Motor Hot Tuner Challenge 2010

August 8th & 9th 2010 at Easter Creek Raceway, Sydney

The Event

HPF are excited to have participated in the 2010 Motor Magazine Hot Tuner Challenge, having entered an FPV Super Pursuit Ute. Held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek facility the event consists of several tests where vehicles are judged against cars entered by the countries best tuning workshops.

The Car

The Super Pursuit Ute, SPRUTE, is owned by a very good customer of HPF who graciously lent us the car for the Motor HTC. Mechanically it has the standard 310kw 5.4l engine but has been upgraded with a full exhaust and an intercooled Yella Terra Whipple supercharger kit, fitted and tuned by HPF.

The car is predominantly used for circuit racing and as such has a massive set of AP Racing brakes up front and an HR/Bilstein suspension combination similar to the V8 Brute series cars. The rear wing, whilst not everyones cup of tea is there for function to help hold the light rear end down on fast straights and is a genuine carbon fibre ex V8 Supercar item. Wheels and tyres are circuit spec with Autoart three piece rims and 265/30-19 and 305/30-19 Toyo R888 tyres.

Day One

Day one of the HTC consisted of acceleration and braking test at Western Sydney Dragway as well as testing of vehicle power on the dyno. With the ute being built for circuit racing with stiff suspension and tall gearing we didn’t expect too much as Motors Warren Luff reeled off a somewhat disappointing 13.2s pass, however we imagine that the terminal speed and braking capabilities should in part make up for this. The afternoon saw the green machine make its way to the dyno where it made 306rwkw with some heat soak and power sapping 305 wide R spec tyres.

Day Two

Tuesday morning brought with it plenty of rain and great disappointment as our proven circuit racing machine would lose all its advantage on a wet race track. When it came time to hit the track it did perform admirably, with ex V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris putting down a credible 2:07.3s lap which, considering how tail happy the ute drove, was one of the quicker rear wheel drive laps. Paul Morris declared it his favorite car to drive of the day, commending how predictable and balanced it was and how he could really feel the wing working.

The motorkhana stage was almost completely a wash out with water pooling and consistent rain. Paul Morris did his best to pedal the ute around the large looping course but traction was practically nonexistent.

With the event complete the ute made the drive back to Melbourne without incident. HPF must commend Motor Magazine for putting together such a great event and we eagerly await the October edition of Motor to see the full results from SPRUTE as well as the other workshops entries.