Ten years is not any small feat.
I bear in mind when the Assault sequence first got here onto the scene. I truthfully didn’t assume a lot of it on the time, presumably as a result of Tsukuba Circuit already had Battle Evome for time assault. The blokes behind the Battle Evome occasions did it effectively; they saved issues amateur-focused and fairly small, and it was a real pleasure to cowl. I received to know the regulars and watched their automobiles evolve through the years, till the sequence resulted in 2016.
Battle Evolve was at all times a pleasant distinction to Rev Velocity journal’s Tremendous Battle occasion, which has been contested at Tsukuba Circuit for the previous 30-plus years. The annual Tremendous Battle nonetheless invitations Japanese tuning outlets and elements producers to battle it out for prime honors each December.
Assault, nevertheless, was totally different. It introduced everybody collectively – the newbie racers and professional groups alike.
It’s why, at Assault Tsukuba you’ll see Yoshiki ‘Fireplace’ Ando in his 49-second Escort Racing Evo, and Nobuteru ‘Nob’ Taniguchi behind the wheel of varied store demo machines, plus kei automobiles and home-built creations. Everyone seems to be capturing for quick lap instances of their particular person classes. The perfect factor of all is that Assault has turn into a correct sequence, with extra rounds at Sugo, Suzuka, Fuji and Okayama.
It’s grown a lot, that Tsukuba Circuit is beginning to have points accommodating all of the Assault entrants. For 2023, there have been 155 automobiles entered, which is simply insane.
The factor that basically impressed me although, is that 59 of those entrants posted lap instances beneath 1 minute. The quickest of all – Fireplace Ando – ran a 50.112-second lap, only a slither off his 49.897-second private finest and Tsukuba TC2000 observe document for a modified automobile.
As at all times, the very first thing I did on arrival at Assault Tsukuba final Saturday was head up pit lane and try all of the heavy hitters earlier than the observe opened.
It was so cool to see the RE Amemiya crew at a time assault occasion once more. They was Tsukuba regulars, and naturally have been chasing lap instances earlier than the time period ‘time assault’ was even a factor.
The workforce have been there to crew on their outdated 26B 3-rotor FD3S observe automobile, which is now campaigned by an RE Amemiya buyer.
This preliminary stroll gave me a take a look at Assault regulars to see how that they had modified during the last 12 months, and a primary look at model new entrants, just like the Madface x D Spec GR Yaris which got here all the way in which from South Korea. With driver Lee Daejun on the wheel, the Rocket Bunny-kitted Yaris managed a finest lap of 1″02.665.
Whereas seeing worldwide entrants is at all times thrilling, for 2023 it was one thing else altogether that made the occasion further memorable for me: Suzuki Jimnys!
That’s proper, simply if you assume you’ve seen all of it in Japan, a bunch of track-prepped Jimnys zoom previous you on the Tsukuba hairpin, lifting their left entrance wheels excessive within the air as their stable entrance axles battle to deal with ranges of lateral grip they have been by no means designed to deal with. Don’t fear, I’m dedicating a whole publish to all of the Jimnys out at Assault Tsukuba, as I do know you’ll get an actual kick out of them.
Cusco had the one GR Corolla on the occasion and posted a quickest lap time of 1″02, barely slower than its PB 1’01.229. That’s crazy-fast for what is actually a evenly prepped inventory automobile.
Because of Cusco, everybody in attendance was capable of bask in some Tremendous GT gold from again in 2007. The GT300 class Cusco Dunlop GD Subaru Impreza is a legendary automobile from a time when Tremendous GT’s second tier class was extra fascinating than ever.
Right here’s Beneath Suzuki having a chat with Kumamura-san of Techno Professional Spirits in entrance of Suzuki’s iconic Scorch Racing S15.
This was the primary time the Silvia had been seen out within the daylight since some main updates. A transaxle gearbox has been launched, whereas just about all the things else has been re-engineered, together with refined carbon bodywork that’s not full but. If the S15 chassis had ever been used within the Tremendous GT GT500 class, it most likely would have regarded one thing like this!
The automobile was for show solely at Assault Tsukuba, and Suzuki-san now has just some months left to complete issues off earlier than its shipped all the way down to Australia for WTAC later within the 12 months.
That is one other automobile I must present you extra of, partly as a result of it’s a GT-R – and we love GT-Rs of each technology – but additionally as a result of that is the brand new AutoBahn time assault machine. It was inbuilt collaboration with Bando-san, who has for now retired his all-carbon Z30 Soarer, beforehand one of many quickest automobiles in Japanese time assault. Contemporary out of the field, the R33 got here away with the fourth quickest lap time of the day, a 54.184.
Seeing the paddock at Tsukuba so stuffed with automobiles was wonderful. It was an actual mixture of outdated faithfuls and new automobiles able to be hunted.
I’m grouping a few of my favourite automobiles collectively in a separate publish, the place I can share them with you in additional element. There was simply a lot to see and soak up.
Auto Produce Boss, working in collaboration with Bridgestone, introduced out their RZ34 for some sizzling laps. A fast look over the automobile revealed it to be in principally inventory type with Infinite brakes, adjustable coilovers, an exhaust and a few gentle aero the primary adjustments. The truth that it managed to lap Tsukuba in 1-minute flat goes to indicate simply how succesful the brand new Z is.
The paddock was at all times busy, with automobiles both being prepped for their subsequent session, heading out onto the observe, or arriving again having simply accomplished three or 4 sizzling laps with the 20-minute classes. I noticed a number of makeshift pits utilizing heaters to maintain brakes heat – any benefit in order that the automobile is able to assault proper after its out lap.
Amongst all of the carbon-fiber-clad FDs that resemble GT automobiles greater than the manufacturing automobile they began out as, it was good to see a small group of RX-8s.
Whereas these automobiles lacked massive energy, their nearly good weight distribution and dealing with make them a terrific observe automobile. They clearly reply effectively to setup, with two out of the 5 RX-8s lapping within the 59-second zone.
We are able to’t neglect the Suzuki Swift both, which continues to be a preferred entry-level time assault automobile. This one, constructed by Rainbow Auto (the Jimny specialist that I’ll have a separate publish on), actually regarded the half with all types of aero touches. 1″03.174 was its finest time on the day.
The automobiles spilled out into the auxiliary pits proper exterior the doorway of the circuit. Above you’ll be able to see how they’re positioned beneath the boundaries on the surface of Flip 1.
A giant a part of time assault is the tires, specifically choosing the correct sort, compound, sizing and guaranteeing they’re saved heat prior to every outing. Shaving away the worn rubber that tends to bead alongside the tread can be vital, permitting the tires to be useable proper from the get-go.
If there’s one factor I really like about Japan, it’s the way in which JDM touches are utilized to Euro automobiles like this BMW E46, which regarded so useful sitting on a set of Enkei wheels. SunBeam in Tokyo is grasp in terms of this!
Kei automobiles are as a lot part of Assault as 800hp aero monsters, and are a reminder that it’s not the kind of automobile you drive that’s vital, however what you do with it.
It’s additionally exactly why there’s a lot selection at Assault – massive and small, low cost and costly, extraordinarily highly effective and no energy in any respect.
The FF class at Assault has at all times been excessive profile, as it’s house to the quickest Civics in Japan. One in every of them is the naturally aspirated Rise Up EK9, which ran a 58.4-second lap to complete forty second total.
However it was one other EK9 that shocked everybody throughout Friday follow, and I’ll contact on that automobile in a separate publish.
From exterior the circuit entrance and proper down the entry street that runs alongside the middle of the Tsukuba format, automobiles consumed each doable little bit of area.
It’s the place I noticed this Honda CR-X from Usui Jidousha, which regarded like it could be equally at house on present at Wekfest Japan. Simply take a look at that engine bay! Mark shot the brilliant yellow EF8 whereas he was in Japan final month, so keep tuned for a full characteristic on this recent construct quickly.
After I made all of it the way in which to the far paddock, I used to be shocked to search out extra competing automobiles.
Together with this wide-body Toyota MR-S, working a Honda Ok-swap, which was lapping in 1-minute flat all day lengthy.
The perfect factor of the day, nevertheless, was the impression Assault Tsukuba 2023 left on me. Seeing extra competing automobiles than ever at Tsukuba for any occasion was reassurance that automobile tradition – no less than on the time assault aspect of issues – isn’t just alive and effectively in Japan, it’s completely thriving.
I’ve received a complete lot extra coming from Assault, so be sure you verify again quickly. You don’t need to miss these Jimnys!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com