World Time Attack Challenge

This was more than just another race against the clock or taking home a trophy and bragging rights, there was something else much bigger at stake. It dawned on me when I saw the faces of the men and drivers of the teams gathered for this momentous event: national pride. No matter how you put it, the World Time Attack Challenge wasn't about the teams competing against each other - it was countries battling for time attack supremacy.

The Australians were extremely confident with their country's meanest and fastest time attack car: the Advan/Hi Octane Racing R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Its simple livery and dark exterior presented an aura of intimidation; one had to expect this car to be a favorite because it had the home field advantage and countless laps logged around Eastern Creek Raceway, the setting for this grand showdown. Also hailing from Australia were the BSM Motorsport R32 Skyline GT-R and a pair of seriously fast Lotus Elises.

The Japanese also brought some serious firepower and had what seemed to be the strongest lineup of cars from any country. At the top of their list had to be the CyberEVO. If there's any car that's synonymous with time attack, this is it. Over the years, the CyberEVO has established itself as the car to beat in Japan at Tsukuba Circuit.

Where there's an EVO, a Subaru is always nearby - a blue, red and white one to be exact. The Tomei/Cusco Subaru Impreza is also a very well know time attack monster, and it too would be a serious force to be reckoned with, especially considering the Kobe Bryant of time attack, Tarzan Yamada, was driving it. Coincidentally (or not), Tarzan would also pilot the CyberEVO. Two equally fast RX-7s, the Pan Speed and R-Magic FDs, would round out the strong four-car entry representing their nation.

Team USA was supposed to have three heavyweights in their ring, but an early withdrawal by Chris Rado's Scion Racing team and the extremely fast Factor-X NSX meant that Sierra-Sierra Enterprises would be the lone representative from American soil. If it had to be one team, though, Sierra-Sierra would be it. With just over a year of development, the carbon-clad EVO VIII race car has destroyed numerous track records all across the U.S. and made quite a statement when it unofficially broke the long-standing time attack record set by the HKS CT230R EVO at Buttonwillow Raceway.

The stage was set for quite a finale, considering no team knew what the other teams were capable of. Thursday's practice produced the first set of unofficial lap times (which were not displayed to the public), but were the teams giving it their all? Or was there some strategic sand bagging going on? It felt like a poker game, no one wanted to show what they really had. Unfortunately, Thursday's session wasn't kind to the CyberEVO as a Jun camshaft inside the 4G63 snapped off at the cam gear, causing serious damage and leaving the team with a big problem.

Because the World Time Attack Challenge was a two-day event (Friday and Saturday), the organizers decided both day's times would count as official lap times. It also meant that Friday would be our first chance to see what these purpose-built cars were truly capable of.

Tenths. That's what it all came down to at the end of Friday's sessions. No one could've fathomed the top cars would be so evenly matched. In first place, the Sierra-Sierra EVO clicked off a seriously quick 1:32.248. K Sasaki from Pan Speed piloted the RX-7 to second with a 1:32.454 while the Tomei/Cusco Impreza slotted into third, posting a 1:32.532. The CyberEVO failed to post a time because the engine was still scattered across the pit floor. Many feared that the prior day's camshaft failure would hinder the CyberEVO from any competition. The Australians also suffered a blow when Mark Berry's Hi Octane R34 blew a head gasket in the first session and was grounded for the day.

By Peter Tarach

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