AWD
Last year it was GM's FF Cobalt, and this year the GMG Porsche (an MR) stole the top spot from the AWD machines. Traditionally, the time attack stage favors the sure-footed superiority of an AWD setup, particularly Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution, as this platform holds the top times at both Buttonwillow and Tsukuba. This year we saw some Skylines and an STI launch all four wheels toward the top spot in this class.
Aside from the Porsche racecar, the only other vehicle to dip into the forties was the XS Engineering R32 GT-R. Tarzan blasted the Skyline to a time of 1:49.210, just .191 second away from the GMG car and .310 from the overall record. Eric Hsu, one of the US's OG tuners (see p82), handled the tuning, and he later discovered that the boost controller was inadvertently switched to a low boost setting preventing the GT-R from unleashing the full might of its 700hp RB.
Tarzan swept the Unlimited AWD podium as he also drove the wicked looking Zero Sports JDM STI to second and, by all appearances, the rather unassuming Mine's R34 GT-R (see p54). Unlike every other car in the Unlimited ranks, the Mine's car is actually a daily driver in Japan with A/C and a full interior. Even still, the white Skyline cracked off a 1:52.072 and Mine's big boss Niikura-san would have pushed harder had his team brought more than one set of Bridgestones.
In the Limited AWD class the Works Evo holds the record with a 1:55.007. This year, Dave Brown drove the same Works Mitsu to a time of 1:55.655. This lap time was not only short of the record but also the class win as Dr. Russ Warr drove the Crawford STI to the top Limited AWD spot, his 1:55.317 being good enough for 11th overall.
Fr/Mr
You already know how this one ends, with Sofranas putting the GMG GT3 on top. The GMG Porsche even ran on Toyo Proxes RA-1 rubber. The Toyos are fast, but with a UTQG rating of 100, they aren't the fastest tires available for this class. GMG's choice to run the RA-1s was probably based more on familiarity than outright speed. The RA-1 is the spec-tire for the Speed World Challenge series in which the GMG GT3 competes in the GT class. After the event, we saw the 996 racer for sale on GMG's Web site for the buy-it-now price of only $155,000. Now you too can be a super lap hero, except for the fact that this car is banned from any future Time Attacks (check it, sidebar alert!). While a little more than $150,000 will get you one of the finest motorsport machines in existence, Jon Kaneda and his JIC USA team have accomplished nearly as much with a car that's worth one tenth of the Porsche.
The JIC S15 Silvia is a battle-proven D1GP slider. Its SR20 is well-worn and only mildly tuned to produce 400hp. But with Tanner Foust (all-around studly driver and drifting superstar) at the helm, the Silvia wrecked shop throughout the 2006 Time Attack season. More importantly, the team had valuable time to dial in the chassis with the JIC suspension and Hankook tires. At the finals, Tyler McQuarrie (another big-time drifter) drove the S15 to Second place in Unlimited FR and Fourth overall with an outstanding 1:51.260.
The next FR car in the standings was actually a Limited class car. GMG proved that they know more than just racecars with another white Porsche driven by super-shoe Sofranas. This one was a 996 GT2 with GIAC engine management and custom KKK turbos, churning out 500hp. At the Time Attack, Sofranas actually ran the GT2 on worn RA-1s from the team's Cup car. We're not sure if this was due to budgetary constraints (not likely with a couple of upper crust Porsches), cockiness, laziness or just to demonstrate the incredible longevity of the Toyo's, but the GMG Limited class car was still able to post a 1:53.416 which was sixth fastest overall and even faster than the Third place Unlimited FR. But then, that car is part pig.
The rather porkish Third place Unlimited FR was the Twins Turbo Supra. That's right, we called a Supra a pig. Granted the 2JZ is a tremendous motor with a propensity to inflict major damage on the 1320 and Supras are the undisputed kings of the street tire drag ranks, but in a Time Attack they behave a bit like Nads, very sexy, but doughy, un-athletic and a bit past their prime. Don't even try to tell this to the Kozeluh brothers, the twins in Twins Turbo. They transformed Steven "A Team" Aslanian's Mk IV Supra chassis into a true Time Attack contender with some very trick bits of kit. A Team's 1:55.219 is great for a Supra, and knowing the Twins we're sure to see even better times to come from this car.
Our favorite Limited FR Honda returned to Buttonwillow with a new look for this event. The A&J Racing S2000 sported a new Spoon Sports Coupe hard top. Robert "Max Rev" Walker won this class last year and while he came in Second behind the GMG Porsche, he showed his consistency as his 1:56.773 was only a half second off of his winning lap last year.
Nads also loves the "Datsun Boys'" 510, probably because it's old like him. Tod Kaneko's 13B-rotary powered '72 Datsun just refuses to die. With Billy Johnson assuming the driving duties yet again and some major suspension and steering improvements the old Dime knocked four seconds off last year's time. Even with such a drastic lap time improvement the 510's 1:57.972 placed the Datsun Boys no better than last year with another Third place in Limited FR.