The evolution of heat management
Gordon MacRae relies on Zircotec to keep his 600hp Mitsubishi Evo 9 cool and ready to perform
When a heavily-modified performance car is running 600 horsepower, thermal management isn’t optional – it’s essential. Just ask Gordon MacRae, the owner of one of the UK’s feistiest Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9s.
His JDM-spec Evo, originally built for the Japanese market in 2006 but tuned and modified by AP Tuning when it arrived in the UK in 2011, generates serious power – and heat under load. “In summer, stuck in traffic after a track session, the temps were intense,” Gordon recalls. “You’d see glue from the underside of the bonnet melting onto the manifold. That’s when I realised, I had to do something to manage the heat being generated.”
Looking for an effective thermal management solution, Gordon turned to Zircotec on a friend’s recommendation. He opted to have the Performance Metallic Black thermal barrier coating from Zircotec’s Performance Colours™ range applied to various components under the Mitsubishi’s bonnet, including the manifold, downpipe and turbo – all critical areas for heat containment.
“It’s been absolutely solid,” Gordon says. “From track days to road trips, the car has been absolutely roasted, but I’ve never had a heat-related issue. There’s been no damaged components, no carbon bonnet burn-through, no performance drop-off. Zircotec has provided a fantastic heat management solution.”
The high-performance, plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings in the Performance Colours™ range handle heat up to 900°C, slash surface temperatures by 33%, and reduce heat loss by 50°C, enabling critical components to be protected from excessive heat and vehicle performance to be maintained through cooler intake temperatures. Coatings are also available in 14 stunning colours.
“Without a good heat management solution, heat soak means your air filter’s breathing in hot air. With the ceramic coating I’ve applied, it’s 30 or 40 degrees cooler under the carbon bonnet – and that makes a huge difference to my car’s performance,” Gordon explains.
A standout vehicle at performance car shows across Scotland, Gordon’s Mitsubishi Lancer is fitted with a full Voltex bodykit and a lot of time is invested in making the car look and perform as well as a head-turning, engineered-to -supercar-spec example should.
“This Evo is something very special. It’s mine, it’s built the way I want it, and it performs thanks to my commitment to having the right parts in the right places,” he says.
“From a heat management perspective, there are different options out there – wraps, thermal covers etc – but I don’t think any of them offer the same durability or finish as Zircotec. My ceramic coatings look the part, perform fantastically, and last.”
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