Westward Eng Evo - TimeAttack UK

After a hugely successful run in the WestwardEng RS500 this year, it was nice to dust off the Evo and give it a run at the beautiful coastal track , Angelsey Race Circuit at Modified Live, UK TimeAttack. Some class cars at this event, it was fantastic to see the UK TimeAttack cars up close & on the track. Driving on their designated road tyre was interesting to say the least. Had a good practice on Saturday & Sunday morning qualifying was good with a 6th place. Unfortunately lost half bar of boost & struggled with understeer for first run. Had no time to fix boost problem, so didnt get a chance to feature in the final. Nonetheless, really enjoyed the event, super circuit & sound lad’s to compete with, will definitely be hoping to run in a few rounds next year. Back home now & we have to sort front diff & waste gate to be ready for Japfest at Mondello Park .

WestwardEng Evo - TimeAttack UK

WestwardEng Evo - TimeAttack UK

WestwardEng Evo @Japfest / Irish Time Attack

Congrat’s Martin tracey,  1st Place Pro Class TimeAttack win in WestwardEng Evo at Japfest. It was a hectic day,alternator failed in practice,taking out the boost controller, so we were against the clock all day trying to sort car. Big thanks to Gar & Niall the GimmeGoGetme’s, couldn’t have been out without ye’s. Congrat’s to Gordon Dunne 1st in Club Class TimeAttack in his Starlet. Quickest time today to Michael Connolly in the Westfield. Thanks Padraig, TomT, Simon & Chloe…Only regret of the day is not getting out for the Drag Sprint.  An excellent display of all things Jap  in the paddock along with some world class drifting with ProDrift throughout the day.

Michael Connolly, Martin Tracey, Gordon Dunne - Irish Time Attack Winners

GOOD LUCK

To all our customers preparing for the ALMC Stages Rally Sunday July 17th  in North Dublin this year.

Mark Nangle & Nollaig Breen at ALMC 2009

For more info on the event check out  www.almcstagesrally.com

WestwardEng RS500 ITCC

It’s been a hectic year so far at WestwardEng, and although some of our day to day work is documented on FaceBook, for those you who are not connected, here’s an update on our racing so far this year.   The race series kicked off at Mondello Park on April 10th, for the first two rounds sponsored by www.westwardeng.com with Martin Tracey back to defend his Irish Touring Car Championship Title in the WestwardEng Ford RS500.

After the success of last years race series, it’s great to see to see so many new cars being prepared for this years championship.  We’ve had a few nice ones on the dyno and in for tuning at Westward Engineering.  Our engine shop  has also been working its magic on some new builds for this years events.

It was a cracking day at Mondello for the first two rounds.  Congrats to all Westward Eng tuned ITCC Racers; Martin Tracey (RS500) -2 podiums,   Philip Burdock (Honda) -2 podiums,   Dave Clarke (VW) – a superb drive & podium finish,   Norman Fawcett (Honda) - first day racing & a podium finish, Eric Carroll (Honda)- on a quick lap, Keith Campbell (VW) – on blocking the blocker !  and a special mention for Mark Nangle, (Wanglie in the Subaru) – on a brilliant debut & some spectacular video footage..

We all travelled to Anglesey Race Circuit in Wales for Rounds three and four, and what a stunning track. It was a great track  in that different parts of the track suited different cars, and this levelled the driving field for all participants.  Where the RS500 made time on the straights, other cars were more suited to the corners and so some great racing was to be had by all.  Congrats and well done on podium finishes for Westward Eng tuned cars, Martin Tracey (RS500), Philip Burdock ( Honda), Norman Fawcett (Honda).

Ready for Racing ITCC Angelsey

We returned to Mondello Park for rounds five & six, sponsored By Design Kitchen & Bedroom Studios www.bydesign.ie .   Martin Tracey had a super first race. After J Brady’s Seat made contact with the Westward Eng car early in the race at Dunlop, Tracey was left at the back of the field, only to put in a stunning drive and take the chequered flag alongside the Seat for a Third place win. The grids were reversed for the second race and Martin Tracey took  a First place win.  Stormin Norman Fawcett (Honda) was on the podium with a First & Second place win in the  Touring Car Class races on the day.

Check & Repair between races at ITCC May 2011

It was off to Kirkistown for rounds seven and eight of the series, sponsored by Pete’s Mobile Mechanic.  A fantastic day’s racing for Westward Eng tuned cars with First place wins for Martin Tracey (RS500) and for Norman Fawcett (Honda).  Keep a check on www.itcc.ie for new race dates and some new cars yet to debut.

Irish Touring Car Championship Kirkistown 2011

RS500 ready for Top gear Live Sprint Challenge 2010

Top Gear Live at City West was a cold one!   Regardless of the weather we were delighted to participate in the Sprint Challenge with a 3rd place Team Win.  Special Congrat’s  to my team mates for the weekend, John Whelan (Peugeot), Albert Clasby ( Stryker) and Keith Colomy (Lotus). Big thanks to our hosts Top Gear and Mondello Park.

Top Gear Live Festival Sprint Challenge 2010

Martin Tracey WestwardEng Evo - Top Car Class Champion Straightliners Enniskillen Drag Racing 2010

What a way to finish 2010,  Martin Tracey had a superb day’s racing at Straightliners Enniskillen,  winning Irish Drag Racing Top Car Champion September 2010, making it a record three in a row!

Despite the wet weather conditions there was a great turn out of entries and some class cars running in this years event.

Here’s a clip of qualifying against a Skyline and the final running against a Subaru.

Thank’s to everyone at Straightliners for a well run event & the spectators for their great support, a fun day out for all.

Look out for next years event dates at www.straightlinersenniskillen.com

Irish Touring Car Championship Winner - Martin Tracey WestwardEng

Irish Touring Car Championship Results 2010

1st    Martin Tracey – RS500 – Westward Eng

2nd   Barry Rabbitt – Honda – Tuning Factory

3rd  Tomas O Rourke –  Opel

Well done to Philip Burdock in his WestwardEng tuned Honda Civic, 2nd place in Race 1 & 3rd place in Race 2,  John Whelan for some great driving and a 2nd place result in Race 2 and Thomas O Rourke for a 2nd & 3rd place win on the day.

Congratulations to Tom Fahy, 2nd Place Win Irish Touring Car Championship Rookie Cup 2010, in his WestwardEng tuned Honda Integra Dc2, superb driving all year by the man from the West.

Big thanks to the pit crew for their help and support over the year, TomT, Padraig, Christy, NIALL, Simon, Niall, Enda & Robbie.  Thanks to Bernie at CTS for looking after our gear box & Expert Air for taking care of all our shipping requirements.

WestwardEng RS500 Irish Touring Car Championship Winner 2010

Westward Eng Win's 1st Martin Tracey, 2nd Barry Rabbitt 3rd Philip Burdock

A fantastic weekend of racing for all at Westward Engineering. Round six of the ITCC series got off to a great start at Mondello Park  on Sunday with a packed grid.   The weather forecast was uncertain for the weekend, but luckily the sun shone on Sunday.   Qualifying was good, we managed to secure pole position.  It also highlighted what we thought was s fuel surge problem, but later turned out to be electrical.  This we discovered, seconds before line up for the race ! The race itself was great, with Westward Engineering celebrating a First place win with Martin Tracey in the RS500 & Third place win with Philip Burdock in his Westward Engineering tuned Honda Civic.

We elected to sit out the non-championship second race in the afternoon to preserve the car for the final rounds, but we were delighted with two podium positions, a well deserved First place win for  Philip Burdock and Second place win for Tom Fahy in his Westward Engineering tuned Honda Integra DC2.

Looking forward to the final two rounds of the series for this year, to be held at Mondello Park, Leinster Trophy weekend, on 11th & 12th September 2010.

WestwardEng RS500 getting ready to race at Mondello Park

Martin Tracey & Barry Rabbitt ITCC 22.08.2010

ITCC Round 6 winner, Martin Tracey caught on camera!

Irish Touring Car Championship

Only a few day’s left until  round 6 of  the Irish Touring Car Championship.  So it’s time to get the RS500 up on the lift for some modifications and final checks.   After the last round our box was sounding a little too quaifey!  So Big Thanks to Bernie at (CTS) Competition Transmission Services for servicing the gearbox at short notice.   Thanks to Expert Air for their expert care and transportation of our gearbox.  Now installed and ready for action, we’re hoping for a good day on Sunday.  A  full grid entry for this race on Sunday, so it should be fun.

Westward Eng - RS500 Quaife G60 Gearbox

Westward Eng RS500 Quaife G60 Gearbox Installed

Westward Eng - RS500 Prep for ITCC

Now the big question was What’s Wrong? After some checks we found a loose boost hose…  With this sorted it was a wait and see how the weather was going to be for race one.

What a Race, I had lots of wheel-spin off the line, I couldn’t  re-set the boost until I drove the car, so I  had some boost spike & way too much power for first few laps, until I re-adjusted the pressure.  At this stage B. Rabbitt in the Teg was 1.5 sec ahead and I settled into the race, only to see a Red Flag.  After a good re-start off the line I was side by side with B.Rabbitt into the first corner and settled into second position for a few laps until the Safety Car appeared and then another Red Flag, there were so many incidents.  So another re-start, I got a good run into the first corner, B. Rabbitt had the inside line, so into second position AGAIN and wished for the clock to count down the remaining time.  On the second last lap I couldn’t believe to see a plume of smoke and flames from B. Rabbitt’s car.  With B. Rabbitt retiring, I finished the race with a First position win.  What a weird race!

For race two, I was not looking forward to the reverse grid positions for start off.  I was in 9th position and after all the incidents in the first race, I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.  Got a great start of the line and was up to 5th position before the first corner.  The first few laps were spent chasing and passing several cars.  I could see the race leader J. Hughes- Integra ahead and began to chase him down.  Finally passed him and settled into a relaxed pace, keeping a good distance, didn’t want to push too hard, so eased off to conserve tyres and watch the clock.  Keeping an eye on the rear view mirror, I seen the distinctive orange EK9 Civic of P Burdock- Tuned at WestwardEng coming rapid.  Brilliant, I thought we might get a one two, but not to be, as on the next lap he lost his alternator belt and had to retire. So I drove on and took First place win.

I was delighted to finish and have the car run so well, after our work earlier in the week.  Thanks to all at ITCC for a great day.