For a lot of in Japan, mid-November indicators that winter is simply across the nook. For a choose few, nonetheless, it marks the countdown to the beginning of a brand new time assault racing season. In only a few weeks, Tsukuba Circuit will host the second HKS Hiper Problem meet of 2024 – the primary main time assault occasion of the 2024/2025 season. If the climate holds, quick lap occasions on the legendary TC2000 course are all however assured.
Whereas sure chassis dominate time assault racing, not all opponents comply with the standard path in private pursuits for velocity. 5 years in the past, Dino launched us to a wild SW20 Toyota MR2, noticed within the pits at Assault Tsukuba. Right now, we’re revisiting his 2019 highlight characteristic for this week’s throwback put up.
2019 Characteristic
I’d heard a couple of mysterious time assault SW20 Toyota MR2 for some time, first advised about it by the blokes at Pit Highway M down in Hyogo-ken simply south of the Kansai area, who’re well-known for creating wild Mitsubishi GTOs.
Pit Highway M had been known as in to assist with the engine setup in a buyer challenge put collectively by &G Company, particularly an MR2 constructed for grip. Like many initiatives, this one began as a little bit of enjoyable and progressively acquired extra critical because the construct got here collectively. The proprietor and driver, ‘Samohan’ Nakajima has managed to create one of many coolest takes on an SW20 that I’ve ever seen, and it was getting loads of consideration at Assault Tsukuba 2019.
The automobile has a one-off field fender conversion, molded in and light into the bumper on the entrance, with an prolonged splitter/diffuser part mated as much as pair of canards at every nook of the nostril. It additionally runs extraordinarily tall and sharp nook extensions that run out to the outermost floor of the fender, curling upwards in Tremendous GT racer vogue.
The rear fender extensions are bolted onto the underlying lower quarter panels, matching up with the substantial widening and skirt sections alongside its profile.
There are huge openings to feed the turbocharged engine and smaller openings that are probably used to direct air in the direction of the rear brakes.
Very like the &G Samuhan Nakajima Racing emblem, the black, white and purple livery is a nod to Toyota’s GRMN motorsport subsidiary. Due to this, the MR2 has a really trendy really feel to it, a recent tackle an previous and favourite modern-classic.
Dealing with is courtesy of Öhlins dampers at every nook, whereas the deep-dish RAYS Volk Racing TE37Vs are shod within the time assault favourite – Yokohama Advan A050s. The tires measure 265/35R18 up entrance and 295/30R18 out the again.
The aero remedy is wrapped up on the rear with a large flat and finned carbon diffuser, which acts as an extra mounting level for the tall stays that maintain up the single-plane wing. Try these menacing twin exhausts.
So, what’s been executed to the mid-mounted 3S-GTE that got here factory-fitted within the GT-S variations of the SW20?
Rather a lot, because it seems. The fully-tuned four-banger generates round 450hp relying on increase degree, and perhaps slightly extra as soon as the nitrous oxide fogger you see in entrance of the throttle physique is known as upon.
On condition that this was the automobile’s first outing at Tsukuba, the 1:01.047 greatest lap it recorded was not a foul end result.
Whereas Japan’s top-time assault vehicles are about 10 seconds sooner, individuals appear to overlook simply how fast a 1-minute lap round Tsukuba is.
I’d like to see this automobile evolve, and the staff nails an honest setup for this demanding observe. I’ve little question there’s a lot of potential on this cool little time attacker.
The Speedhunters
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Dino Dalle Carbonare
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