FR-S at CSCC SCCA autocross

By TRDV6Corolla on Supraforums:

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Went and saw (and got to sit in! more on that in a few) the Scion FR-S run at a CSCC SCCA autocross at El Toro yesterday! Here's a few shots and video from one of the local autocrossers (Makofoto) that does the photos for the region.

 

 

[video:http://vimeo.com/38760952 autoplay:0]

[video:http://vimeo.com/38760297 autoplay:0]

It should be noted this was a prototype that the rep was saying didn't even have the final revision springs and dampers. It ran on a new set of the stock tires (the aforementioned Prius 215/45/17s) with pressures bumped up for autocross. They had the car run by 3 different drivers. Brian Peters, multi time Solo National champ in CSP (miatas) and DSP (BMW 330i), great guy, very knowledgeable and talented. Ken Motonishi, another National champ, very talented Street Touring driver and Ryan Buetzer a C Stock National champ. Brian was especially complimentory, saying the car had one of the best turn feels he had ever driven. He compared it to a Cayman R in that respect. Ken was also very complentory. Toyota forbid their rep from releasing the offical times, only comparisons between the drivers but my brother and I did some crafty stopwatch work to try to get a comparison. 

We (and a few others with same ideas) came out with the fastest time in the high 88 second range for on that courses setup. Brian being the fastest with Ken .3 off and Ryan another .7 off. "Insert a racer's disclaimer here" There has been ALOT of talk about where the car should be classed. Most are saying C or D stock. Yesterday was no exception. It was funny to hear a few Miata guys saying the car should be pushed all the way to B Stock (C4 Corvette, S2000, STi, and Evo territory). Me being an S2000 guy, if I were to hang my ass out a bit on a comparison I would go something like this: The CSCC and SD region run 2 indexed (using the SCCA's PAX system) street tire, Stock classes called SK1 and 2. Yesterday's SK1 winner drove an AP2 S2K to an 87.7. For further reference, the SK2 class (same rules, small cars) winner drove a D Stock index Cooper S and ran an 89.2, the second place NB Miata ran an 88.6 (NC's typically run only alittle faster). These cars were all properly set up running either Star Specs or Hankook RS-3s. I'm the current San Diego SK1 champ so I'm really kicking myself for not running to try to get a good reference to a solid AP2 (I typically beat the this weekend's SK1 winner by at least a second on a 50 second course). Either way with a good set of tires, alignment and the other usual autocrossers tricks I think this car is going to be very difficult to class in stock! It was extremely balanced and quick. Granted it was in the hands of one of the best autocrossers in the country but it seemed very quick. I think it may be too slow for BS but I think this car only strenghtens the arguement that the SCCA shake up organization in the Stock classes. I think it will be too fast for D Stock which is dominated the ITR, Cooper S, Audi TT and WRX. C Stock has become kind of a mess with the Kappas. They run can run a ridiculous amount of tire (255s!) so I think that leads to my concerns about the car in general. Those being adjustablility and wheel size. After having some time to look the car over, the only adjustment in the rear of the car is for toe and the front has only limted camber and toe adjustments (no caster adjustment). Camber bolts are now legal but that only helps the front end. The other issue is for those of us racing under rules the 7" wide wheels are going to make things very difficult in Stock class. I am really lost as to why they would run the 215's on 7" wheels when most cars running 215/45s use 7.5" wheels. 

As for the car itself it looks way better in person. It looked even better on the track. It was almost uncanny the way it changes direction. Probably the best part is it did not seem to run out of gear in 2nd on the course which is huge in autocross. I later found it did but autocross seems to be getting faster and with 6 speed cars these days its very common. The interior, regardless of what people might say about styling feels very high end. I love the fact the steering wheel telescopes. Its really a nice feeling to sit in car you know your going to be racing that has a good close wheel. I was able to dial in a great seating/ driving position in just a few seconds. I'm 6'3" and I think I will have plenty of room with a helmet on. The shifter feels fantastic. I would say it feels smiliar to my S2K (which should stand to reason as its the same basic Aisin unit) but slightly longer in throw but that same positive engagement is there. 

Needless to say my gf and I can't wait for ours to here (damn S2K needs to sell! either way, c'mon June!!). I think my plans will be for running it in whatever stock class it ends up in and then next year move to Street Touring where I can change upper control arms and caster to see what can really be done. If any more pics of vids show up I'll try to forward them on.