HKS Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII CT230R wins Super Lap Battle, breaks record
Like Germany and the Nurburgring, the United States is quickly seeing Buttonwillow Raceway's clock-wise configuration #13 become the circuit of choice for lap time bragging rights. While Buttonwillow does not have luxurious surrounding establishments or exceptional facilities, it does provide a variety of corners, is close to a major city (Los Angeles) and open year-round. Recently, media outlets Super Street and Eurotuner hosted their annual Super Lap Battle Finals (previously referred to as Time Attack). This event has helped to establish Buttonwillow track records as coveted titles. The winner of the event, fresh off a boat from Japan, was HKS's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII dubbed the CT230R and driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi to a time of 1:43.523. The carbon beast not only bested the competition, but destroyed the event record of 1:48.906 held by Tarzan Yamada driving Sun Auto's Cyber Lancer Evolution and the track record of 1:48.766 held by Tyler McQuarrie driving JIC's S15 Silvia in the process. There is more on the event and the Evo after the jump.
[Source: HKS USA]
For comparison of the complete dominance set forth by the HKS CT230R, check out the 2005 and 2006 Super Street/Eurotuner Time Attack results. If it still isn't apparent enough, then the Car and Driver comparison test utilizing the same track configuration might give more of a clue. If you still need to see it with your own eyes, then check out the YouTube video embedded below.
HKS's CT230R Evo is far from your ordinary rice burner. It was meticulously constructed in HKS's special projects workshop. The chassis has been significantly reinforced to reduce flex. The driver's seat is pushed back even with the B-pillar for better weight balance. The body is completely lightweight dry-carbon. Plus, the 4-cylinder 4G63 engine outputs 550 HP with the help of an HKS GT3037S turbocharger. According to Options Magazine, the whole package weighs in around 2,200 lbs making for a rather favorable power to weight ratio. The Japanese tuners must also know something about the benefits of balancing unsprung weight versus the amount of available traction, as they all seem to prefer rather narrow tires. The CT230R performed its record breaking run on 265-wide Yokohama A048 DOT tires. More details can be found in Turbo Magazine's feature article on the Evo.
The Buttonwillow track record was not the first title secured by the HKS creation, either. It was specifically built for Japan's famed Tsukuba Circuit Super Lap event. There it broke the 54-second barrier to the tune of 53.589 on the 1.3-mile track. In comparison, a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup racecar completes the loop in 57.667 (according to Best Motoring). Options captured the record on video and we happened to find it on YouTube.
More information on the Super Street Time Attack Series and the Super Lap Battle Finals can be found by visiting SuperStreetOnline.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aaron B Brown 8:07PM (11/20/2007)
Another triumph for Japanese engineering and all-wheel-drive, anyone notice a pattern here.
2200 pounds, 550 hp, all-wheel-drive and a state-of-the-art suspension and stability management system, any questions?
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Mike 1:20AM (11/22/2007)
Dude,
Please go buy yourself an AWD car and go to a track, the first time you understeer through a corner and end up in the infield or tire wall, you'll understand that AWD is great but far from the end-all-be-all, and not going to save your backside from poor driving.
Sounds like the car did great, hand made carbon fiber body, race engine, race brakes, race tires, race suspension. Hardly resembles the EVO you can buy off the showroom floor other than shape. Certainly a well-built, well-prepared car but I'm sure it cost more than the GT3 cup Porsche they refer to as a basis.
Last I checked too, Button Willow is not the American version on the Ring.
There are much better tracks around the country such as Laguna Seca, Road America, Mid Ohio, VIR, Road Atlanta, etc. that would serve a much better ground for car comparisons than Button Willow.
KazO 8:07PM (11/20/2007)
Wow, that thing was booking it through Bus Stop. I'm pretty used to sitting up at that same location and watching cars go all the way through the back section. I personally prefer configuration 1CW since there's more room to pick up speed through the esses, but that doesn't look like a problem with these cars.
Nice to see this stuff at a place I'm familiar with, as opposed to Tsukuba or other places I've never seen in person.
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Chase 8:30PM (11/20/2007)
The AWD system on EVOs is so ridiculously awesome. I really need to watch more stock prepared on TV, because that was just awesome to see. To think that those monsters are based on cars that you can buy for just over $30k. Gosh.
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HotRodzNKustoms 8:50PM (11/20/2007)
For a production based car that thing is flying! Buttonwillow is my home track and I have done a 1:37. So for a Evo to be doing a 1:43 as you come flying over magic mountain at those speeds the car is probably air born. I can just imagine the all wheel drive clawing it's way through 4-5-6 and 7 makes me smile.
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Fooman 9:46PM (11/20/2007)
which track config though?
HotRodzNKustoms 3:16AM (11/21/2007)
13 clockwise
John R 9:37AM (11/21/2007)
1:37?! What were you driving?
nissanfreak87 11:04PM (11/20/2007)
dang, HKS+Evo=holy crap
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Ilya 12:00AM (11/21/2007)
HKS FTMFW!
Japan and US are beaten... Europe should be next :D
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sfast 1:38AM (11/21/2007)
Screw Buttonwillow!
Williow Spings is where it's at!
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deadlydave 11:01AM (11/21/2007)
AWD + Turbo = awesome, but...
That is NOT a production-based vehicle. The entire body is hand-made carbon fiber and aluminum, built to Japanese Super-Taiku specs. It's been featured in at least 1 tuner Mag. The previous S15 and evo that held the record were at least mostly stock bodies.
Big props to Nob for a great drive though. That guy's insane.
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Guenther 8:59AM (11/21/2007)
I like the Idea of an American track standard. C&D started using VIR last year as their standard, and its a great track. I really like the balance of power-handling at Mid-Ohio.
HotRod- I'm really NOT implying anything, but the post mentions a track record of 1:48, 11 seconds longer than your 1:37. What's the deal?
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drunkenpublicness 11:33AM (11/21/2007)
I don't think he (hotrodz) races a regular car. More like an open wheel spec car.
BW's a great track with some long, fast sweepers and nice technical areas as well. It's the best we have to offer in Socal.
Props to the HKS car but it really shouldn't have been included in the TA battle (it didn't meet all of the Redline TA rules). With a carbon widebody and specially developed tires (not to mention the race motor) it was like bringing a gun to a knife fight. Still, gotta love them Evo's!
GDUB 11:54AM (11/21/2007)
If only they had brought my Malibu Max out to the track. Time would have been shattered thats all i am going to say.
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Guenther 12:52PM (11/21/2007)
Reminds me of a track day at Gingerman, when one of the instructors was doing track introduction in his Rendezvous. Never knew tires could howl that way.
Grain 12:05AM (11/22/2007)
Incredible.
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