A Swedish Time Assault Monster

I’ve to offer 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 vehicles, and this yr a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX constructed by the fellows over at Auto-Gruppen caught my consideration in Corridor X.

I imply, how might it not?!

Auto-Gruppen, primarily based in Mellerud, has been concerned in Swedish motorsport since 2004. Since then, they’ve been making a reputation for themselves as considered one of Scandinavia’s high efficiency tuners. I met Nader Derakshan, a head technician at Auto-Gruppen, on the Elmia present, and he was glad to speak me via all features of this wild construct.

Since Auto-Gruppen bought the Evo IX in 2018, the group has spent extra hours than they will depend 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 section of improvement.

The on-track outcomes thus far communicate 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 acquired three trophies and shattered two data whereas Auto-Gruppen have been nonetheless testing and fantastic 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 totally dripping in it.

First up, the outside, which options the total Voltex Final Time Assault G-Power Aero Package deal. You don’t see many vehicles working this package anyplace, not to mention right here in Sweden, however that is severe tools with a price ticket to match – virtually US$50,000.

The doorways, entrance fenders and each bumpers are in fiberglass, however all the pieces else is dry carbon. Only a few tweaks have been made to the aero to ensure that it to efficiency its finest 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 vehicles of this calibre you’ll usually an intensive use of tube framing, however the class laws that the Auto-Gruppen Evo IX conforms to do not enable this. Inside physique and chassis body modifications are allowed although, and for subsequent season the group will concentrate on additional weight discount.

There was no approach something aside from prime quality Japanese-made wheels could be used on the Lancer, and the sq. 18×11-inch Yokohama Advan GT setup – at the moment wrapped in Yokohama Advan A005 280-section slicks – seems proper at residence. Usually, it’s the issues you may’t see which can be probably the most attention-grabbing, and for the 2023 season, the Evo runs Izze-Racing laser trip top and TPMS sensors within the wheels. Moreover, every tyre has temperature sensors that measure 16 channels throughout the internal barrels, offering loads of information to raised perceive and optimize the dealing with. In whole – and making an allowance for the engine – there are 50 sensors across the automobile.

The suspension setup is designed round MCA Gold Sequence coilovers that have been custom-built for the appliance, and chro-moly RaceFab arms. Big Alcon Racing brakes function in any respect 4 corners mounted on Brypar billet uprights, with adjustable cut up through Tilton in-car bias management.

For some cause, I solely managed to snag one image of the inside, however aside 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.

Underneath the Voltex Tilton Model GT dry carbon hood, a Mitsubishi 4G64 engine has been constructed as much as 983whp. It’s primarily based on a Bullet Race Engineering billet block that includes JE pistons, CP-Carillo connecting rods and a Brian Crower 102mm stroker crankshaft. Up high, the MotoSpeed race-spec cylinder head is stuffed filled 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 through 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 gas shot. It’s all managed via an Emtron KV8 ECU.

Energy finds its strategy to all 4 wheels through a Momentum Motorsport Quaife QBE6U sequential gearbox with a Geartronics paddle shift system. The driveline additionally contains a Tilton Engineering twin-plate clutch, Quaife diffs, plus Degree 2 driveshafts and a carbon propshaft from The Driveshaft Store.

Every part has been constructed from the bottom up at Auto-Gruppen and accomplished so with brilliance. I did point out earlier that the automobile was arrange for the tracks right here in Sweden, however the final objective for the group 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 potential 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
Instagram: hazetaa