Hi Neil,

Yes I'll sort you a ticket for TOTB. We must get the astra sorted once you get back!

Mike,

Amazingly yes Paul does use all the rev band all the time! It's normally soft cut at 8800 and 9000 rpm hard. I'm sure you'll see yourself first hand if you get a ride out at croft with him! Paul loves the revs, and engine loves them even more!

With regards to engine freshening, we have found the engine to be reliable at these revs with no real issues as such. We do however change the exhaust valves regularly, but as its a competition car, I doubt it sees more than 2000 hard miles a year, though it does admittedly live a very hard life. I would be a fool to think it will survive indefinatly, but so far the rpm issue has caused no problems.