top of page
Search
Writer's pictureRumo Finance

The difference between a road car and a race car explained



Motorsport is a harsh environment for vehicles, and appears harsher than the day-to-day use of cars we’re all familiar with.  But that’s not entirely true.


A TOP-LEVEL RACE CAR is pretty much rebuilt for every race, with new parts.  It has a team of experts monitoring it every second it moves. And it’s designed only for speed, everything else is secondary, even reliability. Colin Chapman famously said that if a race car doesn’t fall apart as it crosses the finishing line it’s built too strongly and weighs too much thus compromising its speed – the point being the car only needs to work for a couple of hours, and in very specific conditions. Even safety is different; the race driver has a full set of protective gear, a harness, and sits inside a roll cage.


A road car is quite different. It has to perform in all sorts of conditions, year after year, with minimal maintenance by comparison. It has to balance performance, safety and practicality. In many ways, the engineering challenge is greater – just ask the guys who worked on the Bugatti Veyron where the challenge was not so much the absolute top speed the car achieved, but making the car usuable and semi-practical on a daily basis too.


A car engineer once told me “sure, we could easily double the engine power from any of our motors and it would run reliably… for about half an hour”. Race car teams don’t care, that half hour is all they need and they don’t mind a full rebuild. You probably do.


Top 5: Things racecars have your road car doesn’t need


  1. Flat-bottomed steering wheels – in some race cars there’s little room between the driver’s legs and the steering wheel, hence the flat bottom, and some race car wheels only turn about 100 degrees.  This is never the case in road cars, there’s always plenty of room, and even today road car wheels turn more than 360-degrees in either direction. So it’s not necessary.

  2. Drilled brake rotors – the theory is that the holes help dissipate heat, and make the rotor lighter. Yes, the surface area of the rotor is increased, but a lighter rotor isn’t as good a heat sink as a heavier rotor, and the holes create uneven heating which leads to cracks. You don’t tend to see them on race cars. 

  3. G-meters – only of interest to the passenger. The driver won’t have time to look, so if these stats interest you, use a Vbox or similar to record your run and look at it afterwards.

  4. Nitrogen in tyres – please, don’t. Read this for why.

  5. Aerodynamic downforce – your road car is too heavy and doesn’t go fast enough to warrant the sort of focus on aerodynamic downforce you see on race cars.


Top 5: What your road car actually needs for use at a racetrack


  1. Good brakes – far and away the most important modification for any roadcar, as the stock brakes are almost never designed for track work with some exceptions such as most Porsches and Lotuses.

  2. Supportive seats – you can generate a lot of sideways force and if you have to brace yourself against the car, then you’ve got a problem as you cannot then effectively control the car, 

  3. Multi-position traction and stability control so you can drive fast with a an electronic safety net

  4. A big tacho so you can see when to change gears

  5. Robust transmission – overheating the transmission is common, for example the rear differential or the gearbox in automatics.


Of course, if you’re not serious then by all means spend up on the bling, but don’t say it help performance.

Comments


bottom of page
4.9
57 Reviews
Yulia El Arnaout
I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your assistance in securing a car loan for me. Your expertise and dedication truly made the process seamless, and I am incredibly pleased with the outcome.Your attention to detail and commitment to finding the best rate available did not go unnoticed. Thanks to your hard work, I was able to secure an excellent deal that aligns perfectly with my financial goals.Thank you again for your outstanding support. I will not hesitate to recommend your services to friends and family in the future
Victoria Otreshko
It’s one of the most amazing, stress free and very successful experience. Fabio is a professional in his field. Thanks to his professionalism I was able to buy a car, which I could not even dream of. He achieved the impossible. I recommend Fabio to everyone as a person who achieves the best percentage for the client. Thank you.
stacey hardy
Went above expectations was fantastic to deal with nothing was ever an issue with him always went above and beyond. Highly recommend Fabio
Renee Lynwood
Thank you Fabio for your exceptional service throughout my application process. You have made the transaction smooth and easy and I have valued your guidance and professionalism throughout. Your market knowledge and attention to detail succeeded any expectations I had. Thank you for your generosity, negotiations and advice, I appreciate all that you have done. I would definitely recommend you and your services to family and friends.
Daryl Axford
Recently used Rumo Finance, to purchase a new car for our business. Fabio was very professional and understanding with our needs, in his approach, helping us find the best deal. Would recommend Fabio and Rumo finance. 5 Stars
Pauliina Hirvela
Really pleased with the service I received. Fabio got me a great loan package that I'm really happy with so I could get my dream car. I never felt like a number at all - his approach was respectful and personal. Thanks so much! Highly recommend
Greg Ross
I have no hesitation in recommending Rumo Finance, Fabio was exemplary, professional and in touch throughout what was a very quick process. A pleasure to deal with.
Bridgette Farmer
Fabio has been amazing to deal with. Overcoming a few obstacles and going above and beyond for us. Very grateful for his experience and knowledge. Will engage him in future without hesitation.
Kimheng Ly
Fabio is fantastic man, he helps me all the way till we got the car. It was a crazy journey of getting the car. The finance part is quick and easy, but we got into the difficult seller which put us back into the waiting and complaining game. However, Fabio managed to close the deal and get me the car. Very good job.
Danny Ellis
Fabio has been tyreless and has shown great results proving that you can get finance in any economic conditions, and for any vehicle, great work. Great broker made the seemingly impossible happen, no obstacle to high no technical issue too hard to overcome great job thankyou
Leomart Dinco
Fabio in Rumo Finance is very good broker to help people like me. Thanks Fabio Caldarola.
Chris and Renee Dwyer
Fabio is honestly the best Broker we have used! He got us the best deal for our Land Rover and was so efficient and quick - it was amazing. The deadline we needed and he met was beyond exceptional and his service is top notch! Nothing was too hard for this bloke.We highly recommend Fabio at Rumo. Will definitely be using him in future for all our finance needs! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Danny Colls
Fabio kept me up to date through the application, worked hard and found the best deal. Thank you.
m sh
I dealt with Fabio and he was fantastic, very knowledgeable, he took the time to understand my situation and needs and provided tailored perfect solutions, I have his details saved for future finance needs and I will always trust referring him to my friends and family.I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
Gurpal Singh
I got my Loan approved today from Rumo finance, it was a very smooth process. Fabio is an absolutely legend, very genuine and honest man. Very low documentation and very speedy process.Thank you once again Fabio. 🙏🏻
Julie Spiteri
I have been dealing with Fabio for about 3 years now and have been totally satisfied.The passion and love he brings to the service he provides are outstanding.I used to stress when insurance time came, but I leave it to him as I know he will work his magic and find me the best possible deal.Thanks Fabio, your a legend 🙌
Adrian Walton
Fabio is an absolute champion of champions he gave me the best rate up front & was very easy to deal with.
cristian Salvati
Spot on Fabio thank and a big thank you !I had the best experience dealing with Fabio,Efficient, professional everything went smoothly couldn't be happier with the results 🙏
WILLIAM HELLMANN
Where to start, would like to thank Fabio for his awesome dedicated and exceptional service in helping myself and my wife in getting the finances approved. For anyone wanting a 5 star service in any financial situation, please consider Fabio, he will give you and your family a 100% dedication towards your goals.Thanks again Fabio, the days where long but the outcome was great.👍
Akram Khan
Fabio was well experienced, professional, and friendly person. I got my loan approved on spot in few minutes without any bank statements, and payslips.Great competitive and best rates in the market, Fabio beat couple of market quotes, He was honest, and responsible, and responded my calls and all queries at all times.Highly recommended, and I will highly interested in his services in future.I Appreciate your services.
Dylan Van buuren
Was an outstanding broker I honestly felt like Fabio went above and beyond to get me what type of vehicle I wanted! Was extremely polite and professional!! I would recommend Fabio to anyone looking for the car of there dreams!! I just wanna say thank you Fabio for all your hard work cheers!!!
Heping Pan
I recently bought a 2-ton van with a car loan arranged by Fabio Caldarola of Rumo Finance Brisbane through a length process of finding a dealer and a proper van. He did a great job with patience and professionalism. Many thanks Fabio!
Kane Hanley
Fabio was an awesome help.No hassles easy to deal with and great communication.Helped me achieve my dream sunday cruiserHave already made recommendations to mates and i will be back again.5+ star service
Ashley knowles
Massive thanks to Fabio. Absolute legend made the process seamless and kept me up to date through the whole process. Highly recommend to anyone wanting business finance for a car
Shuwai Ho
Fabio was an incredible help in securing financing for our vehicle. His expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. He was always available to answer our questions and went above and beyond to ensure we got the best deal possible. Highly recommend his services!
FBL Holdings Pty
Great customer service love it Fabio and Tom knows how to take care theirs customers
joe
Fabio is a legend. He provided the best customer service, and will push hard to get you the best deal. Super happy with what he achieved for us and will be using Rumo again for sure!
Wowza Australia
Fabio is a great help, thank you very much
Joss Fest
Has an amazing experience with fabio,process was flawless and easy, fabio was polite and patient. I highly recommend it to anyone.
David Hooklyn
Thanks to the work that Fabio put in for me I was able to get my new van. Happy days.
bikash kumar jha
Title: Exceptional Service from a Top-notch Finance BrokerI recently had the pleasure of working with Rumo Finance from Fabio and cannot recommend their services highly enough. From start to finish, my experience was nothing short of exceptional.Throughout the process, Fabio demonstrated a deep understanding of financial products and strategies, patiently guiding me through various options tailored to my specific needs and goals. What stood out most was their dedication to ensuring I fully comprehended each step and felt empowered to make informed decisions.Communication was impeccable; Fabio was always prompt and proactive in responding to my queries, whether by phone or email. Their professionalism and transparency instilled confidence and made the entire process smooth and stress-free.Moreover, Fabio exhibited a genuine commitment to securing the best possible outcome for me. They negotiated tirelessly on my behalf and explored multiple avenues to achieve the most favorable terms.In conclusion, if you are seeking a finance broker who combines expertise with a client-centric approach, look no further than [Finance Broker's Name]. I am immensely grateful for their outstanding service and would not hesitate to engage their services again in the future. Highly recommended!
Shayan nazari
Finally, I bought the car I was looking for, thanks to Fabio for his professional, fast, and reliable service. Highly recommended!
.
A big thank you to Fabio from Rennauto car dealership for assisting and organisation my car insurance at a great rate. He was able to secure a discounted quote with a reputable company which out shone other quotes I had obtained. Fabios knowledge and professionalism in this area was outstanding and I would highly recommend Fabio if you are requiring assistance with car insurance matters.
Diante Hirawani
I’ll keep this simple, if you want the BEST advice, the BEST service and the BEST most competitive car loan tailored to suit you, then look no further as the legends at Rumo finance have got you covered!Fabio mercilessly articulated my circumstances and what I needed to achieve, his prompt communication skills, meticulous due diligence, alongside extensive knowledge and accuracy within the financial field enabled me to secure my financial investment, the precise type of vehicle I needed to travel long distances for work.Persistent & professional dedication that is personalised to accommodate and conquer are just some of many characteristic traits you may expect to encounter here on full display and is immensely appreciated, thank you so much Fabio! I look forward to working with you again in the near future. 🍻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Aryan Charan Ankith
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to Fabio for his exceptional assistance in securing finance for me. His kindness, patience, and dedication were truly remarkable throughout the process. Thanks to Fabio’s expertise and unwavering support, I was able to navigate the complexities of financing with ease. I highly commend Fabio for his outstanding professionalism and commendable customer service. He is a true asset to your company.
Chedi Belaid
Fabio has been amazing helping me with the finance, very professional and most of all fast with his service, definitely recommend him!
Nimcan Shariif
Good service friendlyAnd fast service
Ricci Jandu
When I went to sell my car, I had a couple of buyers who were incredibly challenging with their finance requirements - borderline unreasonable. Fabio @ Rumo Finance never gave up and exhibited unwavering tenacity in getting what I would call a Unicorn Approval for the buyer so I could move my car along. I have no hesitation in recommending him if you are looking for vehicle finance for any type of car.
Edith Shen
Fabio is sooooo helpful and nice to help me with my car loan, will definitely 100% recommend him to my friends.
bobby EKKA
Fabio has been amazing to deal with he always made sure i was updated at each and every step of the process Anybody looking for an Abn car deal please see this guy …….in love with my prado thanks fabio and team
Celfred Aguala
If you need help for car finance, contact Fabio, he will make it happen..
Monte Wilson
Fabio was attentive, professional and had all the information required to complete the process. He was always friendly and contactable and concerned to achieve a positive outcome for me. He gave me regular updates during the process. I would happily recommend him.
Anderson Verissimo
Fabio Caldarola was tremendous and went above and beyond to get my business an outstanding deal loan for our first asset acquired.I definitely will have Fabio saved on my business contact list for future deals.Great work!Anderson Verissimo
Claudio Pantusa
Fabio was professional and easy to deal with he understood all my needs and went over and aboveTo get it done will use again 100%And he makes an awesome coffee ☕️Thanks Fabio
Eazy Katoa
Highly recommend Fabio and the team at Rumo finance. He provided a professional, quick and efficient deal.
TATHIN YU
Fabio provided me a quick and efficient finance and insurance package for my car. Very professional and competitive.
성기현
Fabio provided me an excellent finance deal and service!!!!