It may be green, but this Mustang GT, fitted with Hellion’s twin turbo system certainly does not lack in the grunt department!
Showcased at this year’s SEMA, the car features Hellion’s “Eliminator” twin turbo system. The neat and compact kit can take the power output to over 600hp at the wheels with just 5psi of boost. The guys at Hellion estimate the kit can produce over 1200hp at the wheels with a built engine and the boost turned up.
Two Turbosmart Comp-Gate 40s control the Precision billet turbos while Vee Port BOVs vent the excess air out of the system.
Hellion’s John Urist proudly poses in front of his creation.
Anyone with even a passing interest in time attack will be familiar with the sight of this car. We are talking of course about the FX Motorsport Development’s Acura NSX. This is, after all, the car that beat the long standing HKS Evo lap record at Buttonwillow with an amazing 1:41.949 lap time.
The team managed to reset their record last year with an equally impressive lap time of 1:40.981. This year, both the car and the team proved that they are no “one hit wonders” bettering their previous record and setting a benchmark for others to follow with an amazing 1:40.379 lap time, claiming the Superlap Battle and Global Time Attack Finals outright win in the process.
What’s their secret? All the essential ingredients for a successful time attack car – low weight (1100kg) high horsepower (rumoured to be in excess of 700bhp) and a well designed aero (Andrew Brilliant). But above all, it was the team’s passion, determination and desire to win that pushed the car to its winning edge.
It also helps to have the world’s best boost control products. There is a good reason why the FXMD proudly displays Turbosmart logo on their car’s hood; the NSX uses Turbosmart wastegates, BOVs, fuel pressure regulators and silicone hoses. Engineered to Win – you betcha!
Can’t decide between turbo or supercharger? Why not fit both!
This fire-breathing wide-body Camaro is a living proof that you can never have enough power. Performance enhanced by the guys from STS Turbos, it features a rear-mounted STS twin turbo kit plus a supercharger plus a nitrous system, the car puts out 1400hp and puts a great smile on the owner’s face.
Mirrors on the floor show a trick rear-mounted twin turbo setup featuring Turbosmart external wastegates.
Turbosmart-equipped VW-powered Pauter/Tavares Sand Dragster puts in a great effort with a 2.797 ET.
“Good weekend of racing for the Pauter/Tavares team. We went through the 1st round on a bye-run. Unfortunately in the 2nd round we got beaten a hole shot by the quicker reacting Aaron Mamer. 77 / 106.03. Thanks for your support and product. Boost controller and wastegate worked flawlessly.”
“Mad” Mike Whiddett and his Red Bull backed Mazda RX-8 known as “BADBUL” are one of the most recognised duos in international drifting.
A much lesser known fact (though we think rather important) is that Mike’s car uses Turbosmart products to keep its turbo working at maximum efficiency.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the most ground-breaking time attack car ever made. As the first videos and pictures emerged of the car’s build late last year, the anticipation surrounding the project skyrocketed. The build was so radical that it split the time attack community into two “will it – or – won’t it” camps. Of course for those involved in the project there was never any doubt…
As if to silence its critics, at this year’s World Time Attack Challenge the car, in the expert hands of Warren Luff, set a new track and event record, obliterating its opposition both on the track and on the online forums. With the 2012 WTAC run and won, we take a closer look at what makes the Nemo Racing Mitsubishi Evo tick, or rather, roar.
The man behind the car – Chris Eaton, took a slightly different approach to building a time attack car. Getting the right people on board was the key element. Among them was an aero dynamics expert, Andrew Brilliant. Andrew’s role proved to be crucial as Chris recalls in an interview with the World Time Attack Challenge:
“Andrew saw the potential in Nemo immediately. As we were working towards a car that was chassis-wise superior to most other TA cars, it screamed for an integrated Aero solution.”
One look at the car’s bodywork shows just how radical the aero is. And it’s not just for show either – at the car’s maximum speed (312kph) the aero package generates up to 2.5 tonnes of downforce. It’s that downforce that keeps the car planted, allowing it to brake later and carry a lot more speed through corners.
Of course to push all that aero forward the car needed an engine with plenty of power. The engine used in Nemo is a 2.2L stroker 4G63 with just about everything inside forged. A 62mm BorgWarner turbo is kept in check by two Turbosmart Ultra-Gate38s. The whole package is good for around 800hp at the wheels.
With carbon fibre panels replacing most body panels and a stringent weight control inside as well, the car’s weight has been reduced to just 960kg, getting close to that magic 1:1 power to weight ratio.
For a car that’s so complex, its formula is pretty simple: build a powerful and reliable engine, marry it to a drivetrain that can cope with the power, add suspension capable of keeping the car planted on the track, wrap it in a sophisticated aero and add a gun driver.
It’s no surprise that the list of companies involved in the project reads like the “Who’s Who” of the performance industry; MoTeC, MCA Suspension, Norris Design, AP Racing, Porter Fabrications, BorgWarner, MakTrak and Turbosmart.
By ticking all the boxes Chris has produced a ground-breaking race car that has sent everyone else back to the drawing board. A sign on the shirts Nemo crew wore at WTAC sums it up rather succinctly. Nemo Racing – The Benchmark Has Been Raised.
An initiative of SBN (SEMA Businesswomen’s Network), the SEMA‘s “Mustang Build Powered by Women” project, is designed to highlight women working in the automotive aftermarket industry and to encourage more women enter the automotive aftermarket industry.
The project, from design to tightening the last lug nut, will be completed by exceptional women in the SBN. The actual build will take place at Source Interlink Media’s Headquarters in El Segundo, California starting in July and ending in August.
Several of Source Interlink Media female employees will also be involved in the build that covers all major areas of the car – from the engine, interior through to the sound system and paint. Once completed, the project Mustang GT will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The build starts with a completely stock 2013 5.0 Mustang donated by Ford. A number of SEMA-member companies have provided components for the build and it’s up to the all-woman team to put it all together.
Turbosmart is proud to have Kirstin Stone from our Californian office as a member of one the teams.
Anyone following the sport of time attack in the USA will be familiar with this very distinctive black and green Evo VII of Professional Awesome Racing driven by Dan O’Donnell.
Running a 2.4L Mitsubishi 4G63 motor, the car makes around 475hp at all fours with 24-50psi of boost. Boost control comes courtesy of Turbosmart’s Mitsubishi Dual Port in full recirculation mode and the Comp-Gate 40 external wastegate.
Competing in the Street AWD class, Dan has already set a couple of street tire track records, first at Road Atlanta, May 12th, with a 1:32.276 and then at Palm Beach International Raceway, June 2nd, with a 1:25.016.
With the next round of Global Time Attack event only a month away (New Jersey Motorsports Park Aug 4-5) the team is set to once again dominate its class.
Turbosmart USA would like to wish the Professional Awesome Racing team the best of luck!
