Successful ITCC Golf Debut for Sportchip.ie

Reigning Irish Touring Car Production Champion Grzegorz Kalinecki and his Sportchip.ie team debuted a new car for their assault on the overall 2016 title at Mondello Park yesterday.
With their title winning SEAT Leon Cupra sold, the team sourced a VW Cup Golf GTI machine and have remapped it to produce an incredible 330bhp from a standard engine!
Despite minimal testing, Grzegorz qualified the Turboman.ie backed Golf in third position for the opening race of the day and went on to finish second, matching the times of the leader in the closing stages as he got used to the new machine.  For race two, with the starting grid reversed, Grzegorz had plenty of work to do but was soon embroiled in a hectic 4 way race for the lead. at the finish the Golf crossed the line second, just three seconds behind the leader and the Sportchip team had clearly posted notice of their 2016 intentions.

Grzegorz Kalinecki, Sportchip.ie  “I’m happy with two second places today despite minimal testing before the weekend. The car runs beautifully and handles well, but unfortunately it is a little bit heavy so we may need to make some modifications in that department!”

Rounds 3 & 4 of the Teng Tools ITCC will be held on May the 8th at Bishopscourt Circuit in Northern Ireland.

Sportchip.ie was set up in 2009. Based in Blanchardstown in Dublin, they specialise in electronic remapping of all modern turbodiesel and turbocharged petrol engines. They also remap ECUs for the removal of the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and are one of the few companies in Ireland who custom make their maps with the help of an on-site two axle rolling road/dyno.
The SEAT Leon FR, with which they won the 2015 ITCC Production class, was built from a standard road car as a project for the company. The engine and DSG box in the car were 100% standard but the car’s ECU has been completely remapped by the Sportchip team. Similarly with this year’s Golf GTI, modifications are mainly limited to the ECU, showcasing the company’s talents.

Images from Michael Chester.