Here's a few photos from Brands Hatch.

The vacuum box was playing up, so boost and brakes were affected. As a result the front brakes were starting to glow

Swapped the vacuum box and the day was resumed

My brother also had a go at driving my car

Another plus was I got to drive Richard's fiesta ST

I have to say it is a truly awesome car. All of the modifications compliment each other perfectly and make for an amazing drive.

Far superior to the Fabia I have to say

I then went out as a passenger with Richard to see how it really should be driven

Where did you get your centre caps mon?

Those ST's are nice bits of kit. I park next to one at work and admire it everyday.. had a sneaky drive in it, very nice!

Edited 11 February, 201610 yr by MidWalesVRS

Great pictures of yours, those brakes look perfect through the wheels at speed, even with the red rim tape

Where did you get your centre caps mon?

Those ST's are nice bits of kit. I park next to one at work and admire it everyday.. had a sneaky drive in it, very nice!

I got them from ebay. Will see if I can find a link

Great pictures of yours, those brakes look perfect through the wheels at speed, even with the red rim tape

Thanks, could do with bigger brakes on the rear now though the 256s look small compared to the fronts.

The wheels were slightly scuffed as they were previously used as track wheels so thought I'd give them a little coat of red hammerite to make it stand out a bit not everyone's cup of tea I know but I like the look

I got them from ebay. Will see if I can find a link

Found some on there. Been wondering what to do with mine. Was supplied with colour coded centre caps - the proper ones that sit flush to the surface.. but these look a better solution to having the Audi badge on the wheels.

Love the red on your wheels! Sets it off.. wouldn't mind doing mine in a little bit of white :-)

Edited 11 February, 201610 yr by MidWalesVRS

These are what I used

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141176478877?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111059328953?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

On good news the car is now sporting an after market oil cooler. (Pics to follow)

Also changed the radiator, expansion tank and replaced some of the coolant lines as a few of them weren't sealing properly. Went down to 7mm fabric braided hose

Here's a few photos from the Castle Combe Spring action day.

I have to say the car was running really well. Maybe a little smokier than usual and my brother said it sounded louder!

Maybe there's a slight boost leak/ slight blow on the exhaust. I'll get it checked when I can

I have to say the car was running really well. Maybe a little smokier than usual and my brother said it sounded louder!

Maybe there's a slight boost leak/ slight blow on the exhaust. I'll get it checked when I can

There was a boost leak, the hose from turbo had came away a little, and the car past its mot.

Not done too much for a while. I started to lose interest as it started playing up, to the point it was abandoned in my garden for 3 weeks.

Limped it to the local garage as I suspected a clutch/ release bearing issue.

It turns out the clutch had fallen apart. The friction material was fine, but the plate had fractured. The mechanic said the springs fell out and scattered every where. I know there were a few reports years ago about the southbend clutch but mine lasted 4.5 years before giving up the ghost.

I replaced it with a Sachs upgraded clutch and their single mass flywheel. The complete clutch and flywheel assembly is lighter than than the southbend single mass flywheel! That's probably why it was quieter than any other single mass on the market.

Whilst mine was off the road I was lucky enough to borrow a car from a great friend.

Was nice to be back in a petrol after 6 years and it drove surprisingly well

Gave the old girl a bit of a clean and met up with my brother for a little drive and some photos. Will post some photos later

Still looking good Charlie!

Thanks Steve

Your bruv needs some Ronals to match yours IMO (sure I've seen some for sale on here too........)

I don't think it would be able to move with the weight of them lol

Here's a few snaps from Monday's eventful track day

Didn't get as many laps as I'd have liked as I had a few issues crop up.

First time out I started to get a vibration from the drivers side front, which is possibly to do with the disk, either glazed or slightly warped.

Let it cool down and went out for another run which was much better, no vibration but the session was cut short due a red flag.

I let my brother take my car out and after watching him go round a few times I noticed the car was steaming. Tried to wave him in, but he didn't notice, luckily a marshal spotted it too, so waved him in.

Popped the bonnet and noticed that there was a massive build up of pressure in the coolant tank, which forced the coolant out of the cap.

Suspected culprit is head lift, so will need to replace the head gasket!

Game over for me for the day.

I did get some passenger laps in one of Team Hard's VW cup cars and what a car it is. The handling was unbelievable! The speed through the corners was just something else. It was catching a couple of gtrs with over twice the power.

An amazing day with some great friends

Think PD150 headbolts fitted will stop head lift?  Hopefully not need the actual gasket replacing.

Once coolant has passed over the gasket it's failed basically. PD150 head bolts can help but won't fix the problem.

I already had pd150 head bolts. Guess if it's going to happen it's going to happen. May upgrade to the arp stud and nut conversion, but that's mega money for some bolts

It's no big deal doing the head gasket, I'm sure you'll manage it.

What sort of power are you running again?

Shouldn't really need much after a new head gasket and new set of PD150 head bolts torqued down correctly.

Of course other things to check like water pump and thermostat are worth double checking.

Power is around 220, or 1.9bar peak.

Water pump was done 2014, so should be fine. May check the thermostat though