The Top 10 Time Attack Cars of All Time

This is bound to start some controversy but we thought what the hell… This is what the staff at Superlap Australia think are the top ten time attack cars of all time as of January 2011, six months later we still believe this is an accurate list. We based our judgement on several aspects, what the team has done in its home time attack series and not the least of which was the ability to put in a faster lap than anyone else on any given track on any given day. In the world of time attack, things move fast, in fact VERY fast, this list may well be redundant in the coming months but for the time being here is our list. Disagree with our choice – let us know by leaving your feedback!

10. Panspeed RX7 (JAP)

We start our list of with arguably one of the best looking time attack cars the Panspeed RX7. The rotary stalwarts Panspeed have long been a force to be reckoned with on their home turf of Tsukuba circuit and made the long trip South for World Time Attack in 2010 where they finished a credible 5th position

9. World Racing Scion FWD (USA)

In position number 9 we have chosen a car that has turned the front wheel drive class in the USA on its head. The FWD Scion of World Racing and the colourful Chris Rado. This unorthodox car with its “fwing”car has reset many track records and has often beaten many AWD cars. He has now debuted a new AWD version but it is yet to be sorted. If it lives up to its expectations though that car would probably sit much higher in the list order.

8. Roger Clark Gobstopper WRX (UK)

This car dominated the UK Time Attack series a couple of years back thanks to an 850 hp nitrous injected engine and was retired at the top of its game. When your father was Roger Clark MBE it is quite probable that the sons learnt from an early age and this car is a shining example of their talent. It may well deserve to sit higher in the list but without seeing it compete against any international cars it is very hard to gauge.

7. FX Motorsports NSX (USA)

This little team from Las Vegas have certainly proved they can mix it with the best of them particularly on the larger circuits and now has a greatly improved aero package. They were scheduled to come to WTAC last year but sadly destroyed their only engine days before they were due to leave and didn’t make it. Regardless it is one seriously fast car!

6. M speed GTR (JAP)

This is a car that caused quite a bit of controversy when it surfaced in 2007 and took home the trophy at Tsukuba with a 54 second lap time. Many of the tuning shops argued that this was not a “tuner” entered car. Regardless it is the quickest time attack GTR in Japan hands down and had development continued would have been shot at the outright title without a doubt and that puts it in number 6. The owner still has the car but it has largely been retired the past two years.

5. Tomei/Cusco WRX (JAP)

This car is a joint venture between Tomei, Cusco and Voltex with Tomei providing the engine, Cusco the chassis and Voltex the aero. This is one car that you need to keep a real eye on. Particularly as it has only ever raced with around 500 horsepower and still been able to bring home silverware on more than one occasion, not the least of this was a very solid third place at WTAC 2010. If the power is increased in this car watch it move up the ladder very quickly, possibly even to the top position!

4. Garage Revolution RX7 (JAP)

Now this car really is one to watch. With a 53.6 second lap at Tsukuba late last year this team has its sights set on number one there is no question about that. There may be some controversy surrounding its build construction and chassis design but the fact is that it is built by a tuning shop, it fits the Japanese rules and it came within a whisker of taking the time from HKS on similar tyres putting it clearly in the top 5 cars in our opinion but be warned this team could rapidly move up the list as time goes on.

3. HKS CT230R (JAP)

What can we say about this one that hasn’t already been said? This is the car that EVERYONE wants to beat. And when you have that reputation you must have built something pretty special. Built by tuning powerhouse HKS to showcase their capabilities the car, at the time of campaigning a few years back, was head and shoulders above everyone else and unbeatable although many tried. The car set lap records both at Tsukuba Japan and Buttonwillow USA. Again there was much controversy regarding “special” tyres, a claim that the Japanese strenuously deny. Regardless this is the “scalp” that everyone wanted! The car is now retired and displayed on the NZ show circuit for 2011

2. Sierra Sierra Evo (USA)

This is the top dog in the US now without a doubt and placed second last year behind the Cyber Evo at WTAC 2010. This car is the brainchild of Nevada based Dennis Kottke and his team who were formally a Formula Atlantic championship winning team before turning their hands to Time attack racing. This team has in fact beaten the HKS time at Buttonwillow on US style DOT tyres which are a different deal to the Japanese DOT tyre but nonetheless they have beaten the time by quite a margin now.The only problem is that second is not where these guys want to be, but until they beat the reigning champion Cyber Evo it is the best we can do!

1. Cyber Evo (JAP)

There is only one way you will ever be in this position and that is to come to World Time Attack and win just like the Cyber Evo did! This car has long been a force to be reckoned with in Japan and it proved its utter dominance in 2010 winning the WTAC by almost a full second which may not sound like much but in the world of time attack is a long way to make up. So there is no question in our minds this is THE NUMBER ONE Time attack car for the time being and the good news is they are coming back to defend their title.

There are plenty more who came close to making the grade and again this is only our staff opinions and I can tell you I would not be at all surprised to see some Australian cars make the grade by August either in particular the Advan/Hi octane R34 GTR that is in for a full overhaul and rethink . The others teams we thought were close would include ASM Yokohama Japan S2000 a very fast NA car that could hold its own against the big guns. Gugliemi motorsport from the UK is another one in their lightning quick Lotus and GST motorsport in the USA have also been making some progress of late in their WRX . R magic RX7 is another top Japanese player that made it down for WTAC and one of the prettiest cars out there. 5 Zigen have already recorded a blistering 58 second lap in their Honda Civic at Tsukuba putting it firmly in number one FWD in Japan with the promise of plenty more to come. And then you have the privateers like Scorch Racing Japan who have gone as fast as some of the big boys probably on a shoestring budget in their S15.