Time Attack R34

 

Take a look at your screen. Don’t be surprised if this car looks familiar, coz what you’re gazing at is a spare-no-expense recreation of the Mine’s Time Attack R34 from the popular Sony PS2 game, Gran Turismo 4.

Skylines don’t get any more exotic than this!

And don’t think for a moment that this is merely a styling replica of that famous Mine’s R34. Far from it. It’s only when you discover the carbon fibre tailshaft, Alcon six-pot anchors and authentic Mine’s built engine that you begin to understand how the owner has spent nearly AUD$300,000 on this beast (including purchase price).

Let’s start off looking at the engine. The owner – a good friend of Domenic of Autostyle Performance Cars – recognised there was no one in Australia with the vast tuning experience to match the Japanese company Mine’s. So there could be no stuffing around. The standard engine was removed and sent to Japan with instructions to build it to the same specs as the Time Attack car. A technical document detailing Australian fuel brews was also sent to Japan so Mine’s could assemble and tune the engine to suit.

What’s inside the engine is a closely guarded secret. But it’s obvious that pretty well everything has been replaced – it’s kinda essential when the rev limiter is set to an amazing 10,500 rpm! The swept capacity remains at 2.6 litres but a tremendous spread of torque has been achieved with careful selection of hardware and tuning.

The turbo system comprises a pair of HKS GT25/30 ball-bearing turbochargers blowing into a huge front-mount ARC air-to-air intercooler. Mandrel piping and Samco hoses are used for all induction routes. Air is drawn through an ARC airbox which, interestingly, connects to a pair of Mine’s modified airflow meters. On the opposite end of the combustion process, gasses are channelled through a 3 ½ inch titanium exhaust that weighs almost next to zero. The retail price, on the other hand, is a long way from that!

Mine’s tuned the engine using a custom modified version of the standard ECU (with recalibrated airflow meter signals) and the fuel system is stepped up with 600cc injectors, a Tommei rail, Sard pressure regulator and a high-flow in-tank pump. It appears that the ignition remains standard apart from spark plugs.

The engine’s health is protected by an external oil cooler, ARC aluminium radiator and a large capacity oil catch can. An optic of the engine bay reveals an array of overflow and filler bottles along with an off-the-shelf ARC ram-air panel to force cooling air through the radiator.

Backing the Mine’s engine is, you guessed it, a Mine’s driveline. A twin-plate carbon clutch channels torque through a six-speed manual box with custom ratios (still with synchro engagement) and the diffs are replaced with shorter ratio jobs with more aggressive lock-up characteristics. A carbon fibre tailshaft is also installed. Domenic from Autostyle (who has driven countless modified GT-Rs) says the shorter gearing and the top-notch engine package delivers amazing throttle response and a progressive torque delivery – it really makes the most of the 10,500 rev limiter.

With boost set to around 1.6 Bar using a HKS EVC, the Mine’s built engine makes an easy 360kW at the wheels without pushing the limits of pump fuel. Domenic admits there are more powerful GT-Rs out there, but none come close to matching the response and rev-ability of this machine. It’s the ultimate street/circuit setup.

And that brings us to the suspension and brakes package.

Mine’s know a thing or two about making a GT-R handle so they were enlisted to provide the same suspension setup as used on the Time Attack car. The ride height, damper bump and rebound are adjustable as are the tension rods and various other suspension arms. The chassis is also strengthened with an array of titanium braces.

One of the only aspects of the car to receive local modification is the brakes. You’d go a long way to improve the combination of Alcon six-pot calipers and 365mm slotted front discs teamed with four-pot calipers and slotted rear discs. Complete with braided lines and performance pads, Dominic says these anchors cost the owner somewhere around AUD$8000...

The guards are filled by Japanese-sourced Enkei Racing wheels measuring 18 x 10.5 inches. These lightweight rims wear 265mm Falken street legal slicks for track use and 285mm Dunlops for road use. Apparently there are no problems with tyre clearance.

Still sounding every bit like a genuine Time Attack car, isn’t it?!

The final touch – which is focussed on performance as much as appearance – is the fitment of a Mine’s body kit. The car carries carbon fibre mirrors, an ARC carbon fibre rear diffuser, modified front bar with lower lip, side skirts and an adjustable rear wing. With an aero package like this, we imagine there’s plenty of downforce and stability at high speed. A Mine’s sticker kit completes the appearance.

Inside, the standard R34 GT-R V-spec II cabin is improved with carbon fibre race seats, a Nismo steering wheel and gear knob, a 320 km/h and 11,000 rpm gauge cluster, shift light, improved audio system and the EVC boost controller.

With almost 300 grand thrown at it, this R34 V-spec II is unquestionably one of the most desirable in Australia. It’s a dream machine for anyone who’s picked up a PS2 controller. And now it’s a dream car that – if you’ve got the right amount of money! – you can live for real. If you’re a genuinely interested buyer, we suggest contacting Domenic from Autostyle (see details below).

So put down that controller and pick up the keys to the real thing!

Contact:

Autostyle Performance Cars 0414 444 930

www.autostyle.com.au