POWERSTATION @ CAR TUNER GP
September 17th saw the UK’s inaugural Tuner GP event; the same event in Germany is already into its twelfth year and receives crowds of over 25,000. The idea was to invite the best Tuning companies in the country to come and
showcase their products and services. Big name entrants included Hartge, West Tuning, RC Developments, MTM and Dialynx. As Milltek were the key sponsor behind the event they asked that their Subaru specialists POWERSTATION to
consider entering a team.
Over the years POWERSTATION have worked closely with Litchfield Imports on a number of special projects such as the acclaimed JDM Subaru Impreza Spec C’s and Type 25. They have become know for regularly offering their cars for media comparisons with mainstream manufactures models. The Tuner GP event once again showed that they were not afraid to put their products up for public and critical scrutiny.
The decision was taken to run 2 sister cars under both the POWERSTATION and Litchfield names. These would be the latest 2006 Japanese Spec C’s that Litchfield Imports were the first to import into the UK.
POWERSTATION’s entry was a unique a 2006 Model Year Spec C Type 25 showcasing some of the new features about to be put into production on the new models. It was powered by a 2006 Type 25 2.5 litre engine with a hybrid Garrett turbo and 8 injectors all controlled by a Motec M800 while the cars stopping power was taken care of by the Tarox 12 pot race kits. Despite the car only firing into life the night before the event its potential was huge.
Litchfield Imports ran a MY06 Spec C Type 20 prepared by POWERSTATION, this car featured AST suspension, newly designed 3” Milltek exhaust system with Sports CAT, up-rated actuator, K&N Panel filter and Ecutek remap. Power from the Twin scroll 2.0 standard JDM engine was 360bhp and a massive 507Nm of torque!
“The beauty of the Type 20 kit is how classy and understated every thing is. No noisy intakes placed in either a hot engine bay or filthy inner wing, no un-necessary heavy aftermarket intercoolers just nice simple modifications that work.” said Richard Benton POWERSTATION joint owner. Even more impressive when you consider that these proven engine upgrades cost from just £1,800+vat!
Both the Spec C and Type 25 managed to set exceptional lap times beating some impressive cars including a supercharged BMW E46 M3, monstrous Audi RS4 race car and some seriously powerful Mitsubishi Evos. The Spec C set the fastest lap time of any Japanese car including a long list of Subaru tuner’s entrants using professional drivers. The seriousness which each team took the event underlined its important. 2nd Place fell to WRC technologies who used the lighter MY04 Spec C with a stripped out interior, piloted by Touring car ace and Donnington Park veteran Phil Bennett. However they were no match for the POWERSTATION tuned Spec C Type 20 around the 2 mile national circuit. To put this into prospective the Spec C lapped over 1.3 seconds faster than a Porsche GT3!
“I’m not having to drive around any short comings or traits which means the car can chip away at the laptime with out the need to a do or die effort, it makes it fantastically rewarding to drive.” said driver Iain Litchfield. Words borne out by the lap beacon which shows the Spec C’s times calmly descending into the low 1m:19secs range throughout the afternoon.
POWERSTATION’s Type 25 comfortably won the 2,000cc-3,000cc forced induction class which featured a number of Evos, Subarus and powerful European cars. All this despite having to run significantly reduced boost to comply with the strict 98db noise limit.
The Litchfield Spec C Type 20 was developed by POWERSTATION who possibly have more experience tuning the new age Imprezas then any other tuning company. The Spec C Type 20 is the combination of years of experience working with the Subaru engine. With the launch of the 2006 STI in Japan and revised UK engine range the decision was taken in early 2005 to look at improving the products using data generated by the Type 25’s development.
Working closely with respected industry leaders like Milltek, AST and Ecutek POWERSTATION were able to design and test a number of key component improvements.
Milltek used the latest computer technology to help design a new exhaust system that would both offer higher flow rates but also reduced noise levels. The new 3” system as fitted to Spec C Type 20 features a unique design that in incorporates extra silencers in both the downpipe and centre section which dramatically reduced noise levels. Milltek have also specified the very latest hi-flow Catalyst from Germany that insures that the performance gained is also fully road legal. This new system allows the turbo to generate boost much faster than other systems tested and allows it to spin more freely at higher rpms. This translates to a much broader power band with exceptional throttle response.
As the distributor for AST suspension in the UK POWERSTATION applied similar chassis setups to that tried and tested in the critically acclaimed Type 25. However this race version of the dampers featured 3-way adjustment which meant that fine changes could be made to each cars setup with driver feed back. POWERSTATION’s Curtis Woodman explains “Suspension setup is the key to a genuinely fast track car; even the smallest change can dramatically effect grip, balance and more importantly driver confidence.”
Drivers Richard Meaden, Phil Keen and Iain Litchfield all enthused about the exceptional poise from the AST suspension setups allowing them to place the cars with great accuracy and carry immense corning speed.
All were convinced that the White Type-25 would have been challenging for the overall lead had the turbo bearing not failed earlier in the day. Despite only doing a few laps its pace was exceptional. “The white Type-25 was accelerating through 6th gear down the back straight where the Black Type 20 was only just getting into 5th! We have to take this thing racing!” beamed Phil Keen.
The first Tuner GP was a huge success with all the original goals being reached;
- Fastest Subaru tuner
- Fastest Japanese tuner
- Class winning title
“There should also be a trophy for the fastest built car” jokes POWERSTATION’s Dirk Hale after the huge effort all the staff put into the White Type 25 which was only a bare chassis at the start of the week.
A superb time was had by all and throughout the day new things were learnt about every aspect of both car’s performance. Work has already begun on implementing changes and both companies look forward to competing in next years even bigger event.
Download the full results here:
Overall By Class - download (30k pdf)
Lap Times - download (32k pdf)
designed by: 
POWERSTATION
Northway Trading Est,
Northway Lane,
Tewkesbury,
Glos.
GL20 8JH
tel: 01684 296675
fax: 01684 296645
contact us by email
Workshop Opening Hours Mon - Fri
8.30am - 6.00pm
Saturday
9.00am - 12.30pm
Sunday - closed
The following are sponsors of the POWERSTATION & Litchfield Subaru Impreza:
