So why shift the focus to suspension and aero over power? Evasive credits Garage HRS, a Japanese tuning shop that suggested Mike and Tony step out of the boundaries of normality. "We get most of our inspiration from Hirayama-san [of Garage HRS]," says Mike, "Last year, we visited his shop while we were there for a Time Attack event and learned a lot about how he tunes cars, although their cars are much more balls out. We learned to look at things that maybe most American tuners don't notice, like aero for example; that's a really big thing. There's a bigger picture to look at than just big horsepower. Having the right aerodynamics makes a huge difference. Just by changing the angle on the wing a couple degrees or adding splitters/canards affects the way the car performs; you can tune these things just like you would an engine and can see results."
With Hirayama-san's suggestions, Evasive tuned the suspension with Tein SRC coilovers that use 14kg/mm Swift springs, then bolted-on a set of Swift anti-sway bars to minimize body roll. Also added were a Carbing front strut bar, an EM Racing rear cross bar and for even more rigidity, J Speed fender/under bracing with a Carbign Craft 4-point under brace. Along with these modifications and feedback from their driver, Rob Walker (see sidebar), adjustments were also made to the aerodynamics of the Evo. The front bumper is a combination of all sorts, the bulk of it being a C-West front bumper that has been outfitted with APR canards and a Kel's Garage front carbon splitter. The rear quarter panels have HRS/Voltex overfenders, while the rear trunk has a Voltex wing that's set on a Kel's Garage Type 5 bracket, also tuned for optimum angle. One of Evasive's biggest sponsors is Toyo and with their latest release, a DOT-legal R compound tire, the R888, Evasive is not only using them successfully in competition, but is also paying homage with a full body graphic scheme that was crafted and applied by Promax. The tires are mounted to Volk's latest wheel, the RE30 in size 18x10.5 and in a matte black finish.
Evasive has only been competing with this Evo for a short time, since January of this year if you can believe it, and unlike most of the teams in their category, they're not as seasoned-but they're getting there. "Since we lack that experience, we've been pushing ourselves to spend as much time as possible to learn about our car," Mike says. What's next for the Evo? More power? Who knows. Mike finishes with, "What we really want to do is explore the limits of the car. Right now we're limited by what we have, especially on tracks that have long straights. After we get the car to go as fast as it can with what it has, we'll eventually move up to the Unlimited class with a built motor. I don't think we've maxed the car out yet."