Making the big Soarer handle was no easy task, and Kawai-san knew he would have to use proven Ikeya Formula suspension parts to make the big coupe corner. Adjustable top arms front and rear allow for accurate control of negative camber, which has been dialed in aggressively for this setup. Roll center adjusters are built in to the lower pillow-ball arms while rear traction rods help eliminate bumpsteer and get the most grip out of the setup when powering out of corners. The revamped suspension layout is joined by a set of Spirit adjustable coilovers with custom valving for this setup. Even though more than 450 lbs were removed from the Soarer, a Brembo F50 big brake kit was still a must because speeds of 125 mph speeds are reached on the backstraight at Tsukuba. At the rear, thanks to Toyota part interchangeability, a set of JZA80 Supra calipers and discs were fitted to create a nice and balanced setup.
Power, and lots of it - 720 hp and 680 ft-lbs of torque, to be exact - was achieved. With the extra displacement gained from using a 3.0-liter 2JZ block, the guys at Auto Bahn knew the HKS T51R turbocharger was the perfect choice for the build. Its potential to make massive power - around 1,000 hp is possible from this snail - would allow them additional scope for the future if more power was required from the motor. The 1JZ head, with its built variable valve timing and upgraded HKS camshafts, has allowed for optimal control of lower- to mid-rpm torque to get nice, progressive delivery of power when the T51 gets on boost. The stock crank has been mated to HKS H-section connecting rods and oversized HKS forged pistons, but without a doubt, the key to Kawai-san's build is the increased compression ratio of 9.5:1, which helps spool up the turbine faster and provide better throttle response.
The custom fuel delivery system was also designed with time attack in mind - a tiny 8-gallon tank replaces the big stock unit and only allows a couple of laps before having to bring the Soarer in for a refuel. With close to 700 ft-lbs of tire-melting fury available, a Hollinger 6-speed sequential was mated to an OS Giken triple plate clutch in hopes of creating a reliable and durable drivetrain setup.
Kawai-san says that traction is an issue, but thanks to the engine's good throttle response, juggling such power levels isn't as impossible as it may seem. When we saw the Soarer at the Tsukuba Super Lab Battle, it seemed to be struggling to put power down on corner exit, probably due to the cold track temperatures. At that time the car's owner was unable to dip below the magical minute lap maker, but with warmer weather at another outing, it ran a 59.681-second lap. Not bad at all considering that was only the Soarer's second outing.
Kawai-san aims to dip deeper into the sub-minute marker, which considering the chassis and weight handicap, may be hard to do, but with a little more development time and turning the wick up on what seems to be a 1,000hp capable engine setup should get him the results he wants.