GTCC: VTEC vs. AE86 and More

As active as Tsukuba Circuit is, the majority of the events there are either of the simple free driving variety or time trial events where cars race against the clock to bring in the best time. A little less frequent are the events that feature real wheel-to-wheel racing.

The NUTEC Cup GTCC series is one of the events that brings competitive head-to-head racing to Tsukuba's famous 2000m course. There are four GTCC events held at Tsukuba throughout the year and I made the short trip out to track on February 22 to have a look at the first round of the 2008 series.

The GTCC events feature several different race groups divided into classes based on both engine type and the degree of modification. This makes more for a wide variety of cars and some very close racing action.

The first  practice laps and for qualifying. Here is a look at some of the notable cars in the event.

The TFH/Fortec CT9A Evo would be one of the fastest cars during qualifying. Its times were in the one minute flat range.This car is running in the R class expert division.

During qualifying, this big power Evo5 was the fastest car of the day. Check it out lifting the inside rear wheel around the first hairpin.

Also part of the R class expert division is this wild-looking wide body NA6CE Eunos Roadster.

Although there were all sorts of the cars at the event. The most interesting part of the day was the rivalry between AE86's and  VTEC Honda's at various levels.

Techno Pro Spirit brought out their well known AE86 Levin N2 car to compete in the NA expert class.

Under the hood of the TPS Levin lies this race-built 16 valve 4AGE.

The main rival of the TPS Levin would be the B18C powered EG6 Civic from Yellow Factory. During the qualifying session, these two cars would go back and forth setting the fastest lap. It was sure to be a close race.

This EK9 Civic Type R was another one of the fully tuned Civics in the NA expert class. Check out the use of stock R32 Skyline GTR wheels in the front. So raw and business-like.

The awesomely-named Hell Fire CR-X.

Another one of the many N2 style AE86's.

I absolutely loved this 2 door Levin. So simple and so low. The engine is a Solex-fed 16 valve. The owner was embarrassed when I was checking out his car in the paddock. He said, "It's so dirty isn't it? So boro boro." I told him that what was made the car so cool and he laughed. This is AE86 privateer style at its best.

A very simple yet fast EG6 Civic street car.

Carbon-bumper wearing EK.

After qualifying was over it was time for the real racing to begin.

In the R class expert race, the white Evo5 started from the pole position and looked to be the favorite for a win. It was not to be, the car developed mechanical trouble and was forced to retire. The red Evo 9 would come out on top with the wide-body Roadster coming in second.

After the R class races it was time for the NA class to take to the track.

The NA super class would be the first big Honda/AE86 battle of the day.

It would be a battle between this white Trueno and the black EG6 pictured earlier.

This time it was VTEC power that came out on top by a narrow margin. The EG6 had a best lap during the race of 1:06.554 while the 86 had a best lap of 1:06.789.

The final race of the day would be the much anticipated NA class expert race.

The Yellow Factory EG6 would start from the pole position with the Techno Pro Spirits AE86 right behind.

Five seconds to go!

The TPS Levin got a jump on the YF Civic at the start and was able to take the lead by the first corner. It was now time for 12 laps of some of the closest racing action I had seen in a long time.

The EG6 stayed locked onto the bumper of the Levin throughout the early part of the race. At one point, however, the Civic had the momentum coming down the home straight and set up for a pass in the braking zone of the first corner.

As the driver tried to out brake and overtake the Levin, he came in a little too hot and locked up the brakes at the corner entrance. This allowed the Techno Pro Spirit car to build its lead by a little. I got pretty fired up while watching this race. It was such a well-matched battle.

The Civic managed to get back on the bumper of the AE86 but the cars were just too evenly matched for the EG6 to get enough momentum to make another attempt at passing. At the end of the race the TPS Levin came out on top by a little over two tenths of a second. Keep in mind this is after a 13 minute race! The Yellow Factory car actually had the fastest lap time of the race with a 1:03.200 just BARELY besting 1:03.211 lap from TPS. It doesn't really get any closer than that.

So this time it was the Toyota coming out on top in the NA expert class, though it could have been anyone's race. The GTCC will be back at Tsukuba to do it again in June. I can't wait to see what happens. Who's gonna come out on top next time?

Check out the rest of the photos right here .

Comments

[Antonio from Cipher Garage]

86 > EG
4AG > B16

The truth.

[Jeff]

Wow, very impressive! I can't believe how close those two were.

[RE-Xtreme]

Mike,

You've been in Japan a while now.

What kind of car do you want now?

Can you choose just one?

Russ

[RE-Xtreme]

I just noticed car 19 - Izuzu Gemini in Alitalia Livery.
I love this one.
I had two of these (Coupe and Van versions) as my first two cars...

Mind you the ZZ/R in Japan was a lot better than the ones we had in Australia.

Russ.

[Josh / F/M Tuning]

Good stuff! I've been waiting on a little Honda coverage. Great looking cars.

(Boo to the first comment. You don't even have a reason why ...).

[gtcc_webmaster]

Thank you !

[ra21benj]

Go Spirits Taro AE86!!!
Love the AE86 vs VTEC rivalry.
I own an EF CRX (thanks for the JDM CRX pics!), but I love my AE86 more because it's more fun to drive.

[Matt]

Great coverage! Yellow Factory EG6 is real monster with 1:03.2 lap time.

[Yabug]

People who don't know how to change oils in their "Cars" should not post comments like " 86>EG, 4AG>B16". Check your wheels make sure they're niot stuck on the calipers.

[Cherish]

Thanks a lot for this simple yet very very useful solution.
http://www.rapidsharemix.com

[Sabycat666]

I'm just totally in love with all these amazing cars!
The corollas are my favorites, trueno, levin, awww
the EG6 is great also