Another car that is set to make big splash in the Open Class at WTAC is the GT Autogarage prepared RX7 of Shane Jones and the Lightning Rotors team. After competing in the 2010 World Time Attack and retiring early due to a gearbox failure, the bug appears to have bitten pretty hard and the team is returning in a totally revamped and much wilder version of the RX7 that was campaigned last year.
This year the guys from GT Autogarage have jumped on board to lend a hand (like they needed more work!!) and turn the whole show into a pro outfit. Firstly the engine was pulled and sent to Xtreme Rotaries in Carrum Downs Victoria where the “guru” Rohan Ambrose performed his magic providing the foundation for a crazy Bridgeport turbo engine.
Xtreme Rotaries are the brains behind many of the world’s fastest rotary engines and they provided Shane with everything he needed to put together an engine capable of making copious amounts of power for lap after lap. The engine was then assembled by Shane and the reinstalled back into the car so that Dave from GT Autogarage could start his magic on all the fabrication. Selecting a GT42R from the Garret catalogue a manifold was made and the intercooler and radiator were Vee mounted to give both a short intake tract and provide each cooler with uninterrupted airflow. A Haltech ECU was then wired in and will be tuned to perfection by the boys at GT Autogarage.
While all this was happening Shane went searching for a gearbox that would not let him down like last time. The gearbox he found is an Australian made Holinger six speed H pattern box that would have seen duty in a V8 Supercar several years ago and more than up to the task of the turbo rotor.
So with the new engine and turbo setup that is expected to easily make over 400rwkw and a gearbox that certainly will not let the team down in 2011, Shane Jones is keen to hit Eastern Creek and fly the Mazda flag high in August with a much more refined weapon. You can read his blog here.
About GT Autogarage
GT Autogarage is Queensland’s only HKS F-con tuner & HKS Pro Dealer and offers in-house tuning, repairs specializing in Import and High Performance vehicles. They have an in house fabricator that can work in stainless, aluminium and Titanium. The tuning is done on a state of the art Dyna pack 1200 horsepower dyno.
GT Autogarage performance customers have vehicles that range from, daily drivers which might see the track once in a while all the way to dedicated circuit racers. Regardless of how far you plan to take your vehicle’s performance, come and visit them for a chat about your goalse. GT Autogarage mechanics have years and years of experience behind them and a quick chat with them might give you some great ideas for your project!
GT Autogarage will provide you with many options and will clearly explain why they have chosen the parts and stages for your particular upgrade process. They will also provide you with a range of options for each stage so that a number of price ranges to choose from.
Some of the services in the area of performance are:
Turbo Upgrades, Boost Controller Installs, Fuel System Upgrades, ECU Installs, Brake Upgrades, Suspension Modifications, Intercooler Installs, Wheel & Tyre Packages, Vehicle Scaling (Corner Weight)
GT Autogarage
5/150 Edmondstone Street
Newmarket 4051(07) 3356 9401 www.gtautogarage.com.au
