Unique piece of touring car history arrives in Kerry
A genuine piece of British Touring Car Championship history has arrived in the Kingdom, following the acquisition of an ex-Tim Harvey 2001 BTCC Alfa Romeo 147 by Tralee’s Jamie Masterson.
Masterson, a multi-talented driver with a competitive background spanning drifting, motorcycle racing, and saloon car racing, secured the exotic machine with major plans for its long-term future.
After its professional track career in the BTCC concluded, the Alfa Romeo was converted to tarmac rally specification. Masterson intends to completely undo those modifications, undertaking a full rebuild to return the car entirely to its original 2001 touring car specification and iconic livery. Once the extensive restoration project is completed, the car will return to the track for a busy schedule of season races and specialized show events.
The car is built around a left-hand-drive, lightweight, fully seam-welded factory GTA shell featuring an FIA international factory-spec roll cage, carbon door cards, a carbon boot floor panel, and a carbon centre console.
Under the bonnet sits an Alfa factory 1.8cc short-stroke twin-cam engine. This high-specification powerplant utilizes a machined factory block with oil jets, a big valve cylinder head, a steel multi-layer head gasket, full race camshafts with Vernier pulleys, forged Wossner high-compression slipper pistons, and steel forged connecting rods. It is controlled by a MoTeC ECU and dash system, running through individual throttle bodies with a super lightweight flywheel and a factory alloy radiator featuring a built-in oil cooler.
Power is delivered through a five-speed close-ratio dog gearbox mated to a sequential gear shifter, a plated limited-slip differential (LSD), an AP Racing paddle clutch, and specialized motorsport driveshafts.
The suspension layout is equally high-spec, utilizing Eibach three-way magnesium dampers and springs, adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, a complete factory rose-jointed lower arm set, and factory crossmembers. Stopping power comes from a Tilton bias pedal box operating Brembo four-pot front calipers and Brembo two-pot rear calipers through a hard-line system, all sitting behind 15-inch Raceline wheels.
Rounding out the technical specification is a hydraulic quick steering rack with an electric power steering pump system, a factory fuel tank wrapped in a Kevlar cover with Bosch fuel pumps, a factory wiring loom with thermal pop-out fuses, and an electric onboard fire safety system.
Kerry Motorsport News 