Xsara VTS 2,0 # FIN

Hi there!

This project blog is about our Xsara VTS 2,0 16V -99 car. First something about the class we are building this car for. It is called Endurance Saloon class, which means 3-24h (usually 6h) races on track. In one team there must be 3-8 drivers. According to Saloon rules, all the cars must be at least 15 years old. Maximum allowed power (reported by manufacturer) is 177hp. The bigger engine your car has (cc), the heavier your car must be. For example our 1998cc Xsara must weight 960kg without driver. The only allowed tyre is Hankook RS-2. Max width is 205mm and min. profile is 50. Wheels must be either 15 or 16''. Brakes, suspension, cylinder head and ECU are 'free' to modify. Inlet- and exhaust manifolds, dashboard, bumpers and many smaller things can't be modified. The required safety things are roll cage, FIA approved bucket seat, 6-point harnesses, FIA main power switch and 2kg fire extinguisher. BMW e30 325's, e36 323's, Honda Civic's and Opel Astras represent about 90% of all cars. Some cars are built with just few thousand euros, some with over 30k€. We are doing our car with low budget.

First task was to choose the 'best' car to start building with. All my 5 cars have been either pugs or citroens, so the only question was, which model to choose. I have had a few 106's including one GTI. That was good car, but maybe bit too small. Next idea was 306GTI. Unfortunately those 306GTI's are quite rare here in Finland, so we decided to look for Xsara 2,0 VTS. Soon we found one, which was in quite good condition. It has been driven 290,000km (=180k miles), but engine has been completely fixed a few years ago. Price was very low, 700€ (=600£). So this project really started. Here's a picture of car in the condition we bought it.



First we ripped off interior. Then we welded two bars under driver's seat. On those bars lies OMP rails and OMP RS seat.
Picture about ready driver's seat below.



Last week we continued the project with installing coilovers. They aren't best ones but they'll do their job and they were extremely cheap. (90€).
Picture of them.



Next things on 'to do' list are:
- Brakes (removing ABS system, new lines, better discs, better pads, new seals to calipers..
- Removing the AC system.
- Roll cage installation.
- Installing powerflex bushes (to wishbones and rear beam)
- Installing upper strut brace
- Finding adjustable damper top mounts..

Engine wont be modified this year, we'll just do the original maintenance for it.
I'll try to update all the progress we make with car to here. All tips and hints are welcome.

Welcome to Built4Track!

Cool little project, when is the first race held? Seems an interesting series!

Welcome to the club.

Looks like a great project so far. Race series sounds interesting.

Welcome mate

Norledge wrote:

Welcome to Built4Track!
Cool little project, when is the first race held? Seems an interesting series!

Thank you guys! In fact we are going to attend first real race in 2013. This summer we'll drive on track days and perhaps in 3 hours training races, in which there aren't so great demands on drivers gear. You'll just need driving gear that protects you from fire. No valid FIA approval is needed. In real races people must have FIA 8856-2000 approved gear. I bought quick shift and boss hub for our suede steering wheel today on Ebay, now I'll just have to wait them to arrive.

Welcome this sounds interesting.

Not a fan of the car personally but an interesting project to keep an eye on. Best of luck

Welcome bud .

Finally some major progress with this one. Roll cage is now bended and it will be welded next weekend. AC compressor (7,7kg) and condenser (1,7kg) are removed. Brembo brake discs arrived today. Few pics below! And rest of them here.

What make is the cage?

Good Progress!!

Norledge wrote:

What make is the cage?

Homemade! Atacon Quick Bend Big, was the tool we used. Main cage is made of 45x2,5mm EN10305 steel, other pipes (diagonal etc..) 38x2,5 EN10305...
Here's a picture about bending tool in work!

So you have to have an FIA seat and kill switch but not an FIA approved cage??

Fair enough though it looks good!

Norledge wrote:

So you have to have an FIA seat and kill switch but not an FIA approved cage??
Fair enough though it looks good!

Correct, if not using FIA cage, then you must build cage according to specific rules. For example double door bars and X or V shaped roof bars have to be made.

Roll cage is now completely welded and ready! Bucket seat will be moved to the right, so it may look bit odd at the moment. Few pictures below!

I like where this is going, best of luck

inally some further progress. Here's a list about what we have done since last reply.

¤ Roll cage is now painted to silver.
¤ Gearbox oil is changed (only 0,2 liters came off ),
¤ Brembo discs are installed
¤ All the brake calipers are maintained.
¤ New pads.
¤ ABS system is completely removed.
¤ New brake lines, braided hoses arrive this week.
¤ Adjustable rear brake pressure valve installed.
¤ Front bumper is back on its place.
¤ Non A/C models tensioner and guide pulleys installed
¤ Cat opened up completely
¤ Gas tank is back on it's place.

Next weekend we're going to install braided hoses and bleed brake system. Dashboard, main power switch and bucket seat are also being installed.

May the 8th was the day! Firts time on track (Ahvenisto race circuit) with our Xsara. It worked like a dream! Of course there's still many things to work with. For example all our polly-bushes must be installed, since the suspensions felt a bit loose. As we thought that track day would be only getting used to the car and wrestling with technical problems, we left our Hankook RS2 tyres on 15'' Ultraleggeras home.. What a shame. Those BF Goodrich G-profilers felt like a soap!

The car is very quick. Last season fastest Saloon (our next seasons class) car drove 1:36. Our time was 1:41, so there's potential!
A little incar video on our teams FB page: https://www.facebook.com/VTSRacingTeam

And few pics about current looks of car!