Fitting the car

Following the car’s delivery to Australia, Wes approached the staff at Meridian Motorsport to advise him on the best course of action for modifying the STI. Wes’ initial and primary focus was that of safety, something which is neglected more often than not in racing the industry. After discussions at lengths with Meridian a plan of action was set in motion to transform the car. First Wes elected to fit the car with a pair of the latest Motor Quality VTS 1 racing seats to replace the factory standards. The seats provide far better rigidity and support during times of extreme acceleration and cornering. The superior design of the MQ seats also offers better protection to the driver in the inevitable case of an accident on the track or road. The MQ seats were also supplemented by the installation of a MQ Racing 6 Point Safety Harness designed to secure the driver especially in use with MQ seats. Finally an MQ Amenzo 3 spoke steering wheel was chosen to replace the factory standard again due to its superior grip and physical size. Although Wes opted to install this vital safety gear himself, the sourcing of the relevant MQ parts could not have taken place without the help of the staff at Meridian Motorsport. The additional and continuing supply of Toyo tires to Wes also assisted him throughout his initial event at Mount Buller and is expected to further aid him in 2007.

 

 

The uniqueness of the STI meant that the roll cage was the first of its kind to be built by Meridian Motorsport. Although many other STIs had received roll cages from Meridian, all others had been slightly different dimensions and so a new plan of attack was required. Meridian consulted Wes who agreed upon a 6 point comprehensive cage with side intrusion bars, considerable diagonal and internal bracing and A pillar bars to prevent the collapse of the forward legs under a major rollover. Normally cages of similar specifications retail at $3500 which is a very small price to pay for the safety and peace of mind it offers. It should be noted that Meridian Motorsport can custom make any roll cage to suit nearly any application, and you need only contact any member of staff for further information regarding pricing. The entire process from start to finish took a mere 10 days, and we can also cater to smaller timeframes in order to be ready for racing events or track days. All roll cage engineering certificates for CAMS purposes are also handled by Meridian to make your racing experience that little bit more stress free. Not only will the cages meet requirements for this year but almost certainly for the following years anticipated changes. Clearly the benefits of the cage are not only that of maximizing the occupants safety however the chassis rigidity is significantly increased for elevated levels of handling and performance.

 

Feel free to browse the before and after photos to view the cars radical transformation or click the below link to view Wes’ first event

 

Wes' first event

Back to TARI