BTCC Astra Coupe Test Start

It's been a year since the Astra coupe had a start up, which is also about the same time we have known it has had an oil leak. We saw it under the car but we didn't have access to the air tank needed to pump up the air jacks so we could have a look. Even the lowest profile jack wouldn't fit under the side skirts so we did the sensible thing and totally ignored the situation. Once the slick had reached the outer limits of the side skirts and we had started treading in it every time we tried to walk past the car we had to admit the time had come to actually have a look at it.

The air tank had been dugout from it's hiding place and once connected to the air inlet at the rear of the car it was up in the air far enough to get the arms of the 4 wheel lift under the car. It was pretty obvious where the oil was coming from, same place it always does on these cars, the joint between the engine and gearbox. Russ had cleaned it all to the point where you could have eaten your dinner off it so once it started seeping it was easy to see the leaky bits.

It all seemed to be going so well but I couldn't help wondering what the stench of petrol was, the question was quickly answered when I looked at the back of the car, it was peeing out of the floor plan. I screamed at Malc to shut it off but no human can outshout a BTCC car so wild gesticulations had to be deployed. It had poured at least a gallon out, but it wasn't exactly obvious at first as to why or how. I did a video but the car is so loud the mic is just driven in to distortion so I won't bother uploading it.

These cars have fuel cells rather than tanks, they are filled with foam and have various valves and solenoids to reduce the risk of fire in a crash. When the foam gets old it breaks down and gets in to everything causing all manner of problems. There are 4 pumps in the car, they live in the tank and are capable of providing massive pressures - so much pressure that if the air release valve is seized up the tank blows up like a balloon. Well, that's exactly what had happened here, which was pretty alarming to see. It was literally bulging at the seems and leaking enthusiastically as a result. There is only one word to describe it, that word rhymes with "ducked". I can't see that it can be salvaged, I would never trust it and Malc's Grandson will most likely be driving that some day so no risks will be taken. A company called ATL make them, a brand new FIA approved one is about 800 quid without the pumps - we can fit the ones that are in there, we will obviously need new valves if the ones are as knackered as I think they are.

So that was a bit of a disappointing end to the day but at least nothing went up in flames and everybody is ok. I am terrified of petrol fires since I got badly burnt in one a few years back - it's not much fun watching your skin melt off and then having to be blue lighted 3 hours to the nearest specialist burns unit! Malc will get a new one, we will bung it in and everything will be hunky dorey again. It will be interesting to take it all to bits though and have a look see what has gone wrong.