Rich,
The v-tec step with the I-vetc is pretty mild (at least it is in an EP3 Civic) as a product of the variable inlet cam. There is still a slight spike, but the engine being NA works in our favour. I reckon we can drive around v-tec and with the hondata we can certainly dictate exactly when it comes in – boost in my experience is far harder to adapt to.
That said, I know the moment I try and drive mine with any vigour on track, I’ll spin many times! I think as modern cars are so often FWD, and even when they are RWD they’re fairly heavily pacified, very few people can really drive properly. Certainly my skills are pretty poor - the last time I was on track I spun a FWD 360 deg at 90mph, (much to the amusement of my friends watching!) due to LOO, and not reading the track surface very well (damp patch mid-corner).
Whilst I’m not worried per se about driving my car when it’s done, I’m going to tread very very cautiously for quite some time! John’s story has certainly confirmed what I expected – very square footprint, mid engine, low inertia, gives the car an ability to spin quickly when it goes!
On a side note, I hope there will be quite a few 5EXIs at Llandow, as I would really like to see one going at a respectable pace on track – I went in Dylan’s road car at Brands Hatch a couple of years ago, but that is now quite a distant memory. I reckon the 22nd will be quite an amusing day – my car has a paultry 135bhp / ton, so I expect to be little more than a rolling roadblock, with overheating brakes and floppy suspension!
Cheers,
John.
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