Sinter turns up the heat at rockingham
Successful debut track test for all-new EcoBoost Formula Ford chassis built in Britain to rival French MygaleJames Abbott shakes down new car, is impressed by feel and performance
The new Sinter EcoBoost Formula Ford chassis made a successful track debut yesterday, enjoying a reliable and productive series of runs at Rockingham in the hands of the Radical team and its young pilot James Abbott.
Aside from a few aerodrome shakedown runs yesterday, todays Rockingham laps in tricky damp conditions were the cars maiden speed runs, and its driver - who will make his debut in the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship along with the Sinter at Oulton Park the end of this month - was impressed by its feel and durability.
Its cold and the track is greasy and we are of course struggling with tyre temperatures and sliding around, said Abbott, but the Sinter seems well balanced and the motor is certainly producing plenty of power and torque. Everything seems good and feels normal and natural to drive, which is a good thing. There are little details to be ironed out so that I can be fully comfortable in the car, but on the whole I am pleased.
The Norfolk-built Sinter will face stiff opposition at Oulton from the established French Mygale chassis. Its creator, Lindsay Allen, believes the Sinter will be more than up to the job: We have put a lot of effort into several areas of the car where we believe that an advantage can be gained. It is early days - this is its first proper run and there are some tiny issues which need to be addressed - but overall everything is looking very promising.
Allen paid tribute to Radical, whose engineering input has proved invaluable in recent weeks: Having Radicals facilities available to us has made a huge difference to the project. We would not be at this point now without their help.
Radical boss Phil Abbott added: We were able to step in and machine a new bell housing for Sinter when Lindsays suppliers let him down, and we turned virtually the whole Radical factory over to the job. But all the hard work is starting to pay off now, and although this is the Sinters first proper time on track its all very encouraging.
The teams Sinter will race in the red and white colours of the Radical sports car concern and will also carry the logos of facial treatment company CACI. The cars 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost power unit is tuned by Formula Ford stalwart Scholar.
The opening rounds of the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain are three weekends away at Brands Hatch (30/31 March), where the series will take up its new slot as a BTCC support event in front of ITV4s live cameras.
