Beyond 3000: Sunday Stories: Tsukuba Time Attack

Car Top Reminds Us of 26 Years of the Tsukuba Time Attack

Located in Shimotsuma, Tsukuba neighborhood, the Tsukuba Circuit was built in the early seventies as a way of introducing youngsters to motor sports. Made famous by video games, tuner challenges, and Japanese video magazines, this short race track of just over 2 kilometers and 14 corners has become a kind of "benchmark circuit," and used by most manufacturers and enthusiasts for racing, hot lapping, and drifting.

The Japanese magazine Car Top recently published an interesting article about the last 26 years of time attack made by 100% stock vehicles at Tsukuba, and the standings reveal a couple surprises...

Overall general standings:

1- Nissan GT-R (R35) : 1'02"143
2- Nissan Skyline GT-R Vspec (BCNR33) : 1'03"58
3- Porsche 911 Turbo (2007-2008 ) : 1'04"12
4- Lamborghini Gallardo (6MT) : 1"04"14
5- Impreza WRX STI Spec C (2006) : 1'04"17
6- NSX Type-R : 1'04"20
7- Lancer Evolution VIII MR RS : 1'04"40
8- Nissan Skyline GT-R Vspec (BNR34) : 1'04"55
9- Impreza WRX STI spec C (2002) : 1'04"63
10- Lamborghini Gallardo (eGear) : 1'04"63

The Skyline GTR used to dominate Tsukuba and Nissan's new super car, the GTR, perpetuates that tradition by dominating with an impressive lead over...and quite surprising, another Nissan: the R33 GTR, faster than a 997 Porsche 911 Turbo!

With short straight lines and tight corners, Tsukuba Circuit gives a big advantage to All Wheel Drive (AWD) cars and the Honda NSX, in 6th position, is the only non-AWD car of the bunch, beating excellent machines such as Lancer Evo, Impreza WRX, R34 GTR and the amazing Gallardo by Lamborghini. Things would probably be very different on a bigger track like Suzuka. With the exception of the Nissan GTR, European sports cars would easily dominate their Japanese competitors thanks to superior torque and top speeds.

Luxury/Sports sedan Top 5:

1- Toyota Chaser Tourer V (JZX100) 1996 : 1'08"17
2- Lexus IS-F : 1'08"36
3- Nissan Skyline 350GT Type SP : 1'08"58
4- Toyota Chaser Tourer V (JZX90) 1992 : 1'08"82
5- Nissan Skyline 350GT Type S: 1'08"83

Luxury sedans, even sporty, are not a good match for the short and twisty Tsukuba Circuit and are considerably slower than sports cars...but it is interesting to see that, leading the pack, is the 12 year old Toyota Chaser, beating the likes of the brand new Lexus IS-F.

In 4th place is another Toyota Chaser, even older (1992), stuck between a couple of Skyline Sedans which are much more recent.

This fact tends to prove that most sedans are now built with comfort over performance. Even though new cars are equipped with bigger engines providing more torque, they are also heavier, feature a ton of electronic systems, batteries, and longer gearbox ratios. This is particularly true with the 420HP Lexus IS-F, a car that we will focus on in a near future.

On a side note it is important to say that all these records were made in conditions that were difficult to predict and may vary from one car to another... weather, track conditions, driver skill, and physical state of the cars inevitably influence the performance and lap time of each vehicle.

The latest news from Tsukuba saw the Amuse R35 GTR win a new record with a time of 59.061, beating the Mine's version. When specialists find a way of cracking into Nissan's super protective engine management system to add a whole lot of horsepower, and combine it to a stripped up interior, we might see the HKS Lancer Evo record of a 53.589 fall.

The best overall record belongs to Keichi Tsuchiya in a purpose built race car, a 2002 Super GT Honda NSX in 51.875.