World Time Attack 2012

Time attack is a fairly new motorsport in Australia so you could be forgiven for missing out on the 2011 Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge held at Sydney's Eastern Creek International Raceway. If, however, you have been living under a rock since this event and have not been educated in the errors of your ways by the media maelstrom it caused, then consider this due warning to cancel all plans for August 10th and 11th and get yourself to Eastern Creek!

Time attack has become an international motorsport over the past few years, expanding from its birthplace in Japan with the Revspeed Superlap Battle at Tsukuba circuit to our shores as well as gaining a huge following in both the U.S. and in Europe. In just two short years, the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge has cemented itself in the scene as the premier event and 2012 is winding up to include the most international involvement yet. "We have created 'THE EVENT' that EVERYONE wants to be at," says Ian Baker, CEO of Superlap Australia. "Eastern Creek is now the benchmark and in a rapidly evolving global based economy, is unquestionably the stage that the top tuners around the world now want to showcase their abilities and go head to head with like-minded tuning houses in an annual, winner-takes-all showdown."

With the top two competitors from the 2011 event (Cyber Evo and Sierra Sierra Evo) retiring and a whole heap of new teams entering the mix, it is certainly going to be an exciting event. One team shooting for the top spot are Redbrick Racing and their absolutely insane Evo, a car at the top of its game in the UK and the first to make the journey down under from anywhere in Europe. Japan will again be strongly represented, with legendary rotary tuning house RE Amemiya debuting their stunning 20B-powered Hurricane RX7 .

Returning for his second year Suzuki-san and his Scorch Racing S15 will also be representing Japan, with this inspirational privateer determined to mix it up with the bigger teams. "Last year was an amazing experience, but to be honest I really want to win," he says. "Many people say that a 2WD car will not compete with AWD but I don’t believe this, especially on a big track like Eastern Creek. Provided the weather is good, we will be competitive." Speaking of Suzuki-san and his crew, Ian Baker says; "these guys really are the fabric of time attack racing. They are really not a team at all, but a guy who had a big dream who tinkers away in the corner of his mate's workshop every night, after working all day as a pharmacist, then goes out and sets lap times that are on par with professional teams." He really isn't kidding either, with Suzuki-san setting a new PB of 54.1 seconds around Tsukuba only a few weeks ago. To put that into perspective, the 2011 champion Cyber Evo's PB is a 54.3!

Don't think all of the focus will be on overseas competitors though, with a number of Australian teams gunning for the top of the podium as well. Topping the Aussie competitors in 2011 and missing out on the podium by just 0.3 seconds, the Tilton Interiors Evo will be back this year with a vengeance. Also returning is the Advan/Hi Octane Racing R34 GTR, a car that has been under constant development since it burst on to the time attack scene in the Superlap days at Oran Park, competing in the 2011 event in a new form with no testing prior. Considering that it was running a conservative tune and has had a full year of development pumped in to it, it will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

With their chance at the podium dashed by oil starvation issues in 2011, the team at Pulse Racing are champing at the bit to mix up the Pro Class in 2012. "After a full twelve month build we literally hit the track in the days leading up to WTAC 2011 and everything looked so promising," says Paul Fisher, head of Pulse Racing. "Then the oil light started flashing! With such a big dollar engine we just couldn't risk it. That is all fixed now with a trick new dry sump system that we should have run in the first place. This year we will be chasing a Pro Class win." By the sounds of things, Australia is going to be putting up a tough fight this year and hopefully this is the year we see someone from down under up top!

As with the last two events the Tectaloy Drift Challenge will be held at night once times have been set for the day, with the Kiwis representing hard as always. So far 6 cars have been confirmed to cross the ditch, including reigning champ Curt Whittaker and three time D1NZ champion Gaz Whiter. With the Kiwis dominating in previous years the Aussies really have a point to prove, especially Beau Yates who rounded out the podium last year. There had also been a mystery team confirmed to be bringing cars over from Japan, an announcement that we will bring to you shortly.

Off the track there will also be the usual static car show as well as the top tuner brands from both Australia and the rest of the world setting up trade stands. If last year is anything to go by, there will be some pretty special one day only cash and carry type bargains from these guys so if all of the on track action wasn't enough incentive to get yourself to Eastern Creek, there will certainly be some bargains to be had. The 2012 WTAC is certainly an event not to be missed, with Ian Baker describing it as having "something for everyone and everything for someone." Keep an eye on the Performance Garage page for updates on what else to expect and of course, start planning your travel arrangements for August 10th and 11th.