Attacking Time in 2018

By Domenic Ciccio on 13/11/2018 15:47 on Circuit, Drifts, World Time Attack Challenge | 2016

Every year the World Time Attack Challenges gets bigger and better. After missing out last year I was absolutely frothing to get out there for 2018.

It’s WTAC that raises the bar for events around the country and the globe. With Time Attack, Drifting, Downshifts own StylizeD Show ‘n’ Shine, and everything during Midday Mayhem I don’t know of any other events that have such a full schedule.

In regards to time attack, the question on the minds of most motorheads was who will take out the quickest lap? Each year brings on more knowledge and experience plus more teams from overseas, so it was interesting to see how they would all go.

Barton Mawer was back behind the wheel of the RP968 PR Technology Porsche. Having been on the podium several times before, Barton and the team dug deep for the best result and with hard work comes results. The RP 968 team were the first team to crack into the 1.20 mark with a record-breaking time of 1:19.825.

The MCA Hammerhead was back after winning in 2016 & 2017 with V8 Supercars driver and 2012 WTAC champion, Warren Luff behind the wheel. The S13 was cranking out more horsepower than in 2017, which unfortunately brought on some aero imbalance. As a result, the team still managed to score 2^nd place!

Another face we’ve seen on the podium over the years is Under Suzuki. Unfortunately, his wild S15 was not ready in time to compete. After an injury to fellow Japanese driver, Fire Ando it was agreed that Suzuki would take the Escort Racing Evo out for the shootout on Saturday afternoon. Even in an unfamiliar car Suzuki still scored a time of 1:27.558.

The three-time winning Tilton Evo was back from retirement since competing in 2015 though this time, owner Kosta Pohorukov was driving thus competing in the Pro-Am class. Kosta and the team were obviously very ready as they won the class with a time of 1:24.5300. Unfortunately, Kosta couldn’t compete in the Superlap Shootout as the ripple strip on turn one unsettled the car causing the Evo to crash. Thankfully, Kosta was ok. We hope to see them again in 2019!

The Pro-Am class had some serious competitors including the Canadian, PZ Tuning Team Civic, which came in 2^nd, the J-Spec Performance Evo from Switzerland team for 3^rd and very close behind were local PR Technology Ginetta. DM Motorsport Nismo Super GT S15 and Choon’s Motor Works Rx7 from Singapore.

A car many were eager to see was the AE86 prepared by Beau Yates, driven by non-other than the Dori King, himself Keiichi Tsuchiya. Previously the 86 was set up for drifting for Keiichi to show his skills around Sydney Motorsport Park but a Time Attack event being what it is, the AE86 went from drifter to time attacker.

2011 champion, Tarzan Yamada is a usual suspect at WTAC. He brings colour and flair every year and 2018 was no exception as he drove the JUN AUTO Hyper Lemon 350z running an AWD 800hp VQ38 V6 out of an R32 GTR.

Separate to the competing time attack weapons was the HKS TRB-03. It was built to beat the Tsukuba Circuit record, which it has, though it was an unofficial run as the car is set up to run on slick tyres with rules requiring semi-slicks. This is also the reason why it could not compete at WTAC.

For the HKS team to bring this magnificent piece of machinery to Sydney and not compete, we were truly blessed. On the other hand, it was unlucky that a typhoon delayed all the Japanese containers which only arrived at SMSP on Thursday night. This severely reduced the team’s time to set the car up for a proper crack. We all hope it comes back in 2019.

The weather threw multiple spanners in the works providing cooler track temperatures but also a wet track. At the rate that teams are improving, if 2019 brings dry weather this will be one WTAC not to miss!

Further to the action on the track and at StylizeD were the many trader stalls where it seemed you could buy almost any upgrade for your car, be it for aesthetics, handling, braking or horsepower but there was one item in particular that caught my eye inside the Sidchrome tent. It comes from V12LS.com, yes V12LS. There was one sitting on an engine stand and it will soon be the heart of a 1969 Camaro, which will be given away by Sidchrome.

With 580 cubes (9.5L), your right foot would be responsible for 700hp. On pump fuel! Furthermore are the upgrade options. How does 1000hp sound? or perhaps an alloy block? I’m not going to miss out on a chance to win this bad boy.

As the sun set each day, the track changed over from Time Attack to the International Drifting Cup but I’ll bring you more of that soon.

Words & Photos by Domenic Ciccio

Instagram: @motorvated

Bonus imagery:

The lovely Katherine Lameree