2001 Honda S2000 - Weapon Of Choice

For those savvy enough to look beyond the rough-and-tumble exterior, central California can be a paradise. Along with the meandering country roads, there's nearby Buttonwillow Raceway Park, one of the busiest grassroots tracks in the west. Phil Leung is a savvy sort, with plans to exploit both the twisty roads and Buttonwillow's infamous Lost Hill turn. His weapon of choice? The Honda S2000. A capable companion known for its handling prowess and high-revving engine, the S2000 also offers a drop-top driving experience so Leung can also enjoy the California sunshine as he carves the apexes along SR33.

Considering the car's g-force aspirations, Leung initially focused on the underpinnings. Blessed with more balance than power, the S2000 is highly capable, so sweetly dialed in that it's difficult to improve on the stock equipment. Only components of the highest quality will show a noticeable difference. Such as KW Suspension's fully adjustable Variant 3 (V3) coilovers. These are designed with independent rebound and compression adjustment that help tailor the suspension to differing track conditions. Stout stainless steel construction and the use of external oil reservoirs are testaments to their high-performance pedigree.

Leung then added a set of ST Suspension anti-roll bars (28mm up front and 27mm in the rear) and a Fortune Suspension anti-bumpsteer kit. A Fortune X-brace and rear lower tie brace enhance chassis rigidity while Toyo Proxes T1R tires provide steady grip. The Toyos are on slick, fully blacked-out Work Meister S1 aluminum wheels. Behind these is the StopTech brake kit. Four-piston StopTech fixed calipers squeeze 328mm front rotors, while the rear features StopTech slotted direct-fit rotors and Axxis ULT pads.

With the suspension and brakes well fortified, Lueng then upped the ante beneath the hood with forced induction. The internally stock 2.0-liter VTEC plant is now pressurized by a Vortech centrifugal supercharger, with a high-output pulley bumping boost to 11psi. This blower, with its linear boost curve, is an excellent fit for the F20C engine's 9000-rpm redline. The system features Vortech's liquid-to-air charge cooler to optimize power output and enhance reliability.

Modification of the fuel system was obligatory to keep pace with the high-output Vortech setup. The in-tank factory pump was swapped in favor of a 255lph unit from Walbro and the stock injectors were ditched for a set of balanced and flow-tested 685cc/min units from RC Engineering. Airflow on the hot side of the combustion process is improved with a TODA Racing exhaust header and a Fujitsubo Legalis dual exhaust system.

An AEM EMS runs the show and Shawn Church tuned the combination at his shop, Church Automotive Testing in Wilmington, California. Using an AEM wideband UEGO controller, this car laid down 385wheel-hp and 220lb-ft of torque on Church's Dynapack dyno. Knowing the importance of applying power to the ground, Leung made a few well thought-out driveline modifications. A heavy duty ACT clutch and TODA Ultra Light flywheel (which weighs a scant eight pounds) are teamed together to harness power and free up some rotational mass. A Comptech reinforced differential housing keeps the planetary gearing in sync during all sorts of lateral-g maneuvers.

By Steve Demmitt

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