its wider track & longer wheelbase would help stability.

Astra one cuz it wasnt limited to 1.6, the astra is nearly 200kgs hevaier so would get trounced, especially as there were no fast standard astra 1.6s.. ud end up stuck with an SPi or crappy carb.


regs are here;

http://www.750mc.co.uk/racing/regulations/2008%20Regulations/Stock%20Hatch%202008%20regs.pdf

[shepherd]

there is this shape corrolla witch is a hatch :) : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1989-TOYOTA-COROLLA-GTI-16V-WHITE-Full-History-and-MOT_W0QQitemZ160211914382QQihZ006QQcategoryZ18290Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jack]

That corolla is a 1.6 16v though.

My choice would be 205, 106 or Swift.

AX GTi could be quite competetive in the 1.4 class, same engine as the 205 XS but better gearbox.

[shepherd]

jack i was only showing a hatch corrolla :) ( i couldnt find a lower CC one )

a R5 1.4 might do well too ?

[loggyboy]

AX GTi could be quite competetive in the 1.4 class, same engine as the 205 XS but better gearbox.

Sadly the classes arent based on engine size, the only Class difference is cars registed before 92. so going for a fast 1.4 has no benefit if there is a faster 1.6 version of the same car.

[draper]

how much scope for modification ??

[madjim]

Maestro 1.6 R or S
Visa 1.6


do these still exsist?

[loggyboy]

how much scope for modification ??

Not really:

eng blue printing
exhaust (not manifold)
uprated suspension (not coilovers unless standard, single adju dampers, camber adjustment, any other adjustment that is standard, and moust clear 75mm under all parts of car.)
standard brakes (bar pads and removal of dist sheilds)
standard wheels with control tyres (a539 at the mo)
no braces or welding except for cage.

[craig green]

Shame about the control tyres. Yoko's suck on a nova & are almost dangerous in the wet.

I'd use a 205 GTI or a Nova simply because of how familiar you are with it.

Surely copius amounts of seam sealer would cover up a Hockley plate kit & stitch welds?

[loggyboy]

Shame about the control tyres. Yoko's suck on a nova & are almost dangerous in the wet.

Atleast every one will be in same boat!

im not at all fussed about gaining an unfair advantage, but i just want to expolit the regs to the max.

No guarantee il even be doing it yet, gonna need some sponsorship 1st. Doing a season of autosolos and sprints this year, then gonna prep what ever car i choose for 2009 or 10 season.

[Paul]

metro GTi (1.4 16v k -series engine) very fast!

[Welsh Dan]

Sunbeam?

[shy witness]

what sorta tracks it round???


is it an oval???


you dont need anything thats top end fast then.........


all you'lll be looking for is quick...nippy ....and handling well..

i'd probbaaly go with the pug gti myself.

was there no quick 1.6 mazda 323's?????????

[imnobby]

what about a suzuki ignis the 1.3 16v ones are really fast can nearly keep up with a zetec s it was just a thourght.

[mowgli]

Our firm sponsored a lad in a 205gti in stockhatch a few years ago,
he spent ?3000 on a 'standard' engine that gave about 140hp, he got thru 3 shells in 3 meetings, we saw the crashes, none were his fault, it is an expensive game, there are people turning up in winnebagos with mechanics following in the transporter.....some are spending ?20k+ easily for a season in a CHEAP car!

[loggyboy]

Another bright green Metro.

Just spotted that... where have u seen my metro?

[loggyboy]

what sorta tracks it round???
is it an oval???
you dont need anything thats top end fast then.........


Proper circuits (albeit some smaller ones):
Mallory

Lydden
Brands
Pembrey
Anglesey
Donington
Thruxton
Silverstone
Oulton
Snetterton


Our firm sponsored a lad in a 205gti in stockhatch a few years ago,
he spent ?3000 on a 'standard' engine that gave about 140hp, he got thru 3 shells in 3 meetings, we saw the crashes, none were his fault, it is an expensive game, there are people turning up in winnebagos with mechanics following in the transporter.....some are spending ?20k+ easily for a season in a CHEAP car!

Thats always the problem with circuit racing, no matter how you good you are, theres always some dick who'l punt you out.

Ive no idea what budget il be on, or even if il end up with enough to do more than 1 or 2 events, but its something ive always wanted to do.

Its never gonna be cheap, its gonna cost me hundreds just in admin side of things done (license etc etc)
If I do get a chance, I'l be doing it for the fun, and if im even slightly competive (ie not finishing last!) il be happy.