Is a mk3 cupra suitable to use on the track?

[gregorcupra]

I was at knockhill yesterday doing a track experience in a leon cupra r. Needless to say I am now hooked on it and choking to get back on the track. I'd like to take my cupra on the track but because I am new to this I am unsure of it being a suitable car, or the basic requirements of the car I.e bigger brakes?

Does anyone use their cupra on track, and if so how do you get on?

 

[Reuvers]

there is plenty of trackuse with these cars by other members on here.

although I am pretty sure anti roll bars, and strut braces would be highly advised for handling improvements.

 

[David_smith_909]

yup

ARBS, decent suspension, decent brakes, decent brake fluid and decent rubber to name a few are all good upgrades for track use

if your going to be doing ALOT of heavy track use, id also look at baffled sump, catch tank etc etc oh.... and a cage incase the worst happens

 

[gazcuprablk]

done a trackday in my old ibiza cupra k03s had drilled an groved brakes lowerin springs 18" wheels thought it was the muts nuts til i took it on the track it wouldnt stop quick enough (hence goin over the grass chicane) it wouldnt handle tidy an my 35 profile tyres altho yoko paradas were ****,
now since writin tha off ive done it the tidy way have weitec coilovers, brembo callipers discs pads etc changed to 17" wheels as the old 1's were **** alloy an kept crackin now its much better than my other car im confident in givin it some serious beans now and cant wait to get it on the track to see what she does. hope this helps you and saves you wastin your money doin things twice like i did

 

[gregorcupra]

Thanks very much for the advice. The leon I went out in was completely standard and handled great which really surprised me.

What worries me is the reliability of the cupra. I'd be gutted if I were all set for a track day only for it to go into limp mode!

 

[gazcuprablk]

lol do what i do always carry 4 spare coilpacks and maf lol i had my first cupra 4 years ago so ive had all the **** that has gone wrong with these little things

 

[PhilW]

What mods do you have already?

I found the biggest mod that i done on track was my diff and fixed buckets with harnesses. Also my brakes helped a lot for sustained abuse.

 

[gregorcupra]

Currently the car has :

Induction kit
Turbo back exhaust system inc sports cat
Fmic
Forge tip
N249 bypass
Coilovers
17s

And the car is mapped to I think around 200bhp.

The brakes on the car need upgrading anyway. But I don't want to spend money yet if like I say it's going to go into limp mode etc. Maybe i'm just worried due to my experiences with the car.

 

[Reuvers]

then get the mods done by someone who does know what they are doing

 

[gregorcupra]

I don't think you understand what I mean reuvers.I questioned the reliability of an Ibiza cupra on the track and not that of the workmanship on my car.

 

[cupramillo]

Had my cupra just over a year now and so far, touch wood ive had NO major mechanical problems with it. Not a coil pack gone or a dodgy MAF yet. It varies from car to car im sure, but the main thing with these cars is that they have strong engines and gearboxes. You never heard horror stories of head gaskets going or anything like that.

Take it to the track give it abuse and see what happens. If a coil pack or two goes its not the end of the world and wont cost an arm and a leg to fix

 

[Adam R]

standard 280mm brakes are crap,

you need a decent set of pads and disks (badger sells a good set) then chenge your brake lines for braided ones and put new brake fluid in there to help it not boil when hard on the brakes.

aparently it might also be worth getting a brake bias valve for the rear wheels as people who track their cars tend to find that the rear brakes make the car very unstable during very heavy brakeing.

 

[ian_cupra]

What mods do you have already?

I found the biggest mod that i done on track was my diff and fixed buckets with harnesses. Also my brakes helped a lot for sustained abuse.

all things i dont have yet, and it already flies,

little ibiza is great on the track, good power for the track. and with the right mods handle well, which i proved at the last SCN trackday at Cadwell Park

 

[PhilW]

I found it took me a while to get used to it on track, alwats felt like the back end was gonna overtake me, but once you get used to it its pretty forgiving.

 

[ian_cupra]

i find it very forgiving, can throw it at and left off at high speed and its ok (was playing trying to get back end out at Cadwell ), and with your diff you can just plant it and pull yourself out of any trouble anyway

 

[OliMonty]

Done a fair bit of tracking and Id say upgraded suspension and brakes on these cars are essential.Uprated power I would say comes last to the first two.

Get some brembos and try to use uprated pads and preferably disks to avoid them warping every time you go on track.

Oh and of course good tyres, if you have to scrimp on anything make sure it isn't the tyres. Goodyear Eagle F1's work well for me.

 

[ian_cupra]

Oh and of course good tyres, if you have to scrimp on anything make sure it isn't the tyres. Goodyear Eagle F1's work well for me.

+1 put to the test on my car and come out on top

 

[gregorcupra]

Sounds like im looking at a fair bit of money even to upgrade the basics ?

Are there any other brakes up to the job rather than brembos, i.e would a new disc and pad setup work ?

 

[Mat]

why don't you ask Badger Bill if they any good for track use

 

[gregorcupra]

Will do mate , always better to have a few views as oppose to one.