Project 7dere - Phillip Island Track Day 2021-06-27 PIARC -

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Track Day: PIARC
Track: Phillip Island

Date: 2021-06-27


Time: 1:44.0480 (no official timing on day)
Car: 2000 Mazda RX-7 FD3S
Tyres: Yokohama AD08R (285 front, 295 rear) - 2.5 years old with 7 track days on them
Class: Set up to be compliant with WTAC Clubsprint rules
Raceonly Bridgeport Engine
EFR9180 1.05A/R Turbo

Plazmaman Front Mount Intercooler

MCA Suspension Coilovers (17/11 kg/mm)
Volk Racing SE37K 18x10.5 +38 wheels
ATS Carbon 1.5-way Differential

Powerhouse Amuse R1 Titan exhaust
Stock Type-RS Brakes with Project Mu H16-03 pads

Esprit 052S 1640mm Rear Wing

Custom front diffuser/splitter
Custom radiator ducting with Topstage Composites bonnet louvres

Haltech Elite 1500 ECU
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New PB of 1:44.048 - 2.5 seconds faster than last time!


Apart from a very wet track day in between, the last time I drove the island properly was Vic Time Attack 2018, where I set a PB of 1:46.55. Since then the car has seen substantial aero upgrades, bridgeport+turbo, weight loss, wider tyres, etc. So I was definitely expecting a big improvement.


I ran out of time to get an alignment before this track day and in the pits managed to measure with string mismatched toe on the rear (+3mm one side and +0.5mm on the other) and front camber (-4 degrees one side, -2.8 the other). Track was very wet in the morning and drying out through the day (with a stream of water still at Turn 5) and generally struggled to get temp in the tyres. Furthermore there was a huge amount of traffic and in the 4 sessions I ran, only really got one clear lap.


So with that in mind, happy with 2.5 seconds, but car capable of a lot more. I certainly wasn't driving that lap to the limit!


Overall, the track day was filled with gremlins, culminating in the gearbox failure in the final session.


First session out was just bedding in the new pads, so nothing too exciting there.


All ready to go out for session 2 only to find my throttle pedal rock hard! Pulled out the throttle cable and it had completely seized. It was bizarre given I hadn't exactly boosted much in the previous session and hadn't gotten the turbo hot. My only guess is that previous sessions had melted the plastic in the cable and it coincidentally got "caught" in the last session out.


Anyway, we basically just pulled as hard as we could until it moved and then went back and forth a few times, squirted some WD40 in there and at least got it moving (though it was very crunchy). Guess there will be more "heat management" to resolve.


Was good enough to get me going for 3 more sessions after that. Lots of traffic, so struggled to get in a good lap, but managed to set the PB.
And then finally, last session out, gearbox let go (see previous post for more details).


Nonetheless, a PB is a PB. Looking forward to getting out there again with a new box!