I was invited to take the Coupe on track at Bruntingthorpe to support the Asda "on your marks" charity event

Basically, a couple of hundred complete petrolheads take paying passengers (£5 per go) for a flying lap of the track, raising cash for various charities

There was some proper exotica there today - Ferrari 458, several Lambos, LOTS of TVRs, many Lotuses (Lotii?), Maseratis, Subarus and various hot saloons, ranging from AMG63, RS6, RS4 and a mighty gaggle of Nissan GTRs (from bog-stock, all the way to a couple of Litchfield specials)

I did about twenty sessions in the Coupe and Matthew, my youngest son, did another half dozen or so

The car was near-faultless all day, with the only casualties being a melted wheelcentre and the brakes being a bit grumbly towards the end of the day

The Coupe repeatedly hit 155 at the end of the straight, which was the same speed as the standard GTRs were getting (as reliably informed by several passengers that had already had a ride in one). Most cars were maxing in the 135-140 region.

Towards the end of the day, I was getting lots of drives for passengers that had been told "its the fastest thing out there!" - not strictly true, as a couple of GTRs had the legs on me by a long margin, and an R32 mullered me on the brakes. I was also comprehensively out-cornered by a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, but I held him off all the way down the straight. I out-dragged an RS6, an RS5, a couple of monstrous Cobras, a variety of hot Subarus, a Jag XF-R, all of the TVRs and to cap it all, the Dodge Viper span out while cornering at the same speed as the Coupe.

Got several comments from other drivers that the Coupe was just epic down the straights and (due the the Quaife diff) it was also holding its own round the corners. The RS6 driver in particular just couldn't believe that I simply pulled away (although to be fair, his gearbox died later in the day, so it may not have been entirely happy)

For some reason, I appear to have used half a tank of V-Power in 50 miles on track.... I estimate it was doing 7mpg average - oops

I've also found out that Ferodo DS2500 can put up with massive abuse - a couple of dozen VERY hard stops from over 150 - the pedal went a bit long towards the end of the day, but the bite was still there - very impressive. Even more impressive was that I didn't kill my MTec discs - they've gone a funny colour and they have a lip that they didn't have at the beginning of the day, but they are still running true with no judder - this would have been a stern test of any disc, but remember that MTec are well under £100 for a pair - far better than they have any right to be at that price

Triple benefits - a great day driving at very silly speed, lots of cash raised for charity AND the Coupe has gone up in several people's estimations

nice to see people doing charity things

also good to see some constructive feedback about some of the parts that you were using to enable other to have some confidence and gain a feel for the parts they may have fitted.

fantastic, it amazes me how the coupe can still grab attention even though its 20 years old. Mind you, yours is 400bhp+

and great new on the mtec's, got some on mine, gives me alot more confidence in knowing they can take some beating(with good pads of course)

its nice to hear the coupe getting more attention to which it deserves

Well done Nigel! Mtec on mine also with carbotech xp10s.No probs with either.
I just wish i could get up to 155 on a straight.

The Fiat coupe just keeps giving eh!

Is the straight really 3.2KLM

You have a special.couoe Nigel, and im glad you're not affraid to use it as you prove over and over!
Great to hear you gave the big boys something to fear and showed the general public the coupe really is a baby fezza!

Top Job, even better it was all in the name of charity!

Great write up Nigel
I would have gladly paid a fiver to go at that sort of speed in a coupe
Ain't never gonna get a chance in mine

Nigel have you got any go pro footage. Sounds like you had a blast and probably a cheap track day for a good cause. What's your spec Nigel?

Excellent stuff, good write up Nigel

No - we were using about half of the runway length - the full-length track looks like this but we were on the short track, which looks like this

The main runway length is exactly 3000m

Outstanding Nigel, a true credit to all things coupe!

I laughed out loud when I read this

"cap it all, the Dodge Viper span out while cornering at the same speed as the Coupe."

Reading posts like this really make me miss my old coupe.

Nice to hear about the Mtec discs Nigel..... If they can stand up to a day of abuse from you then that is high praise indeed.

Not surprised passengers thought it was fast, but I expect the driver also had something to do with that perception.

Sounded like a really good day for everybody concerned.

Good stuff regarding the breaks too even though my coupe is still stock, would like to know more about the diff (price etc)

Still a very under rated car by a lot of people but at least you had the chance to deliver an experience that people probably weren't expecting

LOL - just found a post by the RS6 owner on the OverClockers forum - seems he was fairly impressed with the little Fiat...

Hehe, good stuff! I assume this is the latest V10 RS6 with circa 550bhp?

To be honest, I'm surprised the GTRs managed to equal your speed on the straights. I guess there are a lot of variations now ranging from 475-530 odd bhp now though...

No - it was the C5 - the twin-turbo'd V8 - just checked the stats (440bhp and 1850kg) and it now makes a bit more sense as to why I was able to eke out a bit of a lead



I think their aerodynamics are better than the Coupe, and because the entry to the straight was off the chicane, I was probably 10mph down to start off with.

I had no idea there was such a variance in power on the standard GTRs - 479bhp to 550bhp

Nice one Nigel! I would reccomend some Carbon Lorraine pads, they are a massive upgrade from what you currently have, I was stunned at the difference when I made the switch.

Nigel,

Fantastic write up, like many I have been tempted to sell my Coupe as I am now in a position where I can (just about) afford some exotica, but having read this, it would appear I will be sticking with the Coupe, hell once they get under your skin, they really do get under the skin

Great to see the Fiat Coupe get some genuine recognition it deserves!

Hats of to you Nigel!

Great to read! Nice one Nigel. You are a coupe ambassador!

Reminds me of my time back at Fighting Torque, the Coupe was the surprise package. It's not just about the power, it's the whole package and the fact that it is pretty much "factory" in appearance and behaviour, a special Coupe indeed.

Did you get any footage Nigel?

No - not even any photos - way too busy having fun....

Great stuff Nigel. I'm not surprised you can outdrag an RS6 Nigel - your car is lighter and more powerful, probably less torque though.

I think I know (from RS246) the chaps who went to Bruntingthorpe - one of them was reporting his torque converter was slipping a few weeks ago so not surprised if its knackered

Brilliant read Nigel

And a fantastic win win situation, giving/doing something for charity and you got to have some fun in your coupe plus the positive feedback and at £5 ago, absolute bargain.

Sounds like you had a great time Nigel.
Would of loved to see some of the surprised faces as you outdragged them.
The fastest I ever managed down there was 145 but that was using the full straight in a Mk2 Golf!

GTR footage, just spotted the coop at the end of it, theres not that many videos on youtube at the mo. a few may pop up with your coupe on show

Found this one of a Porsche almost loosing it! Assume it was this years
http://youtu.be/iSxPhuLCjnI

Mine arrives on the boat this weekend.

Nice step backwards jimbo! (this is effort 2 arriving?)

Brilliant stuff Nigel, well done Wish I'd known about this!