If you wish to go circuit racing, there are usually a couple of important steps: Choose a category or race collection, select your automobile, after which enlist the assistance of knowledgeable or roll up your sleeves and construct or rebuild it your self inside the ruleset.
Nowadays, many go for the previous, as race outlets convey a wealth of expertise to the desk – and motorsport could be prohibitively costly. But, there’s a devoted group who burn the midnight oil of their garages, sacrificing money and time to chase their racing goals. Josh Lawton is one in all them.
I’ve been following Josh on social media for a couple of years now, and over this time, his twin expertise as a driver and automobile builder has been evident. A ballsy lap of the Nürburgring in his different automobile – a turbocharged EK Honda Civic – was a selected spotlight.
Ultimately, Josh discovered that observe days weren’t sufficient to fulfill his aggressive spirit. So, together with his father’s assist, they determined to construct a correct race automobile.
The Civic – an EG hatchback – now competes within the Basic Touring Automobile Racing Championship collection, particularly within the Thunder Saloons. The essential necessities for this class are that the automobile will need to have been produced earlier than 2011 and initially seat 4.
This ends in assorted rivals – from supercharged E46 BMW M3s to ex-Australian V8 Supercars. Towards factory-built sports activities vehicles, you would possibly assume a home-built Civic could be out of its depth, however that’s not the case.
Given Josh’s long-standing love for Hondas – fueled by his father gifting him an EG Civic shell to work on collectively at 14 – the Honda selection was a no brainer.
By 16, Josh knew his profession could be within the automotive world. He initially certified as a pipe welder, which outfitted him with essential fabrication abilities. All the pieces else has been handed down from his father.
The EG Civic underwent a big weight discount earlier than receiving a complete weld-in roll cage, tube-frame entrance finish (which included relocating the OEM shock towers), and FRP doorways with polycarbonate home windows.
To maintain tempo with the competitors, Josh made some strategic changes. One was upgrading to 18-inch wheels – 11 inches huge up entrance and 10.5 inches within the rear – wrapped in slicks. By working Michelin medium compounds on the entrance and Yokohama comfortable compounds out again, Josh says the automobile is way more manageable than working medium compounds throughout.
With a purpose to accommodate the huge wheels and tyres, the Civic encompasses a full carbon fibre entrance finish and added bolt-on rear fenders.
Over three years of racing and improvement, the automobile’s aero bundle has advanced considerably, drawing inspiration from two Australian EGs – JDMyard’s time assault automobile and Jordan Cox’s Improved Manufacturing class Civic – in addition to using elementary aerodynamic rules.
The aggressive carbon entrance splitter, flat ground, and vortex-generating facet skirts – crafted in-house – result in a big rear diffuser and gooseneck wing.
Whereas none of those aero additions have been wind tunnel examined, Josh’s software of their fundamental rules and steady on-track testing have resulted in a cohesive, well-balanced bundle. The adage ‘if it seems to be proper, it in all probability is correct’ rings true right here.
Stopping energy comes from 340mm 2-piece rotors, clamped by Brembo callipers sourced from a Renault Megane and paired with Pagid RST5 pads up entrance. On the rear, OEM callipers are deemed ample.
Yellowspeed coilovers with 20kg/mm entrance and 16kg/mm rear springs could seem stiff, however after experimenting with numerous setups, Josh has discovered this mixture to be the candy spot for circuit racing.
Beneath the hood, the Civic boasts a 2.4L Honda Okay-series engine – with some added increase. Sourced from a Honda Accord, the K24A3 engine options cast rods, a K20 oil pump, an upgraded consumption cam, and stronger valve springs. The Rotrex C38-91 supercharger forces compressed air by way of a sizeable Treadstone Efficiency intercooler and 70mm throttle physique, whereas a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and full 3-inch exhaust system handle the exhaust stream.
To face up to the rigours of racing, the K20 5-speed gearbox has been fitted with Gear-X semi-helical gears, a KAAZ 1.5-way plate limited-slip differential, and a Hybrid Racing shifter and cables.
Inside, the Civic is stripped all the way down to its naked bones, with little greater than a race seat and driver controls inside the roll cage. The electronics bundle features a Hondata KPro4 that Josh tuned himself, which connects to an ECUMaster ADU7 show and a PMU16 energy administration unit. In crafting the motorsport-spec loom, Josh acquired invaluable help from a pal at Fulcrum Motorsport.
By this level, you’ll have realised that this can be a real privateer effort, with Josh and his household enterprise virtually each facet of the construct themselves. Whereas discussing the construct, Josh shared, “A part of the joys is the automobile improvement as a lot because the racing. It brings an additional sense of feat.”
Through the Manufacturers Hatch Supertourer occasion this yr, the Thunder Saloon races stood out as a spotlight. After a convincing win in an earlier race, Josh revealed his Civic was experiencing engine points. Adopting a ‘checkers or wreckers’ mindset, he pushed on after a temporary off to struggle again by way of the sphere and declare third place. It was a surprising drive.
Thus far, Josh has competed in 10 Thunder Saloons races, securing seven podiums, together with 5 wins. He’s additionally set lap data for Thunder Saloons at each observe he’s visited, suggesting his trophy cupboard might quickly want an improve.
The subsequent time you’re at a race occasion that includes assist races, don’t overlook them. Take a stroll by way of the pits, discover the drivers like Josh who pour their hearts into their very own vehicles, and preserve a watch out for them on observe – they only is likely to be the spotlight of your day.
Chaydon Ford
Instagram: chaycore
