2006/07/27 - Faster Lap Times

Faster Lap Times With CG-Lock Proven at Bruntingthorpe

Bruntingthorpe 27th July 2006. Dale Lomas, Independent journalist & test driver/reviewer set out to test the claim that the extra stability and control offered by the CG-Lock really would provide the ultimate benefit… faster lap times.

Using DRIFTBOX® GPS technology (www.driftbox.com) accurate to 0.01 sec, Dale took a 2006 VW Golf GTI with paddle shift and a manual 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (Spec-D) around the winding Bruntingthorpe circuit with, and without the CG-Lock. After warm up laps with both cars, 10 laps were timed, first with the CG-Lock tight, and then with it disengaged.

The result: with the CG-Lock tightened the laps were consistently faster by over 1.7 seconds with the Golf GTi and 0.6 seconds with the Subaru WRX over an average lap time of 1’43” and 1’37” respectively. This means that in a typical 10 lap session, with a CG-Lock, one would gain 17 seconds in the Golf and 6 seconds in the Impreza. This is a highly significant difference, and as other variables were kept constant, this improvement in lap time is 100% attributable to the CG-Lock.

Dale commented “I felt more secure, was able to brake later into corners and drive with more confidence. I was able to concentrate on taking the right line and changing gear instead of wasting valuable concentration on bracing myself against the doors and bulkhead. Almost like wearing a race harness, the CG-Lock allowed more delicate steering inputs uncluttered by attempts to hang on to the steering wheel. The steering wheel is a delicate instrument, not a hand-hold.” The data showed clearly that the longitudinal acceleration is greater between gear changes through corners, which, according to Mike Broadbent, MD of DRIFTBOX means that with the CG-Lock tight, Dale was “not struggling to hold the car on a given line – he was simply driving it”.

The results reflect the many anecdotes from the past year from track day drivers (both professional and amateur) where they reported feeling more ‘at one’ with their car after fitting the CG-Lock onto their standard seatbelts and as a result could get the immediate feedback from the tyres to make necessary minor adjustments to the steering wheel.

Pentti Airikkala“Without a full racing harness, or CG-Lock, cornering at speed can only be achieved by bracing elbow and knee to ‘lock the body’ against the G-forces. This significantly reduces the ability to change gear and steer as it effectively ‘takes out’ the right hand and left foot” said Graham Cox, MD of CG-Lock (Europe). Advanced techniques such as left foot braking are impossible without being ‘pinned’ in the seat and Pentti Airikkala, master of the technique (see www.leftfootbraking.com) recommends the CG-Lock to all his students.

Dale, who recently came 3rd in the Cannonball run, went on to say “I was very impressed with the CG-Lock. It strapped me into the car solidly and let me get on with driving it. Without that ‘locked-in’ feeling, you’re going to find smooth consistent driving that much harder. There’s no doubt in my mind; a CG-lock gives a lot of the benefits of a raceharness with little of the cost and it’s fitted in minutes.”

For less than £45, the lap time improvement with the CG-Lock is the same you’d get from a variety of modifications and upgrades to your car costing many hundreds, even thousands of pounds. The CG-Lock improves the driver, not the car. The CG-Lock has added benefits off-track too. A lightly tightened lap belt holds your spine in the proper position against the lumbar support of the car seat and on longer journeys has led to elimination of lower back pain.

Next time you get out on the track with an un-harnessed car, be sure to be in better control with the proven help of a CGLock… or you could find CG-Lock’d cars going past you! See what customers say about the CG-Lock at www.cg-lock.co.uk and select ‘reviews’.

As Anthony Dunn, top ARDS professional performance driving instructor puts it “For drivers not wearing a race harness, the CG-Lock is a must-have” (www.IWannaGoFaster.com).

The lap timing event was captured fully with the latest car-mounted video equipment from FAST FILM. This will be available shortly from www.cg-lock.co.uk and www.fastfilms.co.uk as a download. Please contact CG-Lock at info@cg-lock.co.uk or call the office on 0161 832 3786 for a full press pack. See more photos at www.flickr.com (search for CG-Lock).

The CG-Lock has been crash tested and proven not to interfere with the safety of the seatbelts, with or without pre-tensioners. CG-Lock® is a registered trademark. NB The CG-Lock is not a safety device. Referenced views expressed are not necessarily those of Lap Belt Cinch (Europe) Ltd.