Tsukuba Circuit is hallowed floor within the time assault world, however for many fans exterior Japan, the dream of hitting this iconic observe in actual life stays simply that – a dream.
For Jacky Tse of JTune, a New Zealand-based tuner and die-hard time assault fan, nonetheless, that dream wasn’t one thing to simply watch from behind a display screen. It was one thing to be realised.
Jacky considers himself a “regular driver.” Whereas he’s an off-the-cuff observe teacher, Jacky will not be an expert racer. His objective was easy however formidable: to show that anybody might present as much as Tsukuba for the primary time in a avenue automobile and go away with a lap time that may appear unachievable for a novice fanatic.
After all, there was one essential piece to this puzzle – the automobile itself.
Delivery a automobile from Japan to New Zealand is reasonably priced, given the large variety of used JDM automobiles exported every week. However sending a automobile in the wrong way? That’s a unique story. I’ve coated the same story the place 4 Australians shipped their drift vehicles to Japan for a month of observe days, and I’ve stored tabs on their ongoing journey. From Australia or New Zealand to Japan, automobile transport prices are solely the tip of a really costly iceberg – and that’s earlier than you issue within the return journey.
For Jacky, sending a automobile from New Zealand didn’t make monetary sense. A significantly better concept got here throughout Tokyo Auto Salon 2024.
A yr in the past at Makuhari Messe, HKS unveiled a wide-body GR86 to showcase a contemporary initiative for the corporate: The HKS. Drawing from over 50 years of tuning expertise, this division has been set as much as create absolutely constructed avenue vehicles for purchasers – from delicate to wild. Understanding HKS already had a profitable time assault GR86 in its R&D fleet, Jacky requested if he might buy the automobile on show, with the intention of taking it to Tsukuba. The reply wasn’t utterly simple.
Initially, Jacky was informed he might purchase the prototype ‘The HKS’ GR86, however because it transpired, the automobile had already been bought – to a different Jacky, which can clarify a few of the confusion. It wasn’t all misplaced although. If he was prepared to attend, HKS might construct one other automobile – ‘The HKS’ GR86 buyer chassis #1 – after which run it with him at a Tsukuba time assault occasion.
This selection turned out to be even higher. Jacky might spec the automobile precisely how he needed inside the boundaries of what HKS outlined as a ‘avenue automobile,’ and have time to correctly put together for the driving problem. A number of months later, a contract was signed, the deposit paid, and in June, ‘The HKS’ division started work on a brand new Toyota GR86 RZ in Crystal White Pearl.
By August, the core of the construct was completed. By December, it was absolutely accomplished – simply in time for the second and ultimate 2024 HKS Tsukuba Hiper Problem. That is after I joined Jacky and over 40 of his family and friends for the event.
Earlier than diving into how the day unfolded, let’s check out the automobile…
At a look, it’s clear that is no extraordinary GR86. Avenue authorized? Sure. Delicate? Not even shut. The automobile sports activities a full HKS Kind-R physique package, widening the entrance by 55mm and the rear by 65mm (per facet). That is additional enhanced by HKS SPL CRFP (carbon fibre bolstered plastic) canards, vortex turbines, and an under-panel, together with a customized HKS SPL CRFP swan-neck GT wing –all of which have been CFD-tested to enhance high-speed stability.
The GR86 runs two units of 18×11-inch +30 Yokohama wheels – Advan GT Beyonds and Advan Racing TC4s, which have been wrapped in Yokohama Advan A050 295/30R18 semi-slicks for Tsukuba. HKS Hipermax R coilovers improve the automobile’s dealing with whereas Limitless 6-pot entrance and 4-pot rear brakes guarantee it may cease.
Inside, the full HKS catalogue has been unleashed.
There are HKS fiftieth (anniversary) Bride Zeta IV entrance seats, HKS fiftieth TRS 6-point harness belts, and an HKS fiftieth Nardi Sports activities 34S steering wheel. Not forgetting its avenue automobile credentials, HKS flooring mats and a baggage mat within the trunk full the look. For its day on the observe, the passenger Bride seat and mats have been eliminated, however every thing else remained.
Lastly, the powerhouse and HKS’s bread and butter of the construct – the engine. From its authentic 2.4L naturally aspirated specification, HKS stroked the GR86’s flat-four to 2.5L utilizing their Brief Block Step 2 package, which incorporates solid pistons, I-beam connecting rods, and a solid crankshaft with a crank key.
To deliver the facility, an HKS GTIII-RS turbo package was added, full with the turbocharger, exhaust manifold, 113mm catted downpipe, intercooler, and a Tremendous Energy Stream air filter. Supporting the upgrades are a wide range of HKS elements, together with a grommet-type head gasket, High quality Tune V-belt, Hello-Energy SPEC-L II exhaust system, and an S-Kind oil cooler package. Gown-up elements, just like the HKS dry carbon fibre engine cowl (eliminated in these images) and fuse field cowl, and the HKS oil filler cap, full the engine bay.
The GR86’s manufacturing unit ECU stays, nevertheless it now has an HKS F-CON sub-ECU, HKS EVC 7 increase controller, HKS ATK A/F Knock Amp, and an HKS VAC II (velocity limiter elimination) working alongside it. The facility output? With 0.7bar (10.3psi) of increase dialled up, a conservative 350hp.
This was the total HKS catalogue construct, with no reduce corners. Nevertheless, Jacky had an additional request above and past the scope of the driveline improve, which initially simply added an HKS LA (Mild Motion) clutch: Becoming a race-spec limited-slip differential, and a Quaife 69G 6-speed sequential transmission from Momentum Motorsport in the UK, considered one of Jacky’s long-standing companions.
At first, HKS wasn’t absolutely on board with this deviation. However when Jacky confirmed up on the Fuji HQ mid-build with a Cusco RS 1.5-way LSD in his carry-on baggage and the information that the Quaife gearbox was en route, the crew got here round. In spite of everything, even HKS had encountered points with inventory GR86 transmissions failing beneath increase on observe, and a damaged field was the very last thing Jacky needed to have prematurely reduce quick his day at Tsukuba.
Initially, Jacky was presupposed to get some check laps earlier than the Hiper Problem, however as typically occurs with these tasks, the construct went right down to the wire. His first time behind the wheel could be on the occasion itself. And with solely three quick 15-minute periods to work with, laying down a good lap time – Jacky’s objective being sub-1-minute – was going to be something however straightforward.
The day began with excessive spirits, however issues took a fast flip. Jacky hadn’t even made it out of the pit lane when the engine stalled and couldn’t be restarted. After the automobile was pushed again to the HKS pit, the difficulty was traced to a free crank angle sensor. Session one: achieved.
To correctly remedy the sensor challenge, the transmission would wish to return out of the automobile to offer full entry to it. There was no time for that, so a side-of-the-road repair was employed, permitting Jacky to go out for session two.
Jacky had been getting ready for today for six months, working tons of, if not hundreds of laps on his simulator. However Tsukuba’s real-world elevation modifications, nook camber, and observe narrowness have been all issues he needed to shortly adapt to. Through the second session, he was understandably cautious, understanding that crank angle sensor failure at velocity might finish in catastrophe. Moreover, the automobile was understeering, and the brakes weren’t performing as they need to, largely as a result of the pads hadn’t been bedded in and the suspension settings wanted tweaking. The large aero was hampering its straight-line velocity too. Nonetheless, Jacky lapped at 1:03, a stable begin.
After some tweaks and with confidence that the crank angle sensor challenge wouldn’t resurface, Jacky equipped for the third and ultimate session. He had a method: heat up on lap one, then push for a time on lap two, and lap three if essential.
There was speedy enchancment with a 1:01 first lap. However on lap two, the engine started to overheat, initially inflicting energy loss after which a misfire. Jacky returned to the pits for a calm down, however on his return to the observe the misfire endured. Not desirous to danger the engine, the session was referred to as.
Though the teething points didn’t permit Jacky to hit his lap time objective, the GR86’s efficiency was spectacular for a primary shakedown.
Hit play above to trip together with Jacky for a number of laps round Tsukuba.
On the finish of the day, Jacky famous, “This mission wasn’t nearly a construct or a lap time. It was about fulfilling a lifelong dream with my family and friends, and celebrating automobile tradition at Tsukuba, the world’s most iconic time assault observe.”
Whereas this was presupposed to be a one-hit Tsukuba deal, with HKS returning the GR86 to its HQ after the occasion and instantly prepping it for export to New Zealand, there’s an opportunity Jacky will get a second shot at that 59-second lap earlier than Japan’s 2024/2025 time assault season is over. HKS has mounted the crank angle sensor challenge and is at present fine-tuning the setup, so we’ll see.
Within the meantime, it’s best to undoubtedly take a look at Jacky’s YouTube channel, Seat Time, the place his ‘Highway to Tsukuba’ has been documented intimately.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
