World Time Attack Challenge 2013 Coverage…Part 1…

By stickydiljoeNovember 14, 2013 ( 5 )

This is actually about a month old now but there has just been so much going on lately that I just never got around to posting it. Normally when I sit on things for a long time, I end up not posting them because I feel that they are a little too dated to be relevant to the site. In this instance, I decided that I wanted to move forward with posting this stuff up anyway because the photos are just that good. My buddy Yonas Liu notified me that he had someone covering the World Time Attack Challenge for me in Australia so I was totally down to check it out. Yonas tries to help me out whenever he can with content so I know he will come through for me. He said his friend Steven Le was doing the work behind the camera and I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t know too much about the guy. Le then contacted me directly and we exchanged messages back and forth in the days leading up to and after the event. He said he’d leave the photos completely untouched for me, as that is how I usually prefer them to be, and would also include captions for each photo. I couldn’t really ask for much more than that but I was completely surprised by just how good the photos were. They had a very unique style about them and I love the way he captured the feel of the event. I really had no idea what was going on at WTAC so it was incredibly helpful of him to include captions with the photos. Otherwise, you’d just be staring at photos like me and not understand what you were looking at…

So, for those unaware, what exactly is the World Time Attack Challenge? Well, let me grab an excerpt from their site so that they can explain in their own words…

The beginnings of the World Time Attack Challenge can be traced back to a local event (Superlap Australia), held at Sydney’s now defunct Oran Park Raceway.

Superlap Australia held the annual national time attack event in 2008 and 2009 but as the interest and participation in the format grew, Superlap’s CEO, Ian Baker saw an opportunity to create a brand new event on a scale previously unseen in the sport of time attack.

The idea was to create a truly international event where the best of international time attack teams compete on the same track at the same event. In this format, the teams represent not just the tuning shops behind the car but also their country. All for the glory of being crowned the World Time Attack Champion.

The inaugural World Time Attack Challenge was held in 2010 at the Eastern Creek Raceway and proved to be a huge success. It was the first time the likes of PanSpeed, CyberEvo, R-Magic and Sierra Sierra competed against each other at one event.

The response from the participants, sponsors, exhibitors, spectators and the media was phenomenal and surpassed our expectations. The icing on the cake was winning the Speedhunters’ Event Of The Year – a poll voted on by the Speedhunters readers.

World Time Attack Challenge grew rapidly setting new records for attendance and lap times each year. This rapid growth has been attributed firstly to the affordability of time attack racing in comparison to other forms of motorsport; whilst it may not be cheap to build a PRO level time attack car, it is considerably less expensive than running a race series in any other class. The lower time attack classes are still considered relatively affordable to the average wage earner giving everyone the possibility of competing in an international motorsport event beside international superstars.

To read more about it, CLICK HERE…

I normally wouldn’t cover WTAC but this is just too good to pass up. I hope you guys enjoy the photos because Steven Le really did put in a lot of work to document the event in its entirety. It’s only a two-part series so I invite you to come back tomorrow if you would like to see the rest. Huge thanks go out to Steven Le as well as Yonas Liu for making this post possible. I’ll jump in with captions randomly but for this post, understand that pretty much all of what you’re seeing is the handiwork of Steven Le…

WTAC 2013 Australia Coverage
Photos and Captions By Steven Le on behalf of http://www.stickydiljoe.com

Simon Polewski in his S15-front 180sx that is rocking a 2JZ-GTE under the bonnet. Simon was runner up last year in the Open Class and is back aiming for that top step…

A replica of Allan Moffat’s “Peter Stuyvesant RX7” here on display…

The Hairy Lemon EVO VI in the “Clubsprint Class” which is the entry level class for WTAC…

This GTR makes a comeback to WTAC with a new owner and livery after competing in 2010…

JDM Yard’s DC5 going down the main straight, driven by Australia rally driver, Adam Casmiri. This is their first time at WTAC and Adam managed a best time of 1:37.770. The team knows there’s more in the car but Adam just couldn’t get enough track time to set those faster times…

Spotted this awesome fold-up bike in the pit area with Advan livery. This bike actually belongs to famed Japanese driver Max Orido…

Yokohama Advan was one of the main sponsors for WTAC 2013 and are supplying the control tyre to all competitors. The AD08 Neova are for the Clubsprint Class and the Open and Pro classes use the A050…

The coolest tyre rack I’ve seen fabricated by professional drifter Nigel Petrie of “Engineer To Slide”…

The BPG RX7 is driven by Hayley Swanson, a seasoned V8 utes and Aussie Racing Cars campaigner and part-time model…

This little Daihatsu Charade is flying down towards turn one powered by a Honda B18C turbo….

The Sutton Brothers S15. This car has a huge following among the Silvia community as it is a family-run team that gives the bigger teams a run for their money…

Tilton Interiors EVO hitting the apex of the first corner at Sydney Motorsport Park, formerly known as Eastern Creek Raceway…

Another shot of the Tilton Interiors EVO that was runner-up last year but this year, with a record time of 1:24.8550, claimed the WTAC ’13 victory…

From Queensland comes the MCA Suspension S13 Silvia that manages to impress everyone with their lap times despite being a RWD car. Last year the team managed 3rd but this year they’ve done one better and finished 2nd overall with a time of 1:27.3670, about half a second faster than last year….

Fresh from Japan is the Esprit NSX driven by Tarzan Yamada. It’s without question the fastest time attack NSX from Japan and WTAC is it’s first venture outside of Japan….

Coming all the way from Queensland is the infamous Mighty Mouse CRX from 101 Motorsports and JHH Racing. This is a favorite to take out the FWD and NA awards this year….

The aero package on this car is designed by Barry Lock, an Aussie who used to work with the McLaren F1 team. He’s also responsible for the aero package on the MCA Suspension S13…

Another classic on display is this Datsun Stanza with classic Nissan livery…

HKS Oil filters outside one of the Japanese team’s garage…

Probably the most unique and unsuspected car in the paddock, the Holden VL Commodore in time attack form driven by Jason Clements. He’s out there to do all the Aussies proud…

Another favorite for this year is the Tilton Interiors EVO driven by Garth Walden who was runner up last year. He’s definitely back bigger, better, and faster with a whole new aero package and livery….

Darren Morice and his team, RTR, giving a once over of their EVO 10 before heading out….

We see Warren Luff getting interviewed by Option 2 magazine and right next to him is the reigning champion, the Nemo Racing EVO…

Suzuki-San and the Scorch Racing S15 getting warmed up before their session. This car currently holds the time attack record at Tsukuba Circuit in Japan….

The Might Mouse CR-X getting prepped. It features a K24 that’s been bored out to 2.5L and produces 280whp…

Top Fuel’s S2000 also getting some minor adjustments done before it heads out…

Right next door you’ll find RE Amemiya’s “Hurricane 7” with none other than Amemiya-san himself… (Loved this shot of the iconic Isami Amemiya next to the Hurricane 7. it is one of my favorite photos from this set -stickydiljoe)

The Gibson GIO R32 GTR Skyline, a former Bathurst Competitor….

Fame Japanese driver NOB Taniguchi speaking with one of this team members….

Local favorite is Shane and his Gorilla Industries JZA80 Supra. It is arguably one of the best-looking Supras in Australia…

Jason Naidoo in his EVO 8 MR from IS Motor Racing. A local workshop known for producing fast cars….

Another female on the grid this year is local talent, Yoland Mandy in her “Yolski Racing” EVO 8 RS…

Another Clubsprint competitor is Nick Adams in his R33 GTR from Pulse Racing…

Team V-Sport/Go Pro EVO X is a favorite to win this year’s Open Class after just missing out on the podium in previous years…

Benny Tran and his Backyard Performance Integra sporting a supercharged K-series under the bonnet…

JDM Yard’s DC5 Integra in the pits, waiting for the session to start. Famed Japanese driver Tarzan himself said that this is “one cool Integra”….

Fulcrum Suspesion’s WRX having a cool down in between its sessions…

Adam in the JDM Yard DC5, getting ready for his session…

Rob Nguyen, driver of the Might Mouse CR-X, sorting out electrical issues with his crew member…

Bilstein Racing’s S14 Silvia getting some media attention in its garage…

Sutton Brothers’ S15 with Volk Racing CE28N, Endless big brakes, and Voltex canards…

Top Fuel S2000 all back in one piece…

Bachuss Energy Drink’s Lexus IS-F, a local based team though the car is driven by NOB Taniguchi….

The Esprit NSX waiting patiently for its session with its driver Tarzan Yamada…

Andrew Sutton, one of the Sutton Brothers, getting focused. Last year he came close to a podium position in the Open Class but this year, he’s moved up to the Pro-Am Class and is gunning for a spot on the podium…