Do you remember how it all started?
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At the end of 2015, AvtoVAZ and Rosneft curtailed the program at the FIA WTCC World Championship and concentrated on supporting national motorsport. Two years later, due to exorbitant costs, the international championship itself died quietly, and it was replaced by the FIA WTCR World Cup, which involves cars close to production cars.
The requirements of TCR are simple: front-wheel drive sedans and hatchbacks with turbo engines up to two liters, which are allowed to boost up to 340 hp, are taken as a basis. The new rules apply not only in the World Cup, but also in two dozen regional and national championships. Including - in the Russian series of ring races.
Lada Vesta Sport TCR - the evolution of a racing sedan, which in past seasons has successfully performed on Russian and foreign tracks. Lada Vesta Sport TCR - the evolution of a racing sedan, which in past seasons has successfully performed on Russian and foreign tracks. Related Materials
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In 2017, a pair of West TCR racing cars joined the domestic Touring class. We already talked about that car with a two-liter turbo engine from the old Renault Megane RS - on it Vladimir Sheshenin immediately became the vice-champion of the country!
This season for the Russian series of ring races will be a record: in the Touring class - 26 applications. Like in the World Cup! The Lada Sport Rosneft team is represented by Mikhail Grachev and Kirill Ladygin on the updated Vest Sport TCR sedans. And the very first race in Grozny brought them a winning double! Behind were the riders piloting the Audi RS 3, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Seat Leon, Honda Civic and the latest Hyundai i30 N hatchbacks, one of which was chosen by the current champion Dmitry Bragin.
So, it was not for nothing that the engineers of Lada Sport worked on improvements all winter, including the new 1.8-liter turbo engine, independent rear suspension and improved aerodynamics.
Turbo engine Renault M5PT - with an aluminum block, direct injection and phase adjustment system at the inlet and outlet. On the West Sport TCR, it produces 340 hp. The new bumper and hood provide better cooling of the engine compartment. The flow distribution was calculated using a matmodel, and then checked by homologation in a wind tunnel by Pininfarina. Turbo engine Renault M5PT - with an aluminum block, direct injection and phase adjustment system at the inlet and outlet. On the West Sport TCR, it produces 340 hp. The new bumper and hood provide better cooling of the engine compartment. The flow distribution was calculated using a matmodel, and then checked by homologation in a wind tunnel by Pininfarina.
Do not look askance
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TCR rules do not prohibit the installation of alternative engines manufactured by the concern, so the Renault F4RT engine was first installed on Vesta. But they no longer produce it - and for Vesta Sport TCR they adapted the Renault M5PT engine, familiar from the new Megan and the Alpine A110 coupe. Using a turbocharger from a Mercedes-AMG A 45, it was boosted to 340 hp.
The French company Oreca was engaged in the fine-tuning, and the specialists of the Lada Sport team entered the unit into the engine compartment. Three years ago, they provided for the appearance of a new motor: they reserved wiring for direct injection and took into account the location of the supports.
The placement of the turbine is the same; the exhaust and filter housing have not changed. But before the bypass valve was mechanical, and now it is electric, it is controlled by the controller and works more accurately and faster.
AIM data collection system was abandoned in favor of MoTeC telemetry: this complex is more accurate and well configurable. AIM data collection system was abandoned in favor of MoTeC telemetry: this complex is more accurate and well configurable.
The front suspension retained the constructive scheme, but the possibilities of its adjustment are expanded. The front suspension retained the constructive scheme, but the possibilities of its adjustment are expanded.
The rear suspension on the modernized West TCR - on slanting arms. According to the pilot Mikhail Grachev, the balance of the chassis has shifted to neutral: the rear axle is more likely to finish in corners. The rear suspension on the modernized West TCR - on slanting arms. According to the pilot Mikhail Grachev, the balance of the chassis has shifted to neutral: the rear axle is more likely to finish in corners. Related Materials
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The Sadev sequential gearbox is the same, only the gear ratios of the higher stages have changed, taking into account the accumulated experience, including foreign ones - after all, last season Vesta performed in the livery of the Lubner Motorsport team in German competitions. And the Lada Sport team is already ready to “upgrade” it to the level of the new Vesta Sport TCR.
To do this, you need to change not only the power unit, but also the suspension. The front of the fresh cars have different levers. They are also steel, welded, but the angles of the wheels are now adjustable in a larger range. And in the back instead of an H-shaped beam - a multi-link! True, in accordance with the technical regulations the simplest, on oblique levers. Do not laugh: this scheme was used not only in Zaporozhets, it survived to our century on the BMW Z3. Implemented it for the sake of the ability to play with fine-tuning: the pilots did not complain about the Vesta chassis in past seasons.
There were no complaints about the AP Racing brakes, however, Italians from TM Performance offered more favorable conditions. And this means lower costs - an important point if the manufacturer plans to sell their cars to private teams.
The brake discs and calipers are now supplied by the Italian company TM Performance, but they have Lada Sport logos on them. The brake discs and calipers are now supplied by the Italian company TM Performance, but they have Lada Sport logos on them.
Boris Rotenberg can be satisfied: under the patronage of his SMP Racing program, the SMP RSKG series has become one of the best among two dozen national championships held according to TCR requirements. Boris Rotenberg can be satisfied: under the patronage of his SMP Racing program, the SMP RSKG series has become one of the best among two dozen national championships held according to TCR requirements.
We also thought about the economic component when creating the aerodynamic body kit. On racing Vesta, it is not from a cosmically expensive carbon fiber, but from ordinary ABS plastic. His Lada Sport is used for the bumpers of the Vest Sport serial charged sedan, and the body kit for the racing Vesta at cost is almost no different from the “civilian” one.
But no matter how much owners of ordinary cars would like to decorate them with spectacular wings, bumpers and spoilers, they are unlikely to get a harmonious product. After all, the overall width of the racing versions is tied to an enlarged rut and is 1950 mm.
Why did not these developments appear on the road West Sport? The original suspension and a foreign powertrain would exorbitantly increase its price. And the element of the TCR version is special racetracks, which this year will take seven stages of the Russian series of ring races.
Or maybe one of our readers has already made a turbo-Vesta? Email us about the results!
The coolest Vesta: 340 forces!