The world is slowly but definitely running out one of its most valuable natural resource; oil. Taking full attention of this situation, car manufacturers are coming out with several alternatives to either reduce the fuel consumption on their cars by introducing hybrids, or to not use them at all through electric vehicles (EV). But aside from those two, are there any other alternatives that one could use to run a vehicle on the roads?
It all started with Alif borrowing a friend’s Evo IX for a night. He’d drove it up some mountain roads in Melbourne and fell in love with the Evo’s distinct 4WD handling and agility. So he bought one as soon as he could. Naturally wanting to drive it to the limits, he took it to Winton Raceway, a local circuit in Melbourne. Soon, he’d found himself comparing lap times with friends who drove other tuner cars based on the likes of the STIs, GTRs, Silvias and other Evo owners. Thats when he knew the Time Attack bug had bitten him deep.
One modification after the other, Alif found his car bordering a non road legal car due to noise and emissions (Yes they are strict about that stuff in Australia). After deciding to go all out into Time Attack events, he then sold his Evo 9 for an older Evo 6 TM as a base for his time attack build. Reason being the Evo 6 TM is about 100kg’s lighter than a stock Mitsubishi Evo IX.
We at Zerotohundred.com, being avid followers of the WTAC, and coincidentally organizers of the TIMETOATTACK Sepang ourselves, we knew what we’d expect to see at this world event. Nothing but the pinnacle of Time Attack competitiveness and cutting edge lap crunching, downforce generating machines.
The WTAC Pro-Class participants are made up of high-budget privateers and big teams backed by major sponsors with only 1 mission in mind. To set an unbeatable lap record humanly possible, based on a road car. But these cars are no longer uprated daily drivers, instead, they are caged, stripped, shaved, tube framed and bolted with some engines generating well over 1000hp!.
Most cars are now equipped with either home-brewed or Formula inspired aerodynamics, maximizing every ounce of downforce the wind can give, especially because there are no slicks allowed in the WTAC. Semi slick tyres are the only option available, resulting in a circuit event that is not only more mere-mortal relevant but is able to inspire teams and participants in every engineering sense possible.
Take WTAC 2012 Pro Class Champ, Chris Eaton’s EVO 7 for example. Just to give you the tip of the iceberg, it is a 900WHP, everything forged, 2.2L 4G63 engine that is dry sumped and mated to a Maktrak sequential box with paddle shifters. But that’s just the powertrain.
Here is Part 2 of our WTAC trackside car scene photos. If you haven’t already noticed from Part 1, there already is an influx of tuned Toyota 86s and Subaru BRZs in Australia! Haltech has their 86 on standalone ECU and Bullet Performance with one of the first ever supercharged 86!
Team Autotech’s WTAC Open Class green STi named, The Hulk
Whiteline’s GTR35 in WTAC Clubsprint Class
This is a serious eye-opener. One of the world’s first supercharged 86. Now enables it to play with the big boys! Utilizing a Roots ‘charger that also replaces the octopus intake manifold. Doesn’t just work great, but is aesthetically improved as well
The World Time Attack Challenge 2012 was indeed a blast! It’s their second year at Sydney Motorsport Park based in Eastern Creek. This 3.93km circuit, previously known as the Eastern Creek Raceway has gone through a $12m revamp, refreshing the entire venue with works including minor modifications to the circuit itself. In fact, the changes made the circuit even faster for drivers by up to 0.2 secs.
We’ll take you through the car scene at the track side where spectators generally spend most of their time during circuit events. We’ve lots to share and because there’s just too many great pictures, we’ll split them in parts as usual. Here’s what’s coming:
A Z33 with Z34 370Z front end and something special under the hoodless engine bay
A V8 breathing through individual throttles, garnished with anodized trumpets!
The girl with the grey hoodie owns this GTR, apparently.
As we warm ourselves up in an especially freezing mid-to-end winter this year in Sydney prior to WTAC tomorrow, we’ll share with you a car spotting post, aptly named What The Park, so do enjoy! It’s our second visit here since 2003 and what a change it has been. We’ll take you on a little journey through our eyes as we explore the Kings Cross vicinity, just next to Potts Point, the area where we’re putting up!
The Kings Cross’s bustling district isn’t all that innocent though. While there are plenty of history, culture and awesome details to take in, the ‘Cross is possibly Sydney’s naughtiest part of town where it is littered with strip clubs and adult stores, among other forms of entertainment. Good for the boys though. But don’t let me ruin your impression of Sydney. Much like the cities in the world, this darker side of Sydney is only a tiny blotch on an otherwise brilliant city. There’s great food everywhere, nice people, old plus new architecture and above all, a diverse mix of cool cars 
Love the Holden/Ford Utes!
Glancing through the faux balcony at our boutique apartment, is this MINI contender. There’s a 500 in every corner, almost. Abarth versions easily seen too. 1 in every 15 500, perhaps.
Not long later, an S5 approaches from the roundabout close by, along Word Avenue.
15 mins passed and What The Park? A Golf VI R emerges.
The same roundabout where there’s always something special in and out the 4 directions.
Topless rides are insanely popular too. Like this Roxster S. What Clarkson calls the Cockster.
Down the street, closer to the ‘Cross Golden Strip, we see the infamous pocket-rocket. The Clio RS
Yeah, you smoked the Touareg real good. For now.. Read the rest of this entry »
Nitro Designs, the first and only commercial airbrush studio affiliated with Australia’s Advanced Airbrush has launched a unique approach in meeting the desires of car enthusiast of the new era. With the launch of “The Matte Deal”, Nitro Designs has opened up a new acceptance of ferocious matte effect colors like no other. Read the rest of this entry »
We are only three races into a new season of Formula 1 and though the opening race lacked in drama, the races in Australia and Malaysia were full of it. One man who has had drama in every race is Fernando Alonso. The double world champion needed a new engine in Bahrain, had zero mechanical problems in Melbourne but blew another engine in Malaysia. Read the rest of this entry »
Lewis Hamilton was on Friday night charged by local police after he was caught doing smoky burnouts and ‘fish-tailing’ in a Mercedes road car near the Albert Park circuit.
At 9.15pm in St Kilda, within sight of the Formula One circuit, Hamilton was pulled over in his E500 saloon by a Victorian Police divisional van. Police charged Hamilton, who will be summoned, with improper use of a motor vehicle and have impounded the car for 48 hours. Police confirmed that a 25-year-old Briton has been charged.
Senior Constable Scott Woodford said the man was “extremely cooperative” and “fairly disappointed” with the incident. Wire reports said Hamilton was “visibly upset” and “worried this would dent his reputation”. The incident coincides with a push within F1 for better road safety, with all teams contributing to the FIA’s global campaign.
In a statement issued by McLaren, Hamilton said: “This evening, I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police. What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it.” Read the rest of this entry »
The Chairman of A1GP Australia Pty Ltd Mr Alan H Evans released the following statement a few hours ago: Read the rest of this entry »
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TIMETOATTACK Chronicles by NukeeZoid! – A (Would Be) Date with Glory!
2013 TIMETOATTACK Round 1 – The Preview! Getting Shanghai-ed with Team Aylezo Motorsports @ 2013 Lambo Super Trofeo Round 1 – Day 1
The Euros @ TIMETOATTACK Round 1 2013 JDM Mayhem @ 2013 TIMETOATTACK Round 1! The new MINI Cooper S Paceman arrives in Malaysia
EPICSTANCE – The Limbo Rock Challenge @ TIMETOATTACK
