I’ve to provide credit score the place credit score is due.
If it wasn’t for the protection I noticed on Speedhunters and Narita Dogfight lengthy earlier than I began contributing right here, I wouldn’t have such a eager curiosity in time assault at present. The content material coming straight out of Tsukuba Circuit’s pit lane garages intrigued me, and ever since I’ve discovered myself following the time assault scene on my doorstep right here in Sweden.
The Customized Motor Present (AKA Elmia) at all times brings out among the nation’s most interesting (and quickest) time assault automobiles, and this yr a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX constructed by the blokes over at Auto-Gruppen caught my consideration in Corridor X.
I imply, how might it not?!
Auto-Gruppen, based mostly in Mellerud, has been concerned in Swedish motorsport since 2004. Since then, they’ve been making a reputation for themselves as one in every of Scandinavia’s prime efficiency tuners. I met Nader Derakshan, a head technician at Auto-Gruppen, on the Elmia present, and he was blissful to speak me by means of all features of this wild construct.
Since Auto-Gruppen bought the Evo IX in 2018, the crew has spent extra hours than they will rely perfecting each inch of the automobile, the vast majority of that point spent on drawback fixing. Having mentioned that, as quickly because the automobile feels proper at every stage, they push on to the subsequent part of improvement.
The on-track outcomes so far converse for themselves: Mantorp Park: 1.16.1; Kinnekulle Ring: 51.19 (each laps set working semi slicks). And that’s not all. Throughout its debut season in 2020, the Evo obtained three trophies and shattered two data whereas Auto-Gruppen had been nonetheless testing and positive tuning the automobile.
You’re by no means going to interrupt data with out high quality aftermarket efficiency {hardware}, and the Auto-Gruppen Evo is completely dripping in it.
First up, the outside, which options the complete Voltex Final Time Assault G-Pressure Aero Package deal. You don’t see many automobiles working this package wherever, not to mention right here in Sweden, however that is critical tools with a price ticket to match – nearly US$50,000.
The doorways, entrance fenders and each bumpers are in fiberglass, however every thing else is dry carbon. Only a few tweaks have been made to the aero to ensure that it to efficiency its greatest on Swedish tracks, and Nader identified that at 200km/h, the automobile now produces practically 2 tons of downforce, which is simply loopy.
With time assault automobiles of this calibre you’ll typically an in depth use of tube framing, however the class rules that the Auto-Gruppen Evo IX conforms to do not permit this. Inside physique and chassis body modifications are allowed although, and for subsequent season the crew will deal with additional weight discount.
There was no means something apart from prime quality Japanese-made wheels could be used on the Lancer, and the sq. 18×11-inch Yokohama Advan GT setup – at present wrapped in Yokohama Advan A005 280-section slicks – seems to be proper at house. Usually, it’s the issues you’ll be able to’t see which can be probably the most fascinating, and for the 2023 season, the Evo runs Izze-Racing laser experience top and TPMS sensors within the wheels. Moreover, every tyre has temperature sensors that measure 16 channels throughout the interior barrels, offering loads of information to raised perceive and optimize the dealing with. In whole – and taking into consideration the engine – there are 50 sensors across the automobile.
The suspension setup is designed round MCA Gold Sequence coilovers that had been custom-built for the appliance, and chro-moly RaceFab arms. Big Alcon Racing brakes characteristic in any respect 4 corners mounted on Brypar billet uprights, with adjustable break up by way of Tilton in-car bias management.
For some motive, I solely managed to snag one image of the inside, however apart from the FIA-certified roll cage and Tillet B8 carbon fiber seat paired with a Sparco 6-point harness, Momo steering wheel and Tilton 600-series pedal field there’s not a complete lot to it.
Beneath the Voltex Tilton Model GT dry carbon hood, a Mitsubishi 4G64 engine has been constructed as much as 983whp. It’s based mostly on a Bullet Race Engineering billet block that includes JE pistons, CP-Carillo connecting rods and a Brian Crower 102mm stroker crankshaft. Up prime, the MotoSpeed race-spec cylinder head is stuffed stuffed with Brian Crower parts.
The turbo is a BorgWarner EFR 9280, the consumption is a Plasmaman merchandise, and the dry sump system is from Norris Design. Gasoline supply comes by way of a Radium Engineering cell fitted with three Ti Automotive pumps that offer a staged FIC injector setup that may provide every of the engine’s cylinders a 3,100cc gasoline shot. It’s all managed by means of an Emtron KV8 ECU.
Energy finds its option to all 4 wheels by way of a Momentum Motorsport Quaife QBE6U sequential gearbox with a Geartronics paddle shift system. The driveline additionally encompasses a Tilton Engineering twin-plate clutch, Quaife diffs, plus Degree 2 driveshafts and a carbon propshaft from The Driveshaft Store.
All the things has been constructed from the bottom up at Auto-Gruppen and finished so with brilliance. I did point out earlier that the automobile was arrange for the tracks right here in Sweden, however the final purpose for the crew is to take the the Evo abroad. The World Time Assault Problem in Australia is in Auto-Gruppen’s sights, and Nader did give me a touch of a attainable go to to Tsukuba Circuit in Japan someday sooner or later too.
If that occurs, I’ll conceal in Nader’s suitcase and see the automobile in motion myself.
Alen Haseta
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