Feature – Ren Motorsports 2001 Honda S2000 Track Car
By Stephen Oyoung, Photography by Duane Uyeda
We’ve said it before – Honda S2000 owners love to go to the track. The rear-wheel drive roadster is a common sight at track days and HPDE events, owing to its combination of lively handling and quick lap times.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
The S2000’s potent ability to extract excruciatingly low times are even more impressive when you take into account the 240hp 2.0-liter engine. In typical Honda fashion, the S2000 has very little torque – just 153 lb/ft for the first-generation AP1 model and 162 lb/ft for the second-generation AP2 – but great balance.
Many beginner drivers were caught out by the S2000’s “on the limit” handling, which usually resulted in a junkyard special after encountering a rain-soaked road. But experienced drivers and track nuts alike fell in love with the car’s tail-friendly behavior and responsive nature.
Owen Guo from REN Motorsports is no stranger to performance machinery. Having owned two E36 BMW M3s and a FC Mazda RX-7 Turbo II in the past, Guo knew going into this project that a rear-wheel drive platform was in the cards. The Honda S2000 eventually won out because of its combination of simplicity, speed, and balls-out entertainment.
Originally built for HPDE and NASA Time Trial series use, the REN Motorsports S2000 is an example of subscribing to the rule, “safety first”. Unintended things happen on track when attempting to go fast, whether it’s the fault of the driver or not, and a good cage and harness system are important.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
Since the car was designed to be a track car, it simply didn’t need any carpet, air conditioning, stereo, or leather. The S2000 was immediately stripped of all its interior and sound deadener. REN Motorsports then fabricated a custom six-point roll cage and added a properly mounted seat and six-point harness combo.
To shave more weight, many areas of the Honda were simply cut out and tossed. The doors are mere skins now with the windows, motors, and inner faces removed. Custom lightweight aluminum panels block out the gaping holes in each door skin. With no windows in the S2000, Guo is admittedly thinking about going from his current open to an enclosed trailer, as strangers are free to reach into the cabin when parked during transport.
Shaving a bit more weight is the removal of the convertible soft-top mechanism and the addition of a carbon fiber hardtop. Carbon fiber is also used in the hood, trunk and rear wing. Guo estimates that the car now weighs in at approximately 2,700 lbs.
After track testing, Guo has made some changes to the rear wing, including a set of risers and crossed lateral supports that stabilize the wing from deflecting side-to-side. The modifications, i.e. huge cut, to the rear bumper are to prevent aerodynamic drag from the air passing underneath the car.
To channel the airflow and pressure area under the car, a custom rear diffuser has been added. The front sports an APR Performance front lip and a custom wind splitter, which is kept low to the ground, stiff, and as wide as possible.
The stock suspension, which was already a remote reservoir damper system, has been replaced with double adjustable TEIN Super Racing coilovers. Guo uses stiff 18kg/mm (1007lbs/inch) spring rates front and rear to match his Nitto NT01 race tires. Other bits include SPC alignment balljoints, Powerflex urethane bushings, and dropped rear toe arms to minimize bumpsteer. Wrapped around lightweight 17×9-inch 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels, the r-compound Nitto tires are non-staggered front to rear.
This 2001 model S2000 is an AP1 chassis, noted for its livelier rear end, but the engine is a F22C out of an AP2 model. Although the redline is a lower 8,000rpm (2.0-liter AP1s redline at 9,000rpm) the 2.2-liter engine does put out more torque. This 200whp S2000 is only lightly modified in the engine department, sporting a K&N air intake and T1R 70mm exhaust system. A Mishimoto aluminum radiator and custom oil cooler kit have been installed, which Guo reports are working great to keep temperatures in check.
As Guo progressed past the NASA Time Trial ranks, finishing 2nd in TTB in the Northern California NASA region in 2009, his S2000 developed further and further. Now campaigned in the Redline Time Attack and Speedventures S2000 Challenge (Unlimited class), this Honda is still facing the usual track car setup teething issues.
Although more development needs to take place with the current setup, the REN Motorsports Honda S2000 has run a best of 1:59.592 at Buttonwillow Raceway’s #13CW configuration during the 2010 Redline Time Attack season opener.
2001 Honda S2000
Engine
Type/Code: F22C – 2147cc, inline-four, aluminum block and head
Internal Modifications: Stock
External Modifications: K&N Engineering cold air intake, T1R 70mm exhaust, Mishimoto aluminum radiator, thermostat, fan switch, and radiator hoses, custom oil cooler, baffled oil pan
Engine Management Modifications: Stock
Drivetrain
Layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: ACT clutch, Fidanza lightweight flywheel, 4.44:1 final drive
Suspension
Front: TEIN Super Racing coilovers, 18kg/mm springs, Wicked Tuning outer tie rods, custom roll center kit, SPC Performance adjustable balljoint camber kit, Powerflex bushings
Rear: TEIN Super Racing coilovers, 18kg/mm springs, Wicked Tuning rear toe arms, custom roll center kit, Powerflex bushings
Brakes
Front: StopTech big brake kit (13-inch rotors, 4-piston calipers), Porterfield R4 brake pads
Rear: Porterfield R4 brake pads
External
Wheels: 5Zigen FN01R-C, 17×9 +43 offset
Tires: Nitto NT-01, 255/40R17 (F/R)
Body: Custom front wind splitter and rear diffuser, APR Performance front lip, carbon fiber hood, trunk, hardtop, and GT wing
Interior: Sparco Evo seat, Schroth six-point harness, Defi gauges, Ren Motorsports roll cage
Sources
5ZIGEN USA
(310) 608-5575
www.5zigenusa.com
Mishimoto
(877) GO-MISHI
www.mishimoto.com
SAFERACER
(866) 781-0997
www.saferacer.com
PowerFlex USA
(540) 674-5212
www.powerflexusa.com
Wicked Tuning
www.wickedtuning.com
Blacktrax Performance
(408) 946-2900
www.blacktrax.net
LPI Racing
(925) 292-5522
www.lpiracing.com
Nice build. Have they played much with angle of attack on the wing to work w that diffuser?
That’s just a temporary diffuser, we are going to make a bigger one soon, and new aero kit is in body shop now for painting. “)
I’ve seen this car, very nice. Owen knows how to handle it well on track.
What rear flares are those? Below 2min is a great time.
Shine auto, I think they are either J’s or ASM replica.
latest lap time is high 1:57
Epic. Good to see a real track car put to use. 1:57 is flyin’ naturally aspirated. My best in my Z is a 2:11 but I admit I need more work myself.
Quick update, car now has AEM EMS and tuned by Blacktrax Performance (www.blacktrax.net), making 220whp. With 8400 rpm redline, perfectly matches AP2 tranny and 4.44 final drive on CW13, don’t have to short shift to 6th gear now.