4 Heavy Hitters From Assault Tsukuba

Over the course of the final couple of weeks I’ve proven you a number of totally different sides of Assault Tsukuba 2023.

We began with some foremost protection, the place I talked about this tenth anniversary occasion being the most important ever, adopted up with some curious time-attacking Suzuki Jimnys (sure, actually), a few Honda Right now kei vehicles, after which earlier this week a re-look at Hearth Ando’s all-conquering Escort Racing Mitsubishi Lancer Evo – Japan’s time assault king. For my closing story from this occasion, I need to share with you 4 Assault Tsukuba heavy hitters.

Let’s begin with the AutoBahn BCNR33 Nissan Skyline GT-R that Kunihiko Bando confirmed up in…

It was solely after the occasion that I heard that Bando-san’s Auto Bahn/Joyo Z30 Toyota Soarer – which has been a front-running mainstay of Assault just about because the collection began – is at the moment being rebuilt. From the sound of issues, it’s going to return in an identical type to Tomohiko ‘Beneath’ Suzuki’s Scorch Racing Nissan Silvia S15.

The AutoBahn GT-R in the meantime is a very contemporary construct, however it’s protected to say that it’s already impressed everybody.

The engine construct options a few of the greatest elements you possibly can throw at an RB26 designed and engineered for excessive and dependable output. Included within the spec is an enormous single Garrett turbocharger, an electrical throttle physique, Hypertune consumption manifold, Scorch Racing clamps, high-output ignition coils, a Ross cam set off package, and a dry sump system.

The ability and setup is clearly there because the Skyline managed a 54.184-second lap proper out of the field.

I’ve to say, I merely love the look of this factor. The yellow and black scheme immediately introduced up reminiscences of the Penzoil GT500 GT-R that Eric Comaz piloted within the ’90s. The large entrance splitter is straight out of Beneath Suzuki’s new ‘Full Throttle Carbon’ catalogue.

The carbon trunk lid is from UnderSuzuki.com too, as is the enormous rear wing and the doorways. I’m undecided what’s occurred to the rear bumper, however there’s one thing cool about this look.

A pair of customized carbon entrance fenders might be the subsequent addition, because the generic fender flares fitted to include the huge 295-section tires regarded a bit of misplaced.

Inside, there isn’t a lot of the unique automobile left, presumably simply the foremost dashboard bar, the steering column and the firewall. I noticed an previous MoTeC M800 ECU, PDM15 energy distribution module and a C125 sprint unit, together with a carbon panel to deal with all of the switchgear and fuses.

Whereas I’m excited to see what turns into of the AutoBahn Soarer, I’ve to say that I’m equally to see how this Skyline is honed right into a low 50-second-zone automobile over the approaching seasons. With Evos, S-chassis and FD RX-7s having all the time been the quickest time assault vehicles at Tsukuba, it could be superior to see a GT-R within the top-tier group.

The ADMIX GT-R is one other long-standing Japanese time attacker that has advanced immensely since I first got here throughout it at Tremendous Battle and Battle Evome occasions. Again then it was merely referred to as that mysterious RWB Skyline and featured ‘Actual of the World’ in gold lettering on its sides.

In these days, Seyama-san, the proprietor/driver, was operating 58-second laps, which was thought of a really respectable time for such a automobile. Quick ahead an excellent eight years or so, and Seyama-san’s greatest lap at Assault Tsukuba 2023 was 54″993.

I can’t stress how huge of a margin 4-seconds is at this monitor, particularly while you’re already operating within the sub-1-minute zone.

It’s actually nice to see Seyama-san and the fellows at ADMIX nonetheless creating this BNR32 Skyline GT-R. It’s additionally nice to see that the bottom physique remains to be carrying the deep purple/purple-infused satin black paint that Nojima-san laid down over the Nissan’s bodywork at RAUH-Welt all these years in the past.

Subsequent up is the Wacky Mate FD3S Mazda RX-7, which is owned, pushed and being developed by Kengo ‘Lock’ Suzuki, Beneath Suzuki’s youthful brother.

This FD suits in somewhat properly with the opposite vehicles I’ve proven you on this put up, because it’s been across the traps for a very long time too. Round a decade in the past, Kengo constructed the RX-7 up right into a sub-minute Tsukuba monitor automobile, however I suppose having Beneath Suzuki as your older brother meant he couldn’t cease there. For years, the Mazda continued to go sooner, however finally its 13B let go and Kengo hung up his racing gloves for some time.

When the time was proper to convey the automobile again out, Kengo teamed up with Wacky Mate – no strangers to constructing quick Tsukuba specials, together with their very own BNR32 GT-R – to take the construct to a new degree altogether.

Right now, the RX-7 not solely sports activities a hard-tuned three-rotor 20B engine up entrance to generate the facility essential to place down severe occasions, but in addition a complete new exterior. Primarily, the as soon as white FD3S is now a uncooked carbon fiber-cloaked beast, wanting fairly related in fashion to Beneath Suzuki’s S15.

The automobile proudly wears the Beneath Suzuki branding on each the entrance lip spoiler, in addition to the rear wing which is a severe piece of downforce-generating aero.

Take a look at the extensions. There are even canards on the surface sections to make the greatest use of passing airflow.

Kengo managed a better of 55.548″ on the day, which is fast. However that is one automobile we will positively anticipate to see even faster lap occasions from as soon as it’s been totally dialed in.

Final, however positively not least is the GNR Racing/Storage Rise Up EK9 Honda Civic Sort R, which repeated its efficiency in 2022 by coming away from Assault Tsukuba with new FF file. This time round it was a manic 55″144, and it was really set throughout the Friday take a look at day.

What’s much more spectacular about this lap time, is that the Honda is of course aspirated.

I ought to point out too, that being primarily based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, proper within the north of Japan, signifies that Tsukuba monitor time is all the time very restricted for the GNR/Rise Up group. So to have obtain what they’ve with this automobile is merely superb.

The Civic is a pleasure to look over, beginning with a dry carbon fiber entrance diffuser, the spectacular weight loss program it’s been placed on (it ideas the scales at simply 850kg!) and the aggressive staggered setup with 18-inch 295-section tires on the entrance and 17-inch 225s on the rear.

On the middle of all of it is a stroked 2.7-liter Ok-series engine, which at the moment makes someplace within the neighborhood of 350hp. You may see how a lot of the inventory chassis has been reduce away up entrance.

The EK9’s most impactful angle needs to be the rear the place you’ll discover the dry carbon hatch and an enormous wing that drapes over the automobile, sitting on a pair of stays that double up as aero fins.

This construct and the all of the others I’ve proven over the course of our Assault Tsukuba 2023 protection is proof sufficient I feel, that Japanese time assault is true now the strongest it’s ever been. And that may solely be an excellent factor.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
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