"Tsukuba in 53.673 seconds!" The new record set by the REV attack appeared in REVSPEED Magazine's Tsukuba Super Battle. This low-to-the-ground RX-7 (FD3S) decimated the track record.
The car is the TA-2 (Time Attack No. 2) manufactured by Revolution. It's a monster machine, created by taking an FD3S and spending two years specially preparing it for time attacks, and another year tweaking. The lightweight body weighs about 990kg thanks to the ample use of dry carbon, and it's loaded with a 13B turbo engine capable of producing over 550ps.
On December 10th 2010, the record was set on the Tsukuba Circuit's TSUKUBA 2000 (2.045km/lap), and before the day was out the news had spread around the world.
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I visited the Revolution shop in the city of Kawaguchi. There to meet me were company representative Takashi Aoki and time attack driver Yasushi Kikuchi.
Until 1997, Aoki worked as the owner of a motor sports service garage. He worked on engine maintenance for the JSS RX-7 (FC), Zaurus Cup cars, formula cars for F3 and F4, the rotary-engined RS sports convertible as well as many others. After that he started working on drag races, top speed challenges and, since 2000, time attacks with the GT version of the RX-7 (FD).
He later started using an RX-8 as well, and in 2007 took an RX-7 Type-S and decided, "I'm going to do something drastic." He started manufacturing everything for it at his own company.
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As an old operator of a "race shop," Aoki had confidence in his ability to reinforce and build up a car. First, he started working on an engine using his company's engine bench, which could support as much as 800ps. In the time in between running his main tuning business, he spent two years building the body and underbody.
He pressed on, fixated on the goal of "breaking the 55-second barrier at Tsukuba," but in 2009 his record was 55.9 seconds. He set to work adding updated parts in more than 30 areas, with a focus on aerodynamics. In March 2010, he finally achieved 54.9 seconds. To increase the low-profile tyres' traction even further, he made major changes to the rear suspension geometry. Nine months later, he shaved another 1.3 seconds off his time and hit 53.673.
"But there's still more that hasn't been done, so I can push that time further!"
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The development driver of this monster RX-7 is Kikuchi, already well known as a touring car driver in such series as S-Tai (Super Taikyu) and SUPER GT. He's a true veteran with a wealth of experience in overseas races including the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring.
In the past he's done top speed challenges, but now he's going around the world focusing on races and time attacks.
"If you say, 'All right!' and get too excited your time won't improve. I think you'll understand if you watch the on-board video from that 53.673-second lap, but I was driving really relaxed, right? It was very smooth. Just on that last corner, I'm bringing back the acceleration a little. That's why we're still able to better the time," he said, laughing.
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"Time attacks are getting popular not just on the West Coast of the States and in Australia, but also in Europe. Making fast machines at our own company means the company gets new technological innovations and we can keep going without compromising. Last year the top speed at Tsukuba was about 220 km/h, but in one year we've pushed that up to 238 km/h, so I really don't know how much we can push the time in the future," said Aoki (right).
"He was in a racing team first, so doing it together is fun and, as a driver, he understands what you're saying right away, which is great. If I just focus on the second hairpin and the last corner I can go faster," said Kikuchi.
This is a strong team, and it looks like we can expect more records from them around the world in the future! I'm going to be watching Revolution closely from now on.
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Interview Video
Onboard Video
<Revolution TA-2> Machine specification:
Engine
FD3S fitted with 13B-REW
Port Type : Original cross-port (side port + mini peripheral port)
Apex Seals : Original three-piece
Turbine : T04Z Exhaust housing 0.81
Boost : 1.3kg/f
Approximately : 550ps
