Time attack or drift: which would you choose? It's a common question you hear bantered around, irrespective of what country you might be in. But what if you could have both? For the Coote family in Australia, they decided to build twin S-Chassis S13s for each discipline. For Part 1, let's take a look at their TA machine that competed in this year's WTAC Pro Class.
In the lead up to WTAC, we gave you a small insight into the TA S13 build. The Coote family – who are the folk behind MCA Suspension – built the S13 primarily in their garage in Queensland. On the right is their twin BN Sports kitted 180SX, which son Josh Coote competes with in Australia and New Zealand.
It was a rush for the Coote family to have the S13 ready for WTAC, and so they entered the competition with only a handful of shakedown laps under their belts. In spite of this, the S13 demonstrated some of its raw potential with some impressive laptimes – but more on that later. Of course, the first thing that grabs your attention when you see the Silvia is the insane aero. Watch your step indeed!
It's white paint hides the girth of this Silvia, which is now much wider than originally. Under the front arches are Hankook Z221s in 265/35, while the rears are shod in 295/30.
As the Coote family, through MCA Suspension, have made suspension setups for a host of motor sports, they designed a special set of coilovers specifically for their Silvia. A range of Ikeya Formula arms were also brought in from Japan and have been fitted along with Driftworks knuckles.
Both the time attack and drift S13s are fitted with four-point air jacks, making it a lot quicker to change wheels or adjust the suspension.
The view from the front is quite incredible, it almost looks like the car is ready for take off. Of course, the aero is designed to do the exact opposite. As you can see, a combination of 180SX and Silvia parts were used to create a more wind-friendly front end.
Barry Lock was brought in to design and fabricate the aero. During the practice session before WTAC – while the team were still setting the correct ride heights – you could hear the MCA Suspension Silvia scraping its chin down the straights because of how much downforce the front was generating.
Although almost unrecognisable, the Silvia uses a BN Sports Blister wide-body kit which was heavily revised.
Dominating the rear is the extended bumper, which incorporates the enormous carbon fibre diffuser. Beneath the Silvia is a carbon flat floor. The carbon GT-wing sits high up above the roof-line. And let's not forget the Speedhunters stickers on each taillight!
Rather than settle for just the usual SR20DET the Cootes have opted for an SR20VET that, like it's sister drift car, now runs on E85 fuel. Space is now a premium in the engine bay thanks to the front tubs and the large carbon ducting that directs air from the radiator out of the hood. Along the firewall you'll also spot dual BMCs.
The Garrett 3582 turbo is fitted to a 6boost exhaust manifold and pushes out a mean 550rwhp at 30psi.
The exhaust now exits from the side, with a gold layer protecting the body work from the heat and flames.
It can get pretty hot in Australia, and the S13 combats this with a mister spray system.
The interior of course only has the bare essentials. The transmission in the Silvia is a Holinger six-speed sequential, while the differential and driveshafts they have been upgraded to R32 GT-R models.
Here is Josh firing up his beast.
Josh and his father seem to have bigger and better plans for this car. WTAC was the first race under the Silvia's belt, and the Cootes are already brewing ideas to further improve it.
In case you're wondering the car ran a 1:33.0620 in Pro Class with Kiwi Earl Bamber behind the wheel. When you keep in mind that the Coote S13 was in the same class as the Cyber Evo, Hankook Revolution RX-7, SSE Evo et al, you realise just how impressive their 10th place finish truly is. Built in a shed with their own hands, the Cootes embody what privateers are all about.
Stay tuned for PT2 where we will be taking a look at the 180SX!
-Casey
Photos: Matt Malcolm and Casey Dhnaram
AWWWWWWESOME!!!!!
Air jacks & spray misting system, nice touches.
nuts.
The front wings bend more then Vettels!!!!!!
Good write up! Awesome machine. Once they figure everything out, it should be one hell of a track whore!
Looks like a F1 car ! Cool aero
nice one:D
Damn these guys are the definition of racers hope they have great success in there upcoming events
privateers with money i guess, so any thing can be had. nice build anyways.
whats the antenna on the roof for?? anyone know????
Amazing!
This shit is bad ASS! Crazy aero and fab work!
i just hope they can find a way to get the same downforce in the front end, without those massive "wingletts" i'm sure they're highly functional but just looks so odd!
I envy tuners like these! A solid car. Since they got 10th it only means they need more confiedence in the car and better setup. It's not the first rps13 that performed well in time attack this year.. I like where this is going.)
Absolutely mental - love it! The interior is as it should be, simple and neat. Makes me miss my 180...
Is active aero allowed by WTAC regulations? If so, this should be a nice way to gain some extra straight-line speed down the straights!
nah soz still dont quite get the aero...
Amazing machines, both of them, Knowing Murray and Josh, this is not a rich family setup, this is honest business building something on a budget, by doing it all them Selves. Pretty sure the mall antenna would either be car telemetry to the pits or car to pit radio!
WOOOOOHOHOHOHOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO
yeah sorry but that aero just looks freakin ridiculous to me, surely with THAT MUCH downforce theyd be losing speed to drag...
Really like this build!
I only wonder why the rear wing isn´t mounted further back?
The rear wing is mounted where it is to keep it balanced. This was worked out mathematicaly. There is a centre of pressure at the front, and one at the back, these need to work together to keep the car balanced. If you move one further forward or rearward, it will create understeer or oversteer.
Lots of interesting details in this build!
this is a work of art
In Spanish we call that "babero", that is "bib". It hardly makes me stop drooling!
wtf!!! extreme aero kit!!! i whant to see a vid of this car running at the track!! awsome!!!