EPCC Go Pro Oran Park GP Event Report - WON by a 135i!

[quattrokid]

Congrats to Jeff in the 135...fastest lap of the day!

The below is a quick cut and past from the website.

Hello European Motorsport Fans and welcome to the fifth event report of the European Performance Car Challenge thanks to Go Pro Hero Digital Camera’s.

With the chill of winter heavy in the air the, morning sun slowly parted the clouds over Oran Park as competitors driving almost every European Marque began to fill the pits and the smell of racing fuel and burbling European Engines filled the air.

From a Lamborghini Countach, to the immaculate AutoPrep Lexus RS200, to a Saab 99 Turbo, to a Jaguar XJ6, this day had something for everybody - it was the biggest collection of European Cars to date!

The Hot Hatch class was were all the action was again with a strong charge by the French Manufactures - Peugeot and Renault...much to the disappointment of a number of competitors – The French had Ze Germans surrounded!

After the shockingly quick times Martin set in his RenaultSport Megane 225 Cup set at Wakefield, some competitors were worried if it was even worth entering after hearing about the French charge...however he wasn’t as quick as expected, Joey on the other hand also in a 225 Cup though was, with a 1:25:7090 good enough to claim the fastest time recorded by the hot hatches.

Hot on his heals was Ian of Team Rennenhaus with a trick new suspension set up to tame the VW R32 Beast with a best time of 1:26:1350 – close Ian, close...however the French will be flying the winners flag until next month at Wakefield.

Martin was a second and bit behind on 1:27:5810 with Nathan in his RenaltSport Clio not too far behind either on 1:29:3070 – like I said, French cars everywhere!

Paul Flood – overall ‘Stig’ last year in the VAG Motorsport series was also in the 1 min 29 second bracket with a 1:29:7790 driving the doors off his mighty VW Polo Gti to keep ahead of, yes, yet another RenaultSport Clio driven by Chris to a best time of 1:30:2800.

The Penrite SINsational Eastern Creek Sprint ‘Stig’ Nick (say that 5 times really fast), sporting a sticky set of hoops fitted to the VW Golf Gti was also surrounded by the French with a best time of 1:30:4410 keeping him ahead of Rodney’s brand new Renault Sport Clio 2 which set a best time of 1:32:0810.

Rounding off the category are Simon and Dimitrios, Simon in his VW Polo Gti with a time of 1:33:0490 a handful of seconds ahead of Dimitrios with a 1:39:1320 in his Peugeot 206 Gti

As always timing is only one part of the equation – remember the EPCC handicap system evens the playing field...so who won you ask?

Paul Flood claims the 1st place on the winner’s podium with total score of 20.8 points narrowly ahead of Joey and Ian in equal second place on 20.4 points a piece, with Nick rounding off the class on 20 points even...close indeed guys!

On to the Coupe class – where the two fastest competitors of the Go Pro Hero Oran Park GP reside – Jeff and Mark.

While Jeff hit the circuit to bed in his brakes in the first half of the day, Mark hit the circuit in full attack mode and after session one was the current ‘Circuit Breaker’ with a time in the 1 min 24 second range.

The BMW M3 Convertible of Michael put in a valiant charge for outright times also with Brendan in the dark house Saab 99 turbo not too far behind on 1:38:1940...don’t right Brendan off just yet, the handicap point system had him a heart beat behind Mark in this session.

In the second half of the day, and with the brakes up to par, Jeff made the charge to clamber back up the ladder after the first session and in the process setting the fastest time of the day 1:20:6750 with Mark less than a second behind.

Despite Jeff spanking out some seriously hot laps, Mark pushed just as hard to hang onto first place and secure his spot on the top of the podium with 11.6 points...just a fraction ahead of Jeff on 11.4.

Brendan was unable to better his best times from the morning sessions however kept the pedal to the metal to keep in front of the M3 on the points table...nice work Brendan especially in a car from 1978!

Add two more doors to the Coupe Class and what do you get – the Sedan Class where the circuit action was just as engaging with France, Brittan and Germany all vying for the title.

The fastest car of the category was obviously the Audi RS4, however, with 309kw and a PWR of less than 5.5 it was hard pressed on the points table against the VW Bora 4 Motion piloted by Marcus, the Peugeot 405 steered by Daniel and the XJ6 Jaguar wrestled to impressive times by Owen – especially considering the 1.8 plus tons of metal he had to move around.

Owen lead the charge in the first session with Marcus and Daniel only a few seconds off the beat, much to the amazement of crowd, however, as the day wore on it was Marcus who became quicker and quicker against the clock to climb his way back up the ladder and eventually to first place on 11.6 points and a best time of 1:32:7820.

Owen kept the forging ahead and for the rest of the day in an effort to kept the Daniel’s Peugeot in his revision mirrors to claim 11.2 points and a best time of 1:37:2830. Daniel didn’t take this lying down though and snuck in a 1:37:2250 to stamp his authority on the time board...next time Daniel, next time.

Now for the award, and the title most converted by anyone with octane in their veins – The Go Pro Hero Oran Park GP STIG – rewarding the best average time / PWR (also taking into account drive type, transmission, aspiration, No of cylinders, tyres, vehicle age, etc.). And the winner is...Nick in his mighty VW Golf Gti – that’s two in a row!

Nick better watch his mirrors though a Last year’s STIG, Paul flood, was only a fraction off (0.315 to be precise) and the Meguiar’s / Liqui Moly Wakefield Park Winter Sprint just around the corner – be there to see if nick can go three for three!

So what did all these people win? $100 credits on Go Pro Hero Motorsport Camera’s thanks to iautosport.com.au and Go Pro...not bad for a day’s worth of racing.

Want to be part of the most affordable, most accessible and most prize packed motorsport series in the country – then contact the team at info@epcc.net.au to reserve your spot on Saturday the 25th July for the Meguiar’s / Liqui Moly Wakefield Winter Sprint and be part of the action and excitement.

There are bucket loads of prize packs to be won and as an added bonus you can purchase Meguiar’s and Liqui Moly Products on the day at discounted rates!

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to all the series competitors for putting on a great display of European Motorsport action.

For full event photography by Matthew Mead click here to view all his fantastic shots, and click the video links on the front page to for the race footage.

Drive Fast, Drive Safe and see you at Wakefield on the Saturday the 25th


The EPCC Team


All bookings should be sent to jayne@circuitclub.com.au as soon as possible. Send in you interest and Circuit Club will send a form with all the details back to you.

Places are strictly limited, and as such we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment…don't miss out on your chance to win a boot load of Meguiar's and Liqui Moly Products!


For more information or a general enquiry please email: info@epcc.net.au