46 auto italia
four ‘moments’ in one corner! But, I have to say, Ted
demonstrates that it’s all easily controllable if you
have sharp responses. That’s proof enough for me
that the chassis set-up works. In the dry, I have no
doubt that the 4C would be one of the quickest road-
legal cars on the track.
There’s one area in which the 4C is invincible, even in
today’s conditions. That comes just after the final kick
of oversteer out of Clearways. As soon as you’re on the
straight, the 4C just leaves every other car for dead.
That near-350hp power output and even lighter kerb
weight mean it just catapults it down the tarmac. It’s
deceptively fast, as ever.
Then, when you arrive at Paddock Hill bend and some
brakes are required, the 4C delivers again, thanks to
another area of upgrade, although only slight: Ferodo
DS2500 pads are fitted all round.
We’ve driven this 4C on a ‘snapshot’ day. This is a
project that’s always in development, never standing
still. Jamie has more plans, of course: a full race ECU,
twin-scroll turbo, tubular manifold and 100-cell
catalyst. Result? The 4C should develop an easy
400hp. Oh, and then there’s his plan to take the
1742cc engine out to 2.0 litres, done by increasing the
stroke. Jamie noticed that the 4C engine’s 93mm bore
is shared with the 916 GTV unit, so by using the 916
crank the engine can be taken out to 2.0 litres. It will,
however, need a modified crankcase.
So I’m already concocting several reasons to revisit
the AlfaWorks 4C in the future. One, because it’s such
a dynamic, ever-changing project. And two, because
we want to see what it’s capable of on a dry track that
doesn’t spit you out like a pellet. 400hp plus in the
dry? Yes please. III
THE EVERYDAY TRACK CAR
A
lso at our Brands Hatch track day is Christian Bridgland, the joint owner
(with his brother) of this black 2014 4C. Remarkably, the car’s odometer
turned 89,000 on this very track day. Yes, this is Christian’s everyday car,
used in all conditions – even ones far worse than today. The car is virtually
standard, with only an AlfaWorks race ECU (pushing power up 300hp), K&N filter,
Samco hoses and uprated brake pads and lines.We quizzed Christian on what the 4C is like to run as an everyday machine.
“It’s brilliant,” he smiles. “It’s actually very cheap to run. It did need a clutch at
76,000 miles, which was a big job, requiring the wing, bumper, engine and
gearbox to be taken out. I’ve sampled lots of tyres but the best are Michelin
Pilot Sport 4s. On the right tyres, I love driving it in the snow!”
Having enjoyed a few laps at Brands Hatch in Christian’s car, it’s great to
be able to report that, with a completely standard chassis, the 4C is
absolutely in its element on the track. In the company of some serious
machinery, only Caterhams were cornering quicker on the day. Which
confirms the theory that track driving is what the 4C was developed to
deliver – and deliver it certainly does.CONTACT:
Alfa Workshop, Unit 15 Orchard Road, Royston, Herts
SG8 5HD. Tel: 01763 245481.
Web: http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk