In my important protection from Assault Tsukuba 2024, I coated the overall ambiance of the occasion across the pits and a number of paddocks.
With 190 entrants competing on the day, it was exhausting sufficient to even examine out all of the automobiles not to mention choose a number of for a better look, however I managed to decide 4 favourites to share with you. They may not be what you’d anticipate…
We’ll begin with the plain decide – the Y’s Produce FD3S Mazda RX-7. There was no mistaking the symphony of Yuki-san’s four-rotor FD; its wonderful sound echoed throughout the whole thing of the Tsukuba grounds when the Mazda was out lapping. It’s not simply all noise although – the RX-7 positioned twenty third outright with a formidable 56.548 lap time.
Yuki-san’s FD is not any new arrival by any means. It’s really been round for fairly some time, however that’s what makes it so particular.
In contrast to a few of the different FD3S RX-7s competing on the occasion, Yuki-san’s automotive has very tame aero. The rear fenders have been widened by 45mm and the entrance fenders by 30mm, however this solely happened by means of a determined want for huge tyres with a complete lot of additional grip.
That’s to be anticipated with the RX-7’s staggering 980kg (2,160lb) moist weight coupled with a Scoot Sports activities-built 600hp naturally aspirated four-rotor engine.
Like most automobiles at Assault, Yuki-san’s RX-7 additionally runs an Infinite 4-pot huge brake equipment up entrance.
Subsequent up we have now one thing somewhat bit totally different – a Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. At an occasion stacked with meticulously modified automobiles, you is likely to be questioning why I might take such an curiosity in a ‘normal’ Cup automotive.
Effectively, regardless of me being unapologetically obsessive about every little thing Porsche, these automobiles have gotten an increasing number of frequent as weekend observe toys right here in Japan. Simply at Assault, I counted a minimum of three 991 Cups. That’s three extra Cups than normal 991 GT3s.
These retired race automobiles have gotten an reasonably priced gateway into turn-key racing, and boy do you get lots of automotive on your cash. I managed to get my digital camera into this automotive for a number of laps, so decide for your self.
Kanjo-style Civics aren’t the primary stuff you’d anticipate to see at an Assault occasion, however when you’ve seen these two go round Tsukuba all of it begins to make extra sense.
Civics on the whole made a little bit of a comeback this yr, with this EF hatch pairing making the journey up from Osaka. Ikegami-san put down a 1’02.740 lap in his B16A-powered JACS EF9.
No fancy aero, no large turbos or inlets poking out the bonnet – simply pure N/A VTEC energy and a few insane driving.
The Petronas Aslan EF9 was ever so barely faster, posting a finest lap of 1’02.055, however this automotive has Ok-power underneath the hood.
Lastly, we have now this nearly grassroots model 180SX. That is one other automotive I’ve seen at Assault a number of instances prior to now, however the Toybase RPS13 attended this yr with a freshly-fitted wide-body equipment, permitting 295/30R18 tyres to squeeze underneath the fenders.
With a stripped-out inside, 450hp SR20DET and a comparatively tame aero equipment, this can be a construct that many people can relate to. Its 58.691 lap was nothing in need of spectacular as effectively.
That’s it for my Assault Tsukuba 2024 protection. You’ll be able to assure I’ll be again subsequent yr for extra, and doubtlessly another Assault days in between.
Alec Pender
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