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 instances on the legendary TC2000 course are all however assured.
Whereas sure chassis dominate time assault racing, not all opponents observe the standard path in private pursuits for pace. 5 years in the past, Dino launched us to a wild SW20 Toyota MR2, noticed within the pits at Assault Tsukuba. Right this moment, we’re revisiting his 2019 highlight characteristic for this week’s throwback publish.
2019 Characteristic
I’d heard a couple of mysterious time assault SW20 Toyota MR2 for some time, first informed about it by the blokes at Pit Street M down in Hyogo-ken simply south of the Kansai area, who’re well-known for creating wild Mitsubishi GTOs.
Pit Street M had been referred to 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 tasks, this one began as a little bit of enjoyable and progressively bought extra severe 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 plenty of consideration at Assault Tsukuba 2019.
The automotive has a one-off field fender conversion, molded in and pale 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 style.
The rear fender extensions are bolted onto the underlying reduce quarter panels, matching up with the substantial widening and skirt sections alongside its profile.
There are large openings to feed the turbocharged engine and smaller openings that are probably used to direct air in the direction of the rear brakes.
Very similar to the &G Samuhan Nakajima Racing brand, 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 Due to this, the MR2 has a really trendy really feel to it, a recent tackle an outdated and favourite modern-classic.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 therapy 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. Take a look at these menacing twin exhausts.
So, what’s been accomplished to the mid-mounted 3S-GTE that got here factory-fitted within the GT-S variations of the SW20?
Quite a bit, because it seems. The fully-tuned four-banger generates round 450hp relying on increase stage, and possibly a bit extra as soon as the nitrous oxide fogger you see in entrance of the throttle physique is named upon.
On condition that this was the automotive’s first outing at Tsukuba, the 1:01.047 finest lap it recorded was not a foul consequence.
Whereas Japan’s top-time assault automobiles are about 10 seconds quicker, individuals appear to overlook simply how fast a 1-minute lap round Tsukuba is.
I’d like to see this automotive evolve, and the workforce 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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