World Time Attack Challenge 2022

Its Back!

After a 2 year break due to unforeseen circumstances, the team from World Time Attack have pulled together one spectacular event for 2022. Showcasing some of the most insane race cars from around Australia, hidden gems and unique creations, all in one automotive heaven. By this point if you haven’t heard of WTAC, then you’re about to.

What is World Time Attack Challenge?

Simply put, its about setting the fastest lap time on a chosen circuit running the same control tyre. The tyre chosen for the Clubsprint class was the Yokohama Advan Neova AD08R. Open, Pro Am and Pro class utilise the Yokohama Advan A050 in soft or medium compound. Tyres can change lap times dramatically, this is the reason why a control tyre is in use to keep everyone on a level playing field. Aero, power and body modifications are then broken down into further class restrictions.

Clubsprint

Clubsprint class has a main focus on drivers as well as the car remaining registered for road or rally use. Minor body modifications are allowed. Drivers are all amateur and not professional drivers. Lights must remain working, Vehicles must not lose more than 5% of its original tare weight. Engine modifications are open as it can still be driven on a true street tyre. Supercars and sequential gearboxes are not allowed however.

Open Class

Open Class has restrictions on aero, but less strict compared to Clubsprint. Lexen windows (Except windscreen), sequential gear boxes and carbon fibre body panels can be all fitted to the open class vehicles. Weight restrictions are eased to 15% of the original tare weight of the vehicle. Nitrous can also be run on N/A vehicles. Drivers are also opened up to a mix of amateurs and professionals. Open class is a big mix of tuning houses coming up against serious privateers.

Pro-Am

Big Aero cars! No professional drivers are to race in Pro Am (Title is self explanatory, Professional cars, Amateur drivers). Cars can be fitted with nitrous providing they are naturally aspirated. Extensive use of carbon fibre panels and insane engine combinations running more than 1000hp can also be used.

Pro

This is the top tier class when it comes to time attack. Professional drivers steering some of the most bad ass machines you could put on a track. Drivers from around the world famous in various forms of racing categories come to try and beat the best. Cars must retain the original floor pan, however carbon panels can be fitted to that floorpan. Weight is up to 20% of the original tare weight of the car, however with over 1000hp and nitrous injection, the power to weight ratio on these machines is insane.

2 year break

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond anyones control, 2020 and 2021 running of World Time Attack was not able to go ahead. This was a real bummer across not only Australia, but across the world. Many competitors and teams travel from North America, Japan, Singapore, UK and more. This may have given some teams a chance to re-structure their cars, run some more testing and tuning on new parts. Or even build, develop and run a completely new car for 2022. In the 2 year break the track also had a slight upgrade. Multiple lighting towers where placed around the circuit opening up to racing well into the night under stunning visuals.

Australasian Drift Titles

Along with the time attack event, The team also has a variety of on and off track entertainment. One of those entertainment on track extras is the Australasian Drift Titles. Pinning the best Australia has to offer against each other with their wild creations. Starting with practice, you get the feel of some of the drivers trying new lines, working out where to place the car and what line the judges are after. After practice runs it is onto qualifying. All drivers complete a run to set a score out of 100. Top score qualifies 1st. Winner of the 2019 Drift title Josh Boettcher was back to defend his win. Some notable mentions in qualifying include Jason Ferron in the Keep It Reet Barra power skyline wagon qualifying 4th, Saxon Moyes being the youngest competitor in the field qualifying 15th, lastly Levi Clarke spending more time lifting the front left wheel then actually keeping it on the ground and returning a top qualifying score.

Drama

One on one battles follow after qualifying setting two competitors against each other, the lead driver must remain on the line the judges have chosen and the chase driver is responsible for keeping proximity to the lead. Awesome battles ensued whittling the top 32 down to the final winner of the event. Some drama through the battles is never a miss with drifting. Senna Tunny in his Blown LS R33 coming up against Matt Harvey driving the mighty 2JZ S13, Senna having a small dirt excursion after straightening out on his chase run, sadly ending his chances at taking the top spot. Luke Fink driving the LS powered R34 also having a stall on the start line coming up against Patrick Barlee in his small block C6 Corvette, handing the win to Patrick. Glenn Ormerod also understeering and running off into the weeds in his lead run against Patrick Barlee.

Top 4

Brad Touhy taking out the win in his V8 Toyota 86, in a spectacular final against Patrick Barlee. Barlee on the lead run having initiated fast, transitioned for the second turn and over rotated infront of Touhy, Touhy not being able to stop in time and making front on contact with Barlee. Ending Barlee’s chances at continuing on. Having the lead driver make an error, scoring is then handed directly to the chase driver. 3rd place was also action packed, Matt Harvey having to come up against the ever so hard charging Luke Fink. Unfortunately for Fink, Fink was unable to make the start of the final podium battle for third, handing the win to Harvey.

Australian Thunder

As part of the on track demo for 2022 was a unique combination. McLaren M8E, Kaditcha “Bapmobile”, Daytona 24 hour winning 20B PP Turbo RX8, Outlaw spec Porsches, Flying 500 and the Hotwheels Stunt team. Its really hard finding where to start with this lot, each car and owner/operator deserve their own article.

McLaren M8E

Tipping the scales at 780kg, punching 800hp from its 493ci 8.3L mechanically injected Chevrolet V8, driven by Harri Jones from the Carrera Cup series. Having almost double the horsepower and almost half the weight, Harri wrestled the beast that is the Mclaren around Sydney Motorsport Park pushing the car as hard as he could. The sound was absolutely unreal, the thundering V8 being heard from almost any point on the track. The McLaren driven was chassis number 80-04, racing in the American Canadian racing series, driven by the late Vic Elford.

Kaditcha “Bapmobile”

A seriously interesting creation here, designed to race group A in the 80’s. Bap Romano paired a Tyrell 010 F1 chassis with a Cosworth DFV F1 V8 and the incredible handiwork of former McLaren F1 designer Barry Lock helped create this masterpiece. Struggling with the ground effects this car had, suspension components failed under shear force and stress. After having all issues sorted, the Kaditcha begun to slaughter the competition. Winning 4 out of 5 races in the 1984 series.

20b PP RX8

The Rolex 24 hour race is globally known and very prestigious, but to win the Rolex 24 Hour is another story itself. The team from PAC have sourced a speed source car that has raced and won its class in the 24 hour race. Having seeing this put some laps around Sydney motorsport park was an incredible sight. Racing locally here in Australia in the sports sedan series, the car turns out over 700hp from its peripheral ported, triple rotor turbo motor.

Outlaw Porsche’s

Aeroplane piston radial motor meets 356 Porsche. Welcome to the creation of Ron Goodman. Having previously covered an outlaw 356 on here before with Scott however Rons car is vastly different. Hand built and hand crafted parts, attention to detail is on another level. Right down to the spark plugs and tool kit in the engine bay. Running alongside the 356 was a replica 906. A 906 is a LeMans car, one that was developed and designed to win LeMans and the championship in 1966, 67 and 1968. Running a 2L flat 6 motor, the 906 came into a final weight of 580kg, top speed on Mulsanne straight of 280kph.

Flying 500

What’s not to love about seeing some high horsepower street cars being driven hard over a 500m sprint? The competition has been heating up over the years, 2022 had the first running of not only 1, but 2 twin turbo Huracan in the mix. Having driven on the streets, unleashing these cars running 1000+ HP in most cases, it would be a test to see who could apply the power to the ground. In the mix included two Lamborghini Huracan, Toyota Supra, mustang s550, Jeep Cherokee track hawk, two R32 GTR, R35 GTR, Chevy Camaro as well as a Porsche 930 turbo. It was fairly close in the top running drivers, coming in with a speed of 261km/h from precision racing, Sam Sedat-Yilmaz took out 4th position. Running in 3rd position was the first of the two Lamborghini’s, with a speed of 283km/h from AstronTech Motorsports driven by Tony Tiziolis. Just pipping Tony with a speed of 284km/h was the R32 GTR driven by Aleksander Cirtoski from Birrong Automotive. Taking out 1st place with a blistering speed of 288km/h was the second Lamborghini Huracan. Guiseppe Tummarello from Precision Racing taking it home for the weekend.

Hotwheels Stunt Show

Jumping stadium trucks, drifting, motorbike stunts, Mini cars doing burnouts, what’s not to like? The team from Hotwheels stunt show put on a cracker of a display. Matt Mangy in the Camaro, Kent Dalton in the GTSR, Maddox Mingay driving the mini stadium super truck. It is so nice to see Matt back in the hot seat after a terrible accident in the states. But even better to see him ripping it up with his son. Displayed on the main straight, there was so much going on, eyes looked left and right at something new and exciting happening every where you looked. If you haven’t seen the hot wheel stunt team on display yet, I really suggest you go and find out where they are next!

Clubsprint

Having so many competitors, clubsrpint was broken up into three groups. Each group was fantastic to watch. showroom cars and some more modified cars battling it out for the top spot. Clubsprint consisted of old and new cars and competitors, Supra’s, 350z, RX7, I20N and I30N, golf R, M4, M140 BMW, WRX, Integra, GR Yaris, Evo and Evo Wagon, 944 Porsche, BRZ, Civics and MX5’s. There was no shortage of choice, or talent in class either.

Having won the class in 2019, Jamal Assaad returned with the ERS Evolution to back his win and potentially set a new lap time. Previous class winners Brett Dickie with Elusive Racing had also returned to try and dethrone ERS from the top podium position. With an incredibly close top 10, it was anybody’s guess as to who would be standing on the podium at the end of the weekend. Adam Casmiri, famous for piloting the JDM Yard EG Civic in open class, was back in 22. However this time taking the wheel of a developing Lamspeed Racing GR Yaris. And wow was he quick. Setting a lap time of 1.36.8570. Michael Garland just pipping Casmiri for 4th, taking the Got It Rex Subaru WRX to the line with a time of 1.36.4340.