Along with enjoying many road miles our fleet of cars spend much of their time as workhorses for software and hardware product development!
Occasionally though, we let them off the leash! This year’s PAAA day at Castle Combe Circuit opened up the chance to do exactly that.
We let three of them out to play – our infamous 500bhp VW Golf R, Stage 1 Ford Fiesta ST and our freshly-wrapped 400bhp Audi A3.
VW Golf R
The ‘R’ has done a lot of (s)miles this year both in the UK and beyond. Shows, track time, to Austria and back for the Worthersee show and plenty more in-between.
It’s a brilliant package for both the road and track. With the full Revo Performance and Power Packs it has 500bhp thanks to the IS38ETR turbo and supporting hardware. It’s a completley different animal to the other two cars.
Fiesta ST
Our MK8 ‘ST’ has been ‘burbling’ its way up and down the country – a brilliant iteration of the platform and a worthy successor to the MK7.
It never fails to impress. Boasting our Stage 1 ECU software seeing 250bhp and enhanced overrun, along with our brand new air intake system for the MK8 line, NEW lightweight 18” RV0 alloys, Rear Torque Mount and other upgrades. It never fails to make you smile.
No doubting the Mk8’s abilities. Stage 1 ECU software sees 250bhp. Simple. Subtle. Capable.
Audi A3
The A3, well that’s our ‘old A3’. It has been through various tuning and power over the years and has done more road and track miles than we might care to admit to.
It has been sat hiding in the corner of our workshop for a while as we’ve concentrated on later gen cars. But now it’s back with a fresh look and a brand new attitude!
400bhp, a manual box, caged and track-focused. My ‘fave’ of the three. 18″ RV0’s with Nankang AR-1 tyres.
This was the first time I’d ever driven it… and it was my personal favourite of the three! Polycarb windows, full cage, a set of Cobra seats, harnesses and Nankang AR-1 track-focused rubber. That makes it far closer to what I’m used to.
Castle Combe Circuit, buried in the county of Wiltshire, is a fast, demanding place. For today though it was opened exclusively for all attending the PAAA day – meaning there would be plenty of space to have plenty of fun alongside other PAAA members in attendance too.
What is the PAAA?
The Performance Automotive Aftermarket Association is a trade only association of senior decision makers within companies who manufacture, distribute and retail performance parts or services for the automotive aftermarket throughout Europe.
The Autumnal setting opened up a chance to capture some seasonal shots and a clear track made for plenty of opportunity to stretch the cars’ legs.
Rain and low-grip levels greeted us, but the day dried out offering a great chance to really see what each car could do.
Driving all three on the day you’d imagine they are all very different beats. They are!
The nimble agility of the FWD ST against the 4WD power and precision of the DSG’d ‘R’, versus the track-focused, manual, caged A3 – which is essentially a hardcore, road legal race car.
With other leading brands in attendance including our close partners, Milltek Sport, it was a great opportunity to discuss future ideas with some influential members of the association.
Thanks to the PAAA for putting on the day.
