Video - Why We Race: Testing Project FR-S at the 2012 Global Time Attack
 

Racing is a vital part of the development of all of our suspension systems. We do this to ensure that our suspension performs as well on the track as it does on the street - delivering the level of performance you demand. So on November 7th, 2012 we took our Project FR-S out to Buttonwillow Raceway Park for the Global Time Attack Super Lap Battle Finals. We had a great time and really got to show that with simple, bolt-on parts you can compete with all-out race cars. Despite our severe power deficit we managed a respectable 5th out of 7 and clocked a 2:07.989 - mere seconds behind some very serious race cars.

Hotchkis Project 2013 Scion FR-S:
Hotchkis Sport Springs
Hotchkis Sway Bars
Hotchkis Caster/Camber Plates
Hotchkis Front & Rear Strut Braces
Hotchkis Harness Bar
Falken 615k Azenis Tires 235/40R18
HRE C106 Competition Wheels 18 x 9
Stoptech Front Brakes
PST/Rally Sport Direct Carbon Fiber Driveshaft
APR Performance Carbon Fiber Brake Ducts
APR Performance Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
Downforce USA Carbon Fiber Front Splitter and Side Skirts
Aero Jacket Carbon Fiber Hood
Project Kics R40 Lug Nuts
Magnaflow Exhaust
T1R Shift Knob
T1R Tinted Concave Side Mirrors
T1R Aluminum Diff Bushing Inserts

Nice, I plan on getting the Hotchkis Front Strut Tower Brace and both front and rear Sway Bars.

I wanted the sway bars for my M3, but they were on back-order forever so I went with the Turner MotorSports (BMW) sways.

Sorry your M3 sway bars were backordered Swift, it happens from time to time. Our FR-S/BRZ Strut Tower Brace and Sway Bars are in stock and ready to ship though.

Were you sponsored by Falken? Wondering why Azenis tires were used?

We have a very good relationship with Falken and have used the RT-615K tires on everything from Import Cars to Muscle Cars. We have found that they work very well for street use, autocrossing, and mild track use. They were the perfect tire for the Global Time Attack Super Lap Battle since we were in the Street class which requires a tire of 180 treadwear or higher.

There are a lot of parts on that car, so it's hard to draw conclusions as to which made the largest difference.

So let me first say, it's nice to see someone design parts and track test them to prove worth...

Now here are my questions:

1. What spring rates did you choose or what was the increase over OEM.
2. Did you choose to raise the front rates more than the rear?
3. What size is your front sway bar?
4. What was handling deficit you were trying to improve from the OEM setup?
5. Did your combo of springs and front bar, neutralize the balance of the car and which part helped more, springs or sway bar?

Care to share the artist/name of the music track used in the video?

Links to results online?

Results are here: http://www.globaltimeattack.com/2012...rk-nov-7-2012/

There are a lot of choices in regards to the front and rear sway bar. I am not about to test and feel out all four settings for the rear and the two for the front. what do you recommend for a neutral handling with no oversteer nor understeer for street usage?

That really depends on your suspension upgrades and wheel/tire upgrades. If you let me know what you have done, I can ask our Engineer (who owns an FR-S) and get his input.

More info on the harness bar ! Looks awesome. Thanks for all the info your sharing.

Is it it practical to run the springs and sways with the stock wheel/tire?

With the difference mentioned between FRS and BRZ, why use the FRS?

I'm in the market for a BRZ but I know FRS is cheaper. I'm following the trends that solidifies the difference, including cabin goodies. This Q & A really answers some of my questions. Thanks for the post and the professionalism. Added thread to my favs.

Very nice. Love your products guys, keep up the great work.

Hollow sways?

Thanks JB1. The harness bar is in its final phase of prototyping right now. It is a really cool design that incorporates a rear strut tower brace, with a harness bar, and additional chassis bracing. We have designed it to be completely modular so that in can be installed and uninstalled quickly. The rear strut tower brace is the base of the entire unit. It can be installed without having to remove anything and can stay in place permanently without any interruption in the use of the rear seat. When you plan on doing some performance driving, you can then either remove the back seat or just fold it flat and bolt the harness bar and X-brace to it. Here is a great view of it from the guys at Speedhunters:
http://cdn.speedhunters.com/wp-conte...-trends-31.jpg

We did all of our testing for the springs and sways with the stock wheels/tires before first. They will still complement the vehicle very well and really enhance the handling, even on the less grippy tire. With stock tires you will probably find that you need less roll stiffness then you would with sticky tires so you will want to start the sway bars out on their lowest settings.

We prototyped on the FR-S because that is what we had. We spent a lot of time comparing the two to find out where the differences in suspension came from. Once we realized that it was pretty much all spring rate, then we knew that what worked on the FR-S will directly translate to the BRZ and GT-86 because you are replacing the one part that gives them their respective handling characteristics.

Thanks SPCorBUST!

Correct, hollow sway bars. A hollow sway is drastically lighter than a solid one of the same stiffness. The stiffness of a hollow sway bar comes from the overall diameter as well as the wall thickness of the tube.

Nice harness bar is that bolt or weld?

100% bolt-in.

Holy snap how much?

Dude that is soo nice

The harness bar is in its final phase of prototyping now. Once we have the production version finalized we will be able to release pricing info on it.

Well freaken let me know i am on that!

really nice stuff

Hi Silp3,

For neutral handling, you can set the front to full stiff and rear to 2nd hole from the softest setting.

-Aaron

Whoever picked that incredibly annoying music should be taken out behind the woodshed and beaten...:paddle:

Otherwise cool video...

In for the harness bar!

I'm installing your Stage 1 Total Vehicle System, what sway bar setting are you guys running for autocross?

thanks in advance. BTW, I had your products on my 2006 Subaru STi and must say best quality products out there. :thumbsup:

Whats the status on the rear harness bar/strut bar combo?? @Hotchkis

@Hotchkis