WORLDS COLLIDE

THE 2023 WORLD TIME ATTACK CHALLENGE SAW THE QUICKEST TINTOPS IN THE WORLD DESCEND ON SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK

- IAIN KELLY

SINCE 2010, the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge has brought fans of several niche Japanese motorsports together, to the point that these days the Sydney-based event draws entries from Europe, North America and Japan.

But there is a lot more to this two-day party than just who can get the quickest lap time. For example, at the 2023 event, held over the first weekend of September at Sydney Motorsport Park, a bunch of the world's best drift and demo cars also come to party, and there were speed comparisons, roll racing, burnouts, a stunt plane and a tank!

This year, five international Time Attack teams crossed the oceans to challenge Australia's best. The Emtron Pro class is where the big dogs play at WTAC, and both they and the hard-chargers in Plazmaman Pro Am were allowed to use slicks for the first time this year as a safety precaution. These cars feature aero bodywork designed by Formula One scientists, and the downforce loads have become too great for everything except all-out race tyres.

From the first Pro session on Friday, the benefits of the new tyres were clear, as three-time WTAC winner Barton Mawer wheeled the wild RP968 Porsche 968 around the 3.9km Gardner Circuit in just 1:18.8, shattering his 2019 lap record of 1:19.2. The new PB made the tin-top Porsche the quickest car to officially lap the Sydney Motorsport Park track!

However, more was to come on Saturday. After the team rebuilt a CV shaft they broke on Friday afternoon, the billet 4.0-litre, four-cylinder-powered Porsche came straight out in the first Pro stint of the day and ran 1:17.8! This ended up being enough to lock in both the class and Outright wins for Barton, which was lucky, as he shattered his heel jumping off the car's roof while celebrating his time!