Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing

The name TNTRacing came about as both our last names begin with the letter T. Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley.

Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing
Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing
Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing
Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing
Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley - TNTRacing

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TNTRacing

Sierra XR4x4 2.8

Just 2 mates with a shared passion for motorsport especially BTCC from the late 80's and early 90's. It wasn't until we started competing and had 3 hour drives to the circuits so plenty of time to chat. We realised that we grew up only 4 miles apart and both went to watch the RS500's race around Birmingham in the Super Prix and were literally standing 100 meters apart. The name TNTRacing came about as both our last names begin with the letter T. Paul Taylor and Alan Tolley.

This was actually the second car we built, the first being a Sierra XR4x4 2.8 Janspeed Turbo but was never going to make the power we wanted. Bought as a non runner totally standard Sierra XR4x4 2.8. The first job was to get it running and take it for an MOT. Even though it was going to be our Time Attack car we wanted it road legal as the MOT gave us an idea of the overall condition of the car. 

We've always been into the whole car scene for many a year including flying down to London for the monthly Ace Cafe meets.

Between us we've had some 13 Sierra's so when it came to choosing what base car to use it was simple. The fact that we know them and have worked on them to keep our daily s running meant it was a no-brainer. The only question was what engine. The 24v cosworth engine boosted or a cosworth yb. 

1st car Paul Taylor, Alan Tolley and Alan's brother Wayne Tolley

The build didn't go to plan at all and came very close to being binned. Every part of the engine that we would have to re-use was cleaned, machined, polished or fettled in some way. The engine block was degreased  before being sent away to be skimmed, re-bored -.25mm and honed. The first block was a 205 as only planned to push it to around 330 bhp and ultimately would be keeping it as a backup engine. But with the car still in the air on a 4 poster and no exhaust fitted it was time to fire it up, just to make sure all was well. Instead water was pissing out of the down pipe. Once Alan had stripped it all down  we found it had blown a tiny hole in cylinder bore 4. We sent it away to be sleeved then put it all together again. On it's first road test it pissed water everywhere....damn....another strip down. This time it had blown a small hole in cylinder 3. At this point I decided to scrap the block as it was obviously a weakened block. Each time we had to strip it and rebuild it we had to fit all new gaskets. We managed to source another 205 block and started again with the machining. This time I got a phone call telling me they had found a hairline crack between the waterways. Block number 2 scrapped. At this point we were at our wits end and were close to throwing in the towel. One last go at it. This time we sourced an original unmolested 200 block, which was always going to be our main engine. Finally the cosworth b was built and running and made a strong 460+ bhp held back due to the current gearbox.

From here we suffered a head gasket failure but this turned out to be due to re=using the stretch bolts in the head each time we built it. We never claimed to be mechanics just fans of the haynes manuals.

All the fabrication work, vinyl application has all been done in house through trial and error in some cases. 

We had set our sights on 2015 for a full on attempt to win the Classic & Retro Time Attack Championship. Thanks to Gary Hayward of Automotive Performance Tuning (APT) in Norwich for fixing a few problems we had and also the awesome job of mapping the car. Then on the 8th March I got a text from Alan letting me know he was in hospital after suffering a mild heart attack. At this point everything stopped and the focus was on Alan recovering and supporting his wife and their 3 mth old daughter. 

Spec Sheet  

Engine:

  • Cosworth 200 block
  • Honed and re bored -.25mm
  • Standard 2wd head
  • Standard valve springs
  • Forged Wossner Pistons +.25mm
  • Standard conrods
  • ACL race bearings +.25
  • ACL Big End Bearings
  • ARP nut & stud head kit
  • Cometic gaskets throughout
  • MLS Head gasket
  • TNT Spec. Inlet cam
  • TNT Spec. Exhaust cam
  • Adjustable Cam verniers
  • Genuine Gates cambelt
  • Hydraulic cam followers
  • Re-ground and balanced crankshaft -.25mm
  • High pressure Oil pump
  • AP Racing 6 paddle clutch
  • Lightened and Balanced flywheel
  • 4wd Inlet manifold
  • 14mm Inlet spacer
  • 2wd Exhaust manifold with trouser piece 
  • Garrett GT3076 turbo 
  • Stage 1 turbo hanger
  • Custom made heat shield in Reflect-A-Gold heat wrap
  • XS Power 38mm External wastegate
  • Screamer pipe plumbed into exhaust
  • Electronic boost controller & boost solenoid
  • Omex 600 ecu
  • Oil swirl pot x2
  • Bailey motorsport header tank
  • Genuine RS500 Motorsport intercooler
  • Alloy radiator
  • Mocol 13 row oil cooler
  • Power Steering fluid cooler
  • Bosch 044 fuel pump
  • Uprated fuel pump wiring loom
  • RC750 Injectors
  • Wasted spark setup
  • Motorcraft 071 spark plugs
  • 102mm air filter
  • Variable electric control for cooling fans
  • Twin Cosworth cooling fans
  • Modified windscreen washer bottle to cater for intercooler spray jet
  • Subaru wrx sti Intercooler spray jet
  • 3” Stainless Steel exhaust, turbo back
  • G19 Baffled and gated sump

Gearbox and drivetrain:

  • MT7 Gearbox
  • Quickshift gear kit
  • Gearbox internals shot peened
  • Gearbox internals cryo'd
  • Caparo Technologies bespoke 330mm front grooved discs                                                                                       
  • Caparo Technologies 4 pot calipers
  • Ferado 1.11 front brake pads -
  • 2wd Cosworth rear vented and grooved discs
  • Scorpio Cosworth rear calipers
  • XR4x4 Driveshafts
  • 4wd Cosworth propshaft
  • 2.0 Ltr 3.92 XR4x4 Diffs
  • Adjustable track control arms
  • Goodridge braided brake hoses
  • Avo - RACE / RALLY II – R2  Motorsport Coilovers
  • Tnt Racing spec. springs
  • Sapphire cosworth front anti roll bar
  • Escort cosworth rear anti roll bar
  • Flo Flex Poly Bushes throughout   
  • 25mm Hub centric wheel spacers with extended wheel studs – Rear
  • 15mm Hub Centric wheel spacers with extended wheel studs - Front

Interior & Exterior:

  • Fully stripped interior
  • Passenger alloy foot rest
  • TntRacing custom made front strut brace
  • TntRacing custom made rear strut brace
  • Sparco sprint v FIA drivers seat
  • K-Sport FIA 5 point harnesses
  • Lexan 4mm side windows with sliders
  • Fibreglass 3dr Cosworth bonnet
  • Reflect-A-Gold heat shield on bonnet inside
  • Aero bonnet catches 
  • 3dr Cosworth front arch kit
  • 3dr Cosworth front grill
  • RS Optional Minker side skirts
  • Carbon fibre rear wing on 10” raisers
  • XR4x4 rear spoiler
  • Custom made front bumper for race use
  • Modified 3dr Cosworth front bumper for road use
  • Custom made undertray
  • Hand held 1.75Ltr fire extinguisher
  • Cosworth 170mph speedometer
  • Boost gauge
  • Oil temp gauge
  • Oil Pressure gauge
  • Water temp gauge
  • EGT gauge
  • Volt meter
  • MSA Time Attack Rain light
  • Single headlight conversion  with mesh inserts
  • 6 point bolt in roll cage with diagonal door bars
  • MSA Roll bar padding
  • Plated sunroof
  • Roof wrapped black
  • Gear shift light
  • Rear wiper and motor removed
  • Aerial removed
  • TnTRacing Custom made Polycarbonate door cards 
  • Suede Momo Racing steering wheel
  • RS Bonnet raisers
  • TnTRacing custom graphic design

Wheels and Tyres:

  • Team Dynamics - Qualifier alloys (Blue) 7.5x17 - Nankang AR-1
  • Team Dynamics - Qualifier alloys (Blue) 7.5x17 - Nankang NS-2R
  • TSW       - Imola alloys (Blue) 7x17 - Bridgestone RE050

I contacted the Time Attack organisers to formally withdraw from the first round only. I didn't want to pull us out completely without speaking to Alan first as it was a joint venture.  Whilst he was recovering the doctor banned him from driving for a period of 12wks. His 12 wk driving ban would expire the night before round 2 which was at Snetterton. We decided to go for it but as Alan would be driving we agreed from here on it was his call.

Round 2 of the 2015 Time Attack Championship was here and it was raining Alan headed out for the warm up session and after 3 laps he pitted saying he 'couldn't do it'. We had given it our best shot but my best mate is more important, so I started to pack up. Then Alan came over and said it's stopped raining and that he wanted to give it another go. We won and went on to win the championship. 

2016 and we were ready to defend our title but at the 12th hour our new big sponsor pulled out leaving us no option but to pull out as we didn't have the budget for a full season. So we went and just played on track days and had so much fun. We also spent the year making changes to the car. We changed the entire suspension setup, upgraded the brake pads and a few other minor jobs.

2017 after being laid up for almost 2 years we were ready to test it properly by entering a single round of Time Attack at Oulton Park. We went there having set ourselves a target lap time but as we had to run the control tyre the day was a lot more difficult than we expected. The car ran from green flag to chequered flag every session and never missed a beat and by the last session we were only 1 sec. Off our target lap time. A successful day to be honest.

We would like to return to Time Attack but not on the current control tyre so are currently looking at the Modified Fords race series but before we do anything we will need to get an uprated gearbox from Italy, but this will have to wait till things settle down a bit. In the meantime we will just keep taking it out on track days and doing what we love most.

Pictures, info and videos can be found on our facebook page and youtube channel

TNTRacing.uk

You tube: Bart10180

Thanks to the following for their help and support along the way

Gary Hayward of APT

Turbo Technics

Matt Lewis Motorsport

Nankang uk

AS Performance

Time Attack Championship

Modified Fords

Oval Owners Club

XR4Register

Litchfield Trailers

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