When a tuner brags about horsepower numbers, it's not uncommon for those numbers to be unrepeatable. Was the car tested properly? Were the numbers fudged? Many different factors mean it can be impossible to replicate the tuners claims. However, we set out to discover the truth about our eight brave etGP contestants based on our own independent dyno tests.
Once again, we sought the expertise of GT Pro Performance Tuning in Fullerton, CA since the tuner possesses a respected Dynojet 424X dyno capable of measuring up to 1500hp and 200mph.
The rules for the dyno competition are very simple. Each tuner is given three opportunities to record the best horsepower figure in a 45-minute session. You don't have to use all three runs and you can pause between pulls to cool the car or tamper with the tuning. Another rule is you can't use nitrous injection, although intercooler sprayers are allowed - something half the field took advantage of.
To assist the GT Pro staff, competitors were divided into RWD, FWD and AWD groups. The RWD guys arrived first. And with an ambient temperature of 80F, Madness Motorworks hit the dyno with its BMW 135i. Engine upgrades were limited to an intake, exhaust and software, but it spun the rollers to 359.13whp on its second run using 100-octane fuel.
George Mehallik of Madness Motorworks was very pleased as the car only recorded 350whp on the previous dyno.
The next rear-drive contestant was Groma Race Fabrications with its supercharged BMW E30 V8. It's first run was an impressive 425.67whp using 110-octane fuel. But with a slight oil leak from the motor, Groma retired early and didn't use its last two runs.
The FWD competitors came next, starting with Bahn Brenner Motorsport. Its Mk1 GTI 1.8T posted 305.64whp, which is almost double the Mk1 campaigned last year by Euro Sport Accessories. Its second run was 304.96whp, which confirmed the legitimacy of its power.
Two years ago, VW specialists Euro Sport Accessories brought a Ford Focus turbo under the guise of its FocusSport division. It made 401.2hp to the crank. Its new orange coupe ran slightly less with a pull of 388.81whp. The team followed its first run with a 386whp pull and retired. Using 104-octane gas, they also brought their own fans and sprayed the intercooler with water to cool the intake.
Kinetic Motorsport took the spotlight next and strapped its GTI 337 to the dyno. Shawn Van Neer from Kinetic, informed us he was only using 94-octane he brought from his home in Canada. On the first run, the tires were smoking the rollers and the tacho didn't give a reading, so no torque figures were recorded. However, the second pull resulted in glory as the Kinetic GTI threw down 558.36whp from its 1.8T. Another pull was done to back up the claim and 555whp flashed on the computer screen. So Kinetic took the accolade of most powerful FWD car in the competition, and one of the most powerful 1.8Ts we've ever seen in etGP!
Returning for its second etGP was WRD's Mk5 GTI. This year they were able to bump power up from 256.82whp last year to 312.85whp thanks to an APR stage 3+ turbo kit. John Gardner from WRD told us there was more power to come but they were scrambling to download new software that morning.
With only the AWD cars left, we welcomed HPA Motorsport back to the event after missing last year. Its Mk4 R32 turbo featured a DSG transmission swap, so the dyno technique had to be different. Lead tech, Darren Scharfenberg slowly accelerated the car into fifth gear and downshifted into fourth to record the dyno run. On its first run they produced 412.60whp but later runs couldn't repeat it. And it was then Darren noticed a ruptured boost hose that probably explained the power loss.