When Nemo Racing destroyed the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge lap record in 2012, new ground was well and truly broken. The unfathomably quick 1:25.0200 lap set by V8 Supercar driver Warren Luff was more than two full seconds quicker than the best time set by Garth Walden in the Tilton Interiors Racing machine, leaving many to wonder: could Nemo be beaten? In Friday’s final Pro Class session, that question was answered.
Running 1:24.8550, Tilton have emerged as the team to beat in 2013. To match Nemo’s 2012 pace this year would have been one thing, but to rewrite the record in such convincing fashion is a phenomenal achievement.
You can see the record-breaking lap here – I wonder what Under Suzuki in the Scorch Racing S15 was thinking as the Evo went past?
It’s safe to say that we definitely haven’t seen the best from Nemo though.With a headgasket blown on Thursday’s final practice session, and another during Friday’s second session, it’s been a really tough couple of days for the team. Running 1:27.7080, right now they’re well off the event-winning pace, but who knows what Warren Luff might be able to pull out the bag today if the overheating problems have been remedied overnight.
Sitting back in third spot after posting a 1:27.7690 lap is the MCA Suspension Nissan Silvia S13, followed by the Scorch Racing Nissan Silva S15 and the Top Fuel Honda S2000 to round out the teams running in the 1:20-second zone.
While lap times were tumbling out on the track, we’ve set our own records at the Speedhunters booth with limited pre-release sales of our new photo book #JoyOfMachine. Just 40 copies were shipped to Australia ahead of the main launch, and every single one of them were snapped up in very quick succession first thing Friday morning. Thanks to everyone who dropped by the booth to secure their copy, and apologies to anyone who missed out. #JoyOfMachine will be on sale soon in the Speedhunters store soon, so keep an eye out.
When we left the track late last night, there was still a hive of activity in the pits as many teams – including Tilton – looked for ways to squeeze every last 100th of a second out of their set-ups. With clear and mild weather forecast for today, it should be near-perfect conditions for record setting. Which of course begs another question: can Garth Walden and the Tilton Interior team raise the bar even higher? Or will Nemo Racing bounce back allowing Warren Luff setting an even quicker lap time? We’re trackside and about to find out…
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
that video is scary. the apparent downforce is just immense.
That is a seriously fast lap that looks drama free, really amazing. I would not be surprised if we see another .5 seconds drop off the lap record... just as long as you keep the Silvia's out of the way
godamn that was a bold move, the closing speed on those 2 corners is just mind boggling.
Impressive stuff! Although I'm not sure I'd consider two-tenths of a second "convincing fashion" but still, a record is a record.
damn that move around the S15 was pretty sketch.
I realise the fact it's the Australian home track may have something to do with it, but I honestly wonder how long the Tsukuba record would last if either Nemo or the Tilton car were shipped over.
The closing speed on the Scorch S15 was just ridiculous. I honestly thought the Japanese cars would be closer to the front, but damn.
Hotcakes It looks like the Scorch S15 was braking and moving to the right to allow the evo to pass. It's not like they were racing wheel to wheel.
True, good point. You can still compare the times though. It will be interesting to see what the other sessions bring.
It was a good day on the Friday, Great to meet some the Speed Hunters crew, got my Joy of Machine. And thanks to @RodChong for the giving me the first ever Gold Speed SpeedHunters Stickers, I'm loving the Brushed Aluminum look!
As for WTAC you can't say these guys aren't giving it 110% there was quite a few incidents throughout the day a few broken mechanically and a few beaten by the laws of traction. And even one Group B Rally car caught Fire whilst doing a few demo laps.
Few Pics of the Firey MG Metro Group B Rally Car
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1403778_10200945109930843_1096757826_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1400505_10200945110530858_1291576968_o.jpg
KenEthridge It was an asshole pass, absolutely not needed in the slightest, driver being a wanker.
@Err KenEthridge How is it a asshole pass when you're on the hotlap, and the Scorch S15 was on a cool down, IN the racing line ?. Anonymity of the internet ... and its comments.
Hotcakes Much to the dismay or the regular speedhunters reader, Suzuki wouldn't
be able to touch Tilton or Nemo, and on results may even struggle with
the MCA Hammerhead, a vastly less developed car.
I agree with BrockHarvison It was a great weekend, and I was very excited to meet some of the Speed Hunters group. Getting the book was a highlight then getting it signed and on top of that taking away a set of the new stickers topped it off.
Thanks again for giving Australia the opportunity to get our hands on a copy of #JoyOfMachine first (I was worried I wouldn't get a copy so my friends & I left our home town at 4:30am).
I think Under Suzuki made a really bad move there, he should've been on the far left side..
´grats to Tilton but I really would like to see it become a truly world wide event not just Australia-Asia-USA event. I mean the Euros have pretty beastly TA teams aswell...
when you took that picture of rod and dino were you hunterhunting?
BrockHarvison I hope that MG gets restored
777 Hotcakes Suzuki's S15 might be a more developed car than the MCA S13. But Mr. Suzuki did most of the work himself (asides from working briefly with Andrew Brillant for the aero) and has been helped occasionally by his buddy Mr. Takemura, while on the other hand, the MCA Team has more crew members.
robzor #Maximum Hunted?
IvanSafranek KenEthridge ^This.... Under probably didn't even realize he was coming in so hot... it was a blink of an eye and he was there and on him and another blink and he was past. Crazy!
zephoto IvanSafranek KenEthridge I didn't think it was an asshole pass like the other commenter. I just was thinking how many things could have gone wrong with that move. This could have been a much different topic if he had clipped the S15 or lost grip and spun into a barrier. Obviously Under should have been off line
robzor he was the #SpeedhunterHunter
KenEthridge zephoto IvanSafranek
Exactly. Let's look at it from another perspective. Let's ignore the fact that the S15 was being kind and moving out of the way for Tilton.
If the S15 was 1m over further to the right, where would have the Tilton evo gone? In the dirt? The wall? Crashed into and blamed the S15 because he was in the racing line? Please. Racing line or not, Tilton had 25m of track to the left to move the car to avoid a possible issue - chose not to.
Now let's say he did crash into the S15 because of his dick move. Whose fault is it? S15 for being what looks to be in consideration for the Tilton going slow and acknowledging the faster car... or.... Tilton because he had a tonne of space to GO AROUND and took the lesser option. Judging by the video, he had more than enough time to choose a good option. I can see the internet now, how different these comments would be if he had of indeed crashed because of his silly move. I'm all for racing but if he had of clipped the S15, it would have taken him and the S15 out and caused a massive uproar.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, Tilton and Nemo haven't spent anywhere near as much time at Eastern Creek as, say, Suzuki has at Tsukuba.
Being used to the track or not, 3 seconds is an absolute eternity.
People like to say Nemo/Tilton have bugger all in common with road cars. To be honest, they're right. But neither do Suzuki's car, or the CT230R, or the HKS Altezza.
I'd also say Suzuki working with Andrew Brilliant is a bigger deal than some might think. It'd be like asking Adrian Newey to design your go kart. Sure, you're technically a privateer, you're still getting the best.
I probably sound like a Nemo/Tilton fan boy, but if anything I prefer the "purer" approach of the Japanese cars. It just annoys me that people make out Tilton/Nemo are somehow dodgy, when they meet all the rules. It also frustrates me some people make out Suzuki is building his car out of paper mache, loose change and courage, when it's anything but.
/rant over
Also: from what I've read, Nemo/Tilton's budgets are actually far, far less than say, Cyber or Sierra Sierra.
Kermo What makes it difficult for Euro teams to attend is their local race commitments. Most are involved in local series and cannot afford to take almost two months off to compete at WTAC.
Having said that we extend invitations to many teams from Europe and welcome them here, last year we had team Redbrick from UK competing in the Pro Class.
dodos26 Suzuki wanted to move out of the way without realising that he was actually moving into Garth's race line.
This is a new part of the track and recently local drivers started going really wide there as it helps them exit the corner harder. I'm pretty sure that's the line Suzuki-san will be taking next year.
@zz BrockHarvison From what we are told the owner plans to rebuild it. It was heartbreaking watching it burn though...
Hotcakes We have actually spoken with Suzuki-san after the event and he agreed the times he did were far from the car's full potential.
What a lot of ppl don't appreciate is that this is a very high-stress event. You don't get a lot of time on the track and every little mechanical problem - like the power steering pump failure Suzuki-san suffered on Friday robs you of half of your track time.
So, while your car might be capable of very fast times and the driver is capable of achieving them, things really need to go your way on both days for you to capitalise on that.
So from what we know, Suzuki's car is more than capable of taking on and beating the Hammerhead. It is also quite capable of getting close to that magic time of 1:25. But racing happens in real life not on paper and that's what makes it so exciting. Things can go wrong for anyone - just look at Nemo this year.
Also, don't make the mistake of thinking MCA's Hammerhead as "underdeveloped". The car might look like an S13 with bits stuck to it but that's their game. Remember Murray Coote is a former Aust Rally champion and his suspension is used on a bunch of very high profile race cars - including Tilton. So these guys know what they're doing. Their lap times prove that.
Hotcakes We have actually spoken with Suzuki-san after the event and he agreed the times he did were far from the car's full potential.
What a lot of ppl don't appreciate is that this is a very high-stress event. You don't get a lot of time on the track and every little mechanical problem - like the power steering pump failure Suzuki-san suffered on Friday robs you of half of your track time.
So, while your car might be capable of very fast times and the driver is capable of achieving them, things really need to go your way on both days for you to capitalise on that.
So from what we know, Suzuki's car is more than capable of taking on and beating the Hammerhead. It is also quite capable of getting close to that magic time of 1:25. But racing happens in real life not on paper and that's what makes it so exciting. Things can go wrong for anyone - just look at Nemo this year.
Also, don't make the mistake of thinking MCA's Hammerhead as "underdeveloped". The car might look like an S13 with bits stuck to it but that's their game. Remember Murray Coote is a former Aust Rally champion and his suspension is used on a bunch of very high profile race cars - including Tilton. So these guys know what they're doing. Their lap times prove that.
robzor lol
Hotcakes Nemo is based in another state so their testing time at SMSP is limited, Tilton spent most of this year in Japan, but its driver Garth Walden is a regular at SMSP and I would say his experience at the track is akin to Suzuki-san's at Tsukuba.