Great Onboard Action from the Chevrolet Supercars Middle-East

MaxxUK · 6 Dec 2010 at 20:04

It's that time again, snow on the ground, sub zero temperatures in the UK but winter in the Middle-East means Motorsport time.

The Chevrolet Supercars ME series kicked off at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain and I was there once again driver coaching a number of the drivers. It was a somewhat warmer 30 deg C

First couple of onboards now posted from this race weekend. LOTS more to be posted over the next few days.

Onboard: Raed Raffii wins Race 2 @ Bahrain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8--pABCxcss

Onboard: Great Action from Abdulaziz Al-Yaeeesh (Race 2, Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz4vAlr1-Ss

Maxx

Fr0dders · 6 Dec 2010 at 20:40

Interesting to see they are already using the E2 R8 as the basis for this years cars. We havent got them in the UK yet due to the weak £ (compared to the AUS $) meaning that once imported they work out too expensive !

MaxxUK · 6 Dec 2010 at 21:55

MrLOL said:
Interesting to see they are already using the E2 R8 as the basis for this years cars. (

Hmm, you'll have to explain that one to me MrLoL, what is an E2 R8?

Thanks

Maxx

rypt · 6 Dec 2010 at 22:59

HSV E series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_VE_Commodore

MaxxUK · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:55

Thanks

tigerstyle · 7 Dec 2010 at 13:41

rypt said:
HSV E series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_VE_Commodore

aren't some of them the older models too? Like the white car overtaken at 3:28, the VE came out years ago, that white car if it is the old old model must be a dinosaur by now!

MaxxUK · 7 Dec 2010 at 17:18

thepedster said:
aren't some of them the older models too? Like the white car overtaken at 3:28, the VE came out years ago, that white car if it is the old old model must be a dinosaur by now!

Yes, they run 2 classes, SC09 (the cars mentioned above) and the SC06 (2006 models). The 06s are only about 2 seconds a lap slower than the 09s despite being over 100bhp down on power.

BTW, you can actually drive one of the SC06 races cars at Rockingham and possibly Donington Park from next year with "The Racing School". Info below.

http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/v8-super-car.asp

Maxx

Fr0dders · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:10

MaxxUK said:
Hmm, you'll have to explain that one to me MrLoL, what is an E2 R8?

Thanks

Maxx

Another good article explaining the road car they are based upon

http://www.carsales.com.au/reviews/...clubsport-r8-e2-series-sedan-and-tourer-16797

Fr0dders · 7 Dec 2010 at 18:17

thepedster said:
aren't some of them the older models too? Like the white car overtaken at 3:28, the VE came out years ago, that white car if it is the old old model must be a dinosaur by now!

that one would be based on the VZ Commodore

which was made from 2004 - 2006

The one that was made from 2006 - 2009 is the E series 1, which was sold in this country as the Vauxhall VXR8

tigerstyle · 9 Dec 2010 at 12:59

MaxxUK said:
Yes, they run 2 classes, SC09 (the cars mentioned above) and the SC06 (2006 models).

Good way to keep costs down

Are they ex Ozzie V8 supercars then? Old Team cars etc?

MaxxUK · 9 Dec 2010 at 13:42

thepedster said:
Good way to keep costs down

Are they ex Ozzie V8 supercars then? Old Team cars etc?

No, the SC06s and the SC09s were all purpose built for the Middle-East series. The 06s were actually built in Australia and shipped over but the 09s where built in-house.

The 09s ran with the standard engine last season but this was replaced with the more powerful (but also heavier) LSX engine over the summer to better handle the high temperatures in the Middle-East. Some race weekends we have seen 40C ambient.

Maxx

MaxxUK · 9 Dec 2010 at 13:46

Spotted this on Youtube, it's a guy who did the V8 Experience at Rockingham Circuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKY61JCsxyE

Maxx

tigerstyle · 9 Dec 2010 at 14:00

Thanks for the details Maxx, you know a lot about it! What's your connection to it all?

MaxxUK · 9 Dec 2010 at 16:37

thepedster said:
Thanks for the details Maxx, you know a lot about it! What's your connection to it all?

I got involved with one of the V8 drivers in 2007 who was at Uni in the UK. At first I helped with them with remote data logging, they'd send data, i'd analyse, feedback and they'd learn and improve, which they did massively and won the team championship.

I went over for a couple of races at the end of that season so proper race support and live data analysis etc. then they came to UK for some UK circuit training in my Lotus.

I found out at the last race that season that "The Racing School" were going to be buying 8 of the race cars after the last race (which was the F1 race at Bahrain 2008). It just so happened that I also did instructor work for "The Racing School" for many years although I had nothing to do with the deal apart from telling them the best 8 cars to pick.

Another driver came over to the UK for circuit training and I worked with him and the one of the other guys for the 2009/2010 season. They guy I initially hooked up with ran a team and I worked a lot with his driver Raed Raffii a young karter from the region.

I supported them at all the races that (Last) season and did some training days, and also worked with 2 other drivers, one in Lotus, one in Radical.

My initial contact then did a season of MX5 racing (in most of the onboards I have posted on here and every race on my Youtbe channel).

This season I am working again (so far) with the young karter but in a new 2-man team and also supporting his teammate who is brand new to circuit racing plus one of the guys I helped last year who is doing V8s and Radicals and another guy who I may bew switching to next race (helped him with video in this race).

It's not unusual for me to work overseas, i've worked all over Europe, USA, South Africa, Australia and even Russia .. a true jetset playboy driver coach

Maxx