Ken Stout Racing TRD FR-S with TRD Supercharger

[PabloN]

FI causes headaches for even the best teams (look at this year's Audis at Le Mans). The NA GT86 can do well against cars its own class. This year it finished 1-2 in the 24 hours at Nurburgring in class v3 (which is close to production). 3rd place was a Honda Civic Type R followed by 4 more GT86s. Toyota GT86s have won this class the last three years. In class SP3 (a modified class) at Nurburgring the only GT86 entered finished 1st, followed by various cars including Renault Clios, an Opel Manta, a Golf GTI and a Honda S2000. A Toyota GT86 has won this class 2 of the last 3 years. Among similar small-engined NA cars it does pretty darned well.

[hmong337]

I'm sadden to say that KSR isn't even competing this year

Last I saw, they were liquidating everything they had. What a bummer.

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by hmong337

I'm sadden to say that KSR isn't even competing this year

Last I saw, they were liquidating everything they had. What a bummer.

Somebody should snatch that chassis, build a NA motor for it and go pro racing in the ST or TC class where it should have been all along.

[hmong337]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Somebody should snatch that chassis, build a NA motor for it and go pro racing in the ST or TC class where it should have been all along.

Not good enough for PWC GTS?

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by hmong337

Not good enough for PWC GTS?

Its track record tells the tale. None of those cars it was trying to race in the GTS class were really its market competitors anyway so what was the point? In TC and ST it would be competing against Civic Si, Genesis coupe, Kia Forte Koup, MX-5, BMW series 1 and 3, Mini, VW GTI, Focus ST, base model Porsche Cayman etc. Those cars are more likely to be compared to the FR-S from a price and performance point and that is where it should try to prove its superiority.

Trying to supercharge a high compression, unproven flat four and compete against extensively developed and race proven American V8s and the KIA turbo V6 was a recipe for disaster.

[hmong337]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Its track record tells the tale. None of those cars it was trying to race in the GTS class were really its market competitors anyway so what was the point? In TC and ST it would be competing against Civic Si, Genesis coupe, Kia Forte Koup, MX-5, BMW series 1 and 3, Mini, VW GTI, Focus ST, base model Porsche Cayman etc. Those cars are more likely to be compared to the FR-S from a price and performance point and that is where it should try to prove its superiority.

Trying to supercharge a high compression, unproven flat four and compete against extensively developed and race proven American V8s and the KIA turbo V6 was a recipe for disaster.

Fair enough. But I still believe this car has the potential to be competitive with the beasts in GTS. It's too bad there was no further developement this year. I was looking forward to going live to PWC in Toronto specifically to go cheer KSR on and possibly scope their racecar out.

It bothers me to no end that Scion Racing isn't doing a damn thing in North America. I absolutely hate drift yet that's all Scion is focusing on. Damn shame.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by hmong337

It bothers me to no end that Scion Racing isn't doing a damn thing in North America. I absolutely hate drift yet that's all Scion is focusing on. Damn shame.

Ditto. I have zero interest in drifting...

[PHLonomenal]

Ironically and arguably the best drift car in the business and nobody is interested in drifting...I'm not either. Extremely more interested in this car cultivating a rich race heritage. Because it can!


Sent from my StarTrek communicator using Tapatalk

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by hmong337

Fair enough. But I still believe this car has the potential to be competitive with the beasts in GTS. It's too bad there was no further developement this year. I was looking forward to going live to PWC in Toronto specifically to go cheer KSR on and possibly scope their racecar out.

It bothers me to no end that Scion Racing isn't doing a damn thing in North America. I absolutely hate drift yet that's all Scion is focusing on. Damn shame.

Agreed. Drifting is not racing. Unfortunately, it probably has more fans on this forum than road racing does. It is easier for an urban boy racer to find a cul-de-sac to slide around and feel like a drifter than it is for him to drive hours and hours to find a good twisty road in the hills to feel like a road racer. Despite what you read on this forum, 95%+ of all twins will never see a race track of any kind.
I consider drifting to be on the same level as tractor pulls or monster trucks.

As far as I know, no one has managed to make a boosted FA-20 reliable enough to compete in a 45 minute race (PWC) and certainly not a 2.5 hour race (CTSCC). There are a few guys doing NASA time attack and the Pikes Peak car from Evasive but none of them run full out for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Anyone serious about racing is swapping the engine for an ej, jz or ls.

I personally suspect that engine heat plays a major roll in the durability issues. Someone will eventually get a handle on it. Unfortunately, Scion Racing got their image tarnished with this effort. I just wish they would follow Mazda's example. Race the car where it belongs. Do not try to make it something it is not.

[cycleboy]

Originally Posted by hmong337

It bothers me to no end that Scion Racing isn't doing a damn thing in North America. I absolutely hate drift yet that's all Scion is focusing on. Damn shame.

Totally agree!

It's a great potential race car, but it is only competing overseas. I'd love to see it in an endurance series of some sort (my favorite racing). I wonder why they aren't in CTSCC ST class?

[Rampage]

Reports of the teams demise may have been premature. They are at Mid-Ohio this weekend. Qualified for the race 4.5 seconds behind the pole winning Camaro but then crashed out on the first lap.

Second race of the weekend it broke again.

[CamryDS]

maybe a little off topic, but even if that things makes AWESOME power --
is it me or does that SC look ugly as hell!

[philooo]

Can anybody chime in as to why TRD choose that supercharger design and why none of the current supercharger offering look anywhere like it ?

I know it was for racing only but I assume they did their homework... I wonder what that design has to offer compared to aftermarket.

Looks to me like a great location, away from the rest of the engine and all.. I don't know why nobody design something like it. The casting may be hard to reproduce I assume ?

would that be the big problem ?

[cycleboy]

Originally Posted by Rampage

Reports of the teams demise may have been premature. They are at Mid-Ohio this weekend. Qualified for the race 4.5 seconds behind the pole winning Camaro but then crashed out on the first lap.

Second race of the weekend it broke again.

The results are only slightly better than "demise". . .

Nothing for many months, then a crash and a broken car with both DNFs.

I think part of the problem is the US is too focused on high HP muscle cars that are quick off the line. This car could be great for true endurance racing if someone would invest in development (aka factory!).