New Evo runs 1:00.1 at Wakefield Park in Testing

The Tilton Interiors/Insight Motorsports Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 RS, affectionately known as "New Evo" ran 1:00.1 at a supersprint event at Wakefield Park at the weekend. Without a doubt, this marks New Evo as a worthy contender for the Pro Class title at this weekend's long awaited World Time Attack Challenge.

New Evo has had very limited track time due to the delayed build. Leading up to last weekend, New Evo had been stationed at Eastern Creek in the hope of getting as much track time as possible before the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge. However, the weather was not kind; only limited testing was possible due to rainy weather.

The supersprint event on Saturday at Wakefield Park was a chance to shake off any remaining development gremlins and a chance for driver Garth Walden to get comfortable with the car. Insight Motorsports Director, Scott Kuhner, was confident that New Evo would be competitive. This confidence proved true as New Evo set a blisteringly quick lap time of 1:00.1. Scott believes that this is the fastest time ever by a time attack car at Wakefield Park.

While I cannot confirm the above as Wakefield Park's track records seem rather difficult to track down on the Internet, I can confirm that New Evo's Wakefield Park time puts it in the company of some very fast cars and competitive drivers. It is faster than Jamie Whincup in his Formula Ford (1:02.0803) and John Bowe in his Nations Cup Ferrari 360 GT (1:00.2219). And it is only slightly slower than Simon Wills in his Holden V8 Supercar (1:00.0527).

I realise that my comparisons of cars that competed under different motorsport regulations might irk some people. All I am trying to say is that New Evo is quick and it will be a serious contender at the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge.

Driver Garth Walden is certain that "this car has 58's in it, no problem, but needs more track time. Plus there are some technical issues to sort out". Considering that the tyres used last weekend at Wakefield were hard and "only" 265's, Walden's sureness seems justified. At the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge this Friday, New Evo will be wearing a fresh set of 295’s (Yokohama A050 295/35ZR18 to be precise) wrapped around Rays RE30 rims.

A note to our readership, please feel free to send me a link to more up-to-date track records for Wakefield Park. And see you this Friday and Saturday at Eastern Creek for World Time Attack!