MOVING ON UP
The two other biggest NCR-related jobs in the build process are the externally operable electrical shut-off switch and operating system and the fire extinguisher system, which must be appropriately sized, have exterior and interior triggers and be carefully installed to meet the specific system’ s homologation criteria.
“ Different fire extinguisher systems are homologated for different vehicle types,” explains Duncan.“ Some are designed for larger cars with a bigger bottle and more nozzles than those designed for smaller cars, so it’ s really important to do your research and talk to the manufacturers to find a suitable system.”
Snuggs says that in most cases, fitting the fire extinguisher system is“ not that complex” because, once everything is stripped out, it is easy to feed cables and nozzles to the right place. Some championships stipulate a standard location for the extinguisher, while others offer more flexibility in the way it is laid out in the car.
Championship Ready
In the CityCar Cup, the ballast weight box must be located in the passenger footwell area, so this area is out of bounds and Snuggs advises:“ I usually run the pipes down the side of the transmission tunnel, but I’ ve seen people get creative and do things differently. Sometimes there are some good ideas out in the paddock, and you can also find a lot of tips online.”
Beyond safety, race car preparation also involves a range of performance modifications, depending on the championship. In every situation, however, work begins with a full assessment of the car’ s current condition, upgrading or replacing items such as brakes and suspension components that are either too worn or do not meet championship regulations.
The few areas that can be changed within the City Cup regulations require minimal mechanical capability, and Snuggs explains:“ It’ s mostly standard spec cars, so the big deals when it comes to the build are really the safety aspects like the roll cage, the seats, and harness, and the fire extinguisher system.
“ There are a few modifications we can do – for example, we can take the standard bushes out of the bottom suspension arms and put a Polybush in, which is not that hard to do; we can have a cold air feed, the sizing for which is in the regs; and we can also run a non-standard air filter, which is really easy to fit.
“ We use the standard ECU, but we must run a specific engine map, so we have to remove it, send it off and then refit it. Other than that, it’ s mostly about replacing parts and it’ s a very easy process to grab hold of something on the car, give it a pull, ask online‘ should it have this much play in it, what should I do?’ and work out how to fix it.”
Having been working on the City Cup for more than five years, Snuggs says he can complete a full race build in around two full working weeks. That time will, of course, vary for other championships, but realistically an individual who is looking to go racing could potentially get the job done in a month of long weekends and a few decent night shifts after work.
A well-prepared car not only improves safety but also inspires confidence on the racetrack, allowing drivers to focus on building the skills and consistency to perform at a higher level rather than worrying about, or being delayed by, mechanical issues and breakdowns. And, ultimately, that will ensure your racing experience is the best it can be.
Rallycross is a production-car based discipline that targa rally competitors may aspire too
James Roberts
The Motorsport UK Technical Team is on hand to provide support and advice to help you prepare for your next event. Email technical @ motorsportuk. org or phone 01753 765 000 and leave a voicemail with your query. Please allow 48 hours for a response.
Revolution- November 2025
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