Update 13 - Findings and What's next?

Our engine builder partner has stripped the engine to investigate what happened, as the engine by all the data we have was operating within limits. It looks like there was a miss casting of the No.1 piston which caused it to fragment and cause cascading and terminal damage to the block, cylinder head and No. 1 rod. Interestingly it looks like this was very progressive and could have begun before the weekend even started.

So.. what next.

Luckily we have a close relationship with our engine builder... having notched up a win even though we missed half of a days racing he's keen to get us back out winning with one of his engines in the car.... so...

He's going to supply an interim engine, a stock Zetec with minimal modifications such as cams. I'll take the car up with dad and fit this into the car on Sat next week and he'll set-up the ECU in the afternoon. That will get us back out racing in time for MIRA.

In the mean time, he's already started sourcing all the parts required to build a completely new engine, as you might expect we will be using a higher quality piston manufacturer.

At the mid season point when the new engine is ready we'll swap out the two and come back with the new one. All the while we will be sticking with Class 7 and as we are using a new block, we don't have to worry about a re-bore taking us into Class 9.

I have to say Northampton Motorsport have been very professional and if nothing else this has increased the ties between the two of our respective companies. You can expect more joint projects in the future.

Troy's put what's left of No. 1 piston and the two snapped off valve heads to one side. I'm going to get them cast into glass to make a reminder paperweight!!

He's also taken some pictures, if I can I'll post some when I get them through.