Astra H VXR Sprint

After the remaining modifications were carried out during August and September, November was the ideal opportunity to get back out on track; Saturday 3rd.

The changes for the latter half of the year consisted interior improvement, suspension alteration and rear brake improvement. The interior changes have seen the addition of the Safety Devices rear half cage, Sabelt 4-point harnesses and Recaro Pole Position seats to help with stiffening the vehicle’s shell and improving driver comfort. The extra suspension improvements include a damper change to Bilstein B8 spec which were fitted with new DAP lower, stiffer ‘Race’ spec springs and the rear brakes have been replaced with a vented and grooved 292mm kit, which will help with preventing the rear end going light under extreme braking.

A cool, and on occasion wet November day was the ideal chance to test out the car again and see what a difference the changes have made. The most noticeable changes to the chassis have come from the new dampers and springs improving the handling and road holding, but matched to this is the reduction in flex in the chassis due to the roll cage; the chassis is much stiffer which has helped with turn-in and the new seats and harnesses are not only more comfortable but as a driver you are held more securely with no movement, unlike factory seats and 3 point road seat belts.

On Track @ Snetterton

Garage @ Snetterton

Pit Lane Snetterton

Pit Lane Snetterton

Paddock @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Garage @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Pit Lane Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Garage @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Garage @ Snetterton

Pit Lane Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Garage @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

On Track @ Snetterton

Track Day organised by OpenTrack www.OpenTrack.co.uk
Thanks to Tony Harrison for the on track shots © Copyright Terms: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

The boot area has been painted in Satin Black to finish off the area.

During painting:

Boot Area Being Painted

Boot area painted:

Boot Area Painted

To cover the spare wheel well I sourced a pre-cut perspex panel, with a central hole cut in it allowing it to be secured by the original locking piece. The panel is to stop things crushing the boot carpet into the spare wheel well when the car is loaded up en-route to track days:

Perspex Spare Wheel Well Cover

And here it is fitted. A few pre-cut self adhesive felt pads have been stuck to the underside around the edge to prevent rattling:

Perspex Spare Wheel Well Cover Fitted

Here is the roll of interior carpet I sourced for the boot and rear area. Not cheap at £60 for the roll, but it is of a very high quality and all but matches the factory interior trim:

2m Sq Interior Carpet

Laid out ready for initial cutting, which was quite nerve-racking when you start to cut given the cost of the carpet!

Boot Carpet Ready for Cutting

Boot Area Carpeted, with the carpet being cut around the roll cage and the other rear trim:

Boot Carper Being Fitted

And finished; fully carpeted boot and rear area:

Boot and Rear Area Fully Carpeted

Having previously fitted a pair of new factory drop links when I changed all the front suspension bushes over to polyurethane bushes, I had a pair of adjustable motorsport aluminium drop links sent to me by Whiteline so decided it would be rude not to fit them. The nearly new factory drop links will get swapped across onto my other road-going Astra H VXR, so they will not go to waste.

Whiteline Motorsport Drop Links