RX8 Track Car

General Info & Pics

2009 RX8 R3.

Started looking at cheap, early RX8s, but after a bit of research, decided to up the budget a bit and look for an R3.

The R3 comes with a number of cosmetic changes - Revised front end, revised side indicators, rear spoiler, side skirts.  Also comes fitted with full Recaro seats (which hold you in batter and making future fitment of harnesses easier).  Also has Bilstein dampers fitted as standard (although conscious that these may be past their best on a car that is now over 10 years old).  Also came with 19" forged alloy wheels.

Other significant modifications to the R3 include additional oil injection points in the rotor housings, aimed at improving lubrication and therefore reducing seal wear.




Track Days


1

1 - Details to follow


2

1 - Details to follow


3

3 - Details to follow


4

4 - Details to follow



Things I have done to the car since getting it:


Lots of Stickers (Again...)

Decided to do something a bit different with the RX8 - After looking online for a few ideas, I liked the idea of doing an urban camo type effect... but with really bright colours (i.e. anti-camo!!!).

I even got one that specifically adds more BHP.


Interior

Not much done in terms of stripping bits out - I am still using the car on the road, and having fully stripped the MR2, I am not convinced I want to go the full way with the RX8... Yet...

However, due to being 6' 2", with a helmet fitted, my head was rubbing against the roof (specifically around the sides where the side curtain airbags are - To alleviate this, I ended up removing the roof lining and both side curtain airbags - I need to get some resistors in the connectors to stop the airbag warning light from showing in order to get it through an MOT.

I have also removed the rear seats, which was really easy to do - Whilst these do not weight a lot in themselves, as I am planning to fit a roll cage and harnesses in the future, these needed to be removed anyway.


Brakes

  • Refurbished Calipers (Standard Rev 3 calipers);
The front calipers had started to bind slightly (I believe they were the original calipers from new.  After looking at options, I decided that a big brake upgrade wasn't necessary for the RX8, so went for a full set of refurbished calipers with new discs and some track pads...
  • Braided Brake Lines;
Decided it was best to change to braided lines at same time as replacing calipers (this is a highly recommended mod for track use, as it can help to reduce the chances of any spongy brake feel from old rubber brake lines - the steel braiding effectively stops the rubber hose from expanding when under pressure, meaning all the braking force goes straight to the pistons in the calipers).
  • New Discs (MTEC grooved);
The Discs I went for were the same I had been running on the MR2 for a few years - MTEC grooved.  These are great and I like the fact that they help keep the surfaces clean, although accept that they do lead to increased pad wear.
  • Brake Pads;
For pads, I had a bit of trial-and error on this.  I had been running EBC YellowStuff on the MR2 for years without any issues, so decided to try their BlueStuff pads for the RX8 - They didn't work at all... I have now ended up with Carbotech XP10 front and rear.

I tried a couple of sets of the EBC BlueStuff pads, but each time they lasted less than a day on track - That is terrible.  I cannot recommend them to anyone and I for one will not be using EBC pads ever again.  That is a shame in a way, given that I never had any issues with the YellowStuff pads in the MR2, but the Carbotechs are head and shoulders better than the EBCs - And this is from direct experience, not just some brand snob internet warrior... It does make me wish I had actually tried carbotechs in the MR2.
  • Motul RBF600 Brake fluid.

The Motul RBF600 brake fluid is is a DOT 4 fluid, which has been designed specifically for race/track use, so has a very high boiling point, meaning significantly reduced risk of brake fade on track.  Motul also do a RBF660 fluid, which has a higher 'dry' boiling point, but a lower 'wet' boiling point, and as I am not planning to change the fluid for every track day, I opted for the RBF600, as this should, in theory, last a bit longer between changes.  I have not had any issues with brake fade since switching to RBF600.

Brake Fluid Boiling Point Comparisons:

  • Motul RBF600:
    • 'Dry' boiling point = 312 degrees C
    • 'Wet' boiling point = 216 degrees C
  • Motul RBF660:
    • 'Dry' boiling point = 325 degrees C
    • 'Wet' boiling point = 204 degrees C
  • Standard DOT 4:
    • 'Dry' boiling point = 230 degrees C
    • 'Wet' boiling point = 155 degrees C
  • Standard DOT 5.1:
    • 'Dry' boiling point = 260 degrees C
    • 'Wet' boiling point = 180 degrees C


Wheels & Tyres

Extra sets of wheels and tyres - currently running:

  • Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport in 235/40/R18 (on a refurbished set of standard RX8 18" wheels)
  • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 in 235/40/R18 (on a refurbished set of OZ forged RX8 PZ 18" wheels)
  • Avon ZV7 in 225/40/R19 (General road use, fitted to standard forged RX8 R3 19" wheels)


Exhaust

Simple De-Cat - surprising how much extra bangs at full revs you get with a de-cat.



Planned Future Mods:


Roll Cage

Planning to fit a half-cage in the rear.


Harnesses

4-Point Race harnesses for both Driver & Passenger.  Helps keep you planted in the seats under the extreme g-forces of track driving.