As Malcolm put it, "I wanted to build one car correctly." With well over $100,000 in components, plus thousands of hours of sweat-equity, this car is built correctly. As any enthusiast that has ever checked a dipstick will tell you, the heart of a racecar is its engine. A 2000 Acura 1.8-liter (110 cubic inch) normally aspirated, fuel injected V-TEC 4-cylinder capable of ejecting 280 horsepower at an adrenaline pumping 9,600 rpm powers Wessex car #91. Given that the car weighs-in at roughly 771 kilos (1,700 pounds), its awesome acceleration "keeps sinking you further and further into the back of your seat" says Lorenzo, who co-drives #91 with Malcolm.
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| Wessex Team owner Malcolm Karl next to his "one car built correctly." (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Acura engine has been fitted with many performance goodies, but of greatest interest and benefit to the team is the computerized engine management system. When the unit's laptop is plugged in, all of the engine settings including valve timing and fuel-mixtures can be instantly adjusted with only the tap of a computer key. Drop the front-wheels into Kinetic Motorsport's dynamometer, tinker all night and by sunrise the little CRX Si will transform itself into a fire-breathing dragon capable of competing in the P2 class of the Westcoast Sportscar Championship, GTU (under 2-liter) division.
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| Not only are P2 class racers fast, they are highly competitive, with a recent race fielding 51 racecars. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
So what is the significance of P2 class you are thinking? Well, amateur racing is divided into four performance groupings known as P1 - P4. The fastest cars on the track, your turbo-charged Porches, Saleen Mustangs and the like comprise P1. One small step down the foodchain is P2. Pretty heady company for a normally aspirated Honda Civic, wouldn't you say? Beneath P2 you will find P3 and P4 classes, neither of which could be considered slug-class. The speed differential between classes is remarkably small.
Not only are P2 class racers fast, they are highly competitive. Immerse the P2's into a diverse field of vehicles ranging from P1 to P4 class and competitiveness will spike off the top of the page on a bar graph. The thrilling race I recently watched fielded no less than 51 racecars. Switch your head to swivel mode, the action comes fast and furious from all directions.