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25-07-2011, 02:09 PM
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tarzan-podium.jpg (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?47615)
As the fastest time attack cars on the planet prepare to face off against each other, it is interesting to note that most of the drivers of these crazy machines carry just as big a reputation as the machines they are driving. Some drivers actually drive for a number of different teams as you witnessed in 2010 with Tarzan Yamada standing on the top and the third step of the Pro Class podium – something that would be impossible to do in almost any other form of motorsport.
Most of these guys are at the top of their game and it is interesting to note the different disciplines they all come from; from Indy lights champions to Targa Tasmania winners, Japanese Super GT drivers to V8 Supercars drivers and everything in between. Regardless their background, there is only one thing they will all be focused on at World Time Attack – and that is putting down that single fastest lap for their team.
With the cars hogging most of the spotlight on our website, we thought we’d introduce you to the Pro Class drivers of the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tarzan-567x377.jpg
Eiji “Tarzan” Yamada
Lives Nara-Kan Japan
Age 49
At WTAC he is driving:
Cyber EVO (Japan)
R35 GTR Mercury Motorsports ( Australia)
The current reigning champion and time attack record holder, Tarzan needs no introduction. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most experienced time attack drivers, he has competed in nearly all of the top time attack events throughout the world including Japan, USA and UK. Yamada has raced in both the Japanese Touring Car Championship andJGTC (now called Super GT). He has competed in both the GT300 and GT500 classes. He gained popularity on several Japanese videos with BAKA-MON, his trademarked logo that translates loosely as “stupid monkey” but never, for one second let his off track antics fool you, because when he gets behind the wheel he is deadly serious.
Yamada has raced in numerous series in Japan and America since 1981. His championships include the 1991 Formula Mirage class and 2002 N1Super Taikyu endurance. He held the Redline Time Attack Unlimited class track record at Buttonwillow Raceway Park from 2004 until 2007 in the Cyber Evo.
He is currently a judge for the Japanese D1 professional drift series and after finishing his driving duties will be judging the Tectaloy Drift Challenge.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Emrpingham.jpg
David Empringham
Lives Toronto Canada
Age 46
At WTAC he is driving: Sierra Sierra (USA)
David Empringham is a professional Canadian racing driver who is is a two-time Toyota Atlantic and one-time Indy Lights champion. Most recently, Empringham won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup GS division driver’s title, competing for Multimatic Motorsports.
Amongst his most memorable moments David lists a thrilling victory in the fastest Indy Lights race ever run on the high banks of Michigan International Speedway during the Inaugural US 500 weekend in May 1996. In recent years has been a coach and mentor to many upcoming open wheel racers throughout the USA.
He has been a strong advocate of time attack racing and is especially passionate about the World Time Attack Challenge. After the runner up position to the Cyber Evo in 2010 David wants the 2011 win probably more than anyone on the planet.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kouta-Sasaki.jpg
Kouta Sasaki
Lives Tokyo Japan
Age 37
At WTAC he is driving: Panspeed RX7 (Japan)
Kouta Sasaki is a Japanese Super GT driver who drives for the factory supported R and D sports B4 Subaru team in the GT300 class. In 2005 he won the GT300 championship with team Reckless in a Toyota MRS. He has also competed in Formula 3, Porsche CC Asia, Formula Nippon and in 2011 competed in the Nurburgring 24 hour race. He has had a long relationship with the Panspeed team in Japanese time attack racing.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/kinoshita-55.jpg
Mitsuhiro Kinoshita
Lives Nagano Japan
Age 46
At WTAC he is driving Garage Revolution RX7 (JAP)
Mitsuhiro Kinoshita is a Japanese Super GT driver that drives for the Hankook KTR GT300 team in a Porsche GT3RSR. He has driven professionally in JGTC or Super GT classes in Japan since 1997 when he started with the Endless team in a Skyline GTR, a team he raced with for many years after.
He is also a test and development driver for Hankook Japan and in 2010 he drove for the R magic RX7 team at World Time Attack.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Warren-Luff.jpg
Warren Luff
Lives Gold Coast Queensland
Age 35
At WTAC he is driving:
Prepd Motorsport Lotus GT3 (Australia)
Hankook carbon WRX (Australia)
Warren Luff is a professional race car driver who currently drives for the Lucas Dumbrell V8 supercar team. He started his career in V8 Supercars in 2002 after winning the Brute Ute championship and has driven for Dick Johnson Racing, Stones Brothers’ Racing and Britek Racing among others.
More recently Warren co drove a factory Audi R8 with Craig Lowndes and Mark Eddy to a podium finish at the Bathurst 12 hour race at Mount Panorama. He is the son of well known driver training instructor Ian Luff and is also works as a stunt driver at the Gold Coast Movie World.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/glenney3.jpg
Steve Glenney
Lives Hobart Tasmania
Age 32
At WTAC he is driving:
GT Autogarage R35 GTR (AUS)
Pulse Racing Evo 8 (AUS)
Steve Glenney is a professional racing driver who currently drives for the factory backed Mazda Motorsport racing team that competes in the Australian Tarmac rally championship.
Glenney is a former Targa Tasmania winner and has also many circuit racing victories as well most notably in the Australian Manufacturers Championship in a TMR prepared Evo X. He is also well versed in gravel rally, has numerous victories under his belt in this discipline and is also highly regarded as a driving instructor.At WTAC 2010 he won the open class by nearly four seconds for the Pulse Racing team Evo, a car he will be driving again this year in Pro Class format.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Jono-lester.jpg
Jono Lester
Lives Auckland New Zealand
Age 22
At WTAC he is driving: Team RevolutioNZ Evo 8 (NZ)
Jono Lester is a professional racing driver from New Zealand with his most notable achievements being in the Porsche GT3 cup racing arena which he started racing in at the tender age of 16 and took his first race victory at age 17.
Since then he has competed throughout New Zealand and Europe with Porsche AG. In 2010 he was selected by Porsche GMBH to compete in Porsche Mobil1 Supercup race that was a support race to the F1 at Monza in Italy where he finished 13th out of 34 starters.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/earl-bamber.jpg
Earl Bamber
Lives Wanganui New Zealand
Age 21
At WTAC he is driving: MCA Suspension S13 Silvia (AUS)
Earl Bamber is a professional racing driver who in 2008 was ranked sixth highest future star in the world by the internationally recognized websitewww.driverdb.com . Bamber was the 2006 Formula BMW Asia champion[and in 2008, also won the Imola round of the European Formula Masters series.
Bamber drove for A1 Team New Zealand in the opening round of the2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season after impressing the team during rookie seasons in 2007–08 and during pre-season testing with the new “Powered by Ferrari car” and managed several podium finishes in this car, In 2010, among other driving outings, he raced in the Toyota Racing Series for Triple X Motorsport car. He claimed six victories, including the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix held at Manfield as he finished runner-up in the championship for a second time,
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/John-boston.jpg
John Boston
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 40
At WTAC he is driving the Unique Autosports 300ZX (AUS)
John Boston is a professional driver who is currently employed by the Hilux Heroes stunt team that perform at shows around Australia.
He is also a test driver for various motoring publications including Top Gear, Wheels and Motor Magazine. He has many years of race experience and has won 4 production car championship titles and 9 state Motorkhana titles. He has also raced on numerous occasions at the famous Tsukuba circuit in Japan and is highly regarded as a driving instructor.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fernandez2.jpg
Jose Fernandez
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 42
At WTAC he is driving the Fernandez Motorsport XR6 ute (AUS)
Jose Fernandez is a V8 Supercar driver who competed in 2004 in the Fujitsu series with Dick Johnson Racing before moving to Britek in 2005 and then on to the V8 Championship series where he partnered Jason Bright in 2006.
In 2008 he campaigned another Fujitsu series entry under his own Fernandez Motorsport banner before retiring to focus on his business interests. Jose has also worked as a race driving instructor. Recently he has been tutoring two young racers in the Kumho V8 series and building insane time attack Fords at his Sydney based race shop.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Rick_Bates.jpg
Rick Bates
Lives Canberra Australia
Age 43
At WTAC he is driving the Notaras Motorsport Evo (AUS)
Rick Bates is a professional racing driver that can claim probably the most diverse range of disciplines of any competitor. Rick has competed in the Bathurst 1000 in a V8 Supercar where he recorded a top ten finish. He has won the Panama to Alaska Marathon rally that he led from start to finish in 1997, he won the Classic Adelaide rally in 2000 and has been a factory rally driver for Toyota, Mazda, Ford and Daihatsu and has even finished on the podium at a round of Drift Australia.
He has also competed in a round of WRC in China in a VW in 1999. He has done many Targa rallies and also won the Suda- Americana rally in 2006 and has many class wins at the 12 hour production car race at Bathurst.
These days he runs Bates Advanced driving school and often does vehicle releases for major manufacturers. Rick is the twin brother of former Australian Rally Champion Neal Bates.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/garth-walden.jpg
Garth Walden
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 28
At WTAC he is driving for Tilton Interiors Evo (AUS)
Garth Walden is a professional driver who currently holds the 2E Sports Cars lap record at Eastern creek in a Radical SR3 with a time of 1.30.7. He has driven in many forms of circuit racing including V8 Supercars and Australian GT and is the son of Australian racer Brian Walden. In 2011 he competed at the Radical Masters Endurance Series at Spa Franchorchamps Belgium. He is currently employed by Radical Australia as a manager and also provides tuition to the drivers. He is the 2009 Superlap Champion also driving for the Tilton Interiors team.
Many of the above drivers are also driving several cars in the Open Class, with Glenney and Boston being two of the busiest guys. Rick Bates is also driving a Evo X in Open Class for the V Sport team. These guys will join Nurburgring and circuit race veteran Ric Shaw who has been contracted to drive the Rotary Powered MX5 in the Open Class.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/berry-44-567x378.jpg
As well as all these professional drivers there are also some guys who may not do it for a living but certainly have the pace in time attack racing to give these guys a big hurry up. Two of these are Mark Berry(Advan/Hi Octane R34 GTR) and “Under” Suzuki-san (Scorch Racing S15).
Mark has been racing carts from a young age and progressed to being a dominant force in Dutton rallies sprints and hill climbs around Queensland in the Hi Octane R32 GTR, but by day Mark is a defence contractor. Suzuki-san has almost done the impossible in Japan in the Evome time attack series where he has obliterated times set by much more experienced tuning houses with Super GT drivers despite the fact that this is purely a hobby and he works at a chemical company through the week.
Peter Lucas is another driver that wears a collar and tie through the week but on weekends loves to put on a racesuit and helmet and jump into a fast Lotus. He is the 2008 Superlap Champion. Steve Kakavas is an engineer that also has the ability to put down some very fast lap times in his WRX and Mark Hansen has done extremely well in the R35 GTR in the Queensland Time Attack series and will no doubt be looking to pick up some tips from Tarzan as they share the drive in his R35 GTR.
For more information on the Yokohama ADVAN World Time Attack Challenge 2011 Click Here (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?47615)
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/classbanner_PRO.jpg (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?47615)
As the fastest time attack cars on the planet prepare to face off against each other, it is interesting to note that most of the drivers of these crazy machines carry just as big a reputation as the machines they are driving. Some drivers actually drive for a number of different teams as you witnessed in 2010 with Tarzan Yamada standing on the top and the third step of the Pro Class podium – something that would be impossible to do in almost any other form of motorsport.
Most of these guys are at the top of their game and it is interesting to note the different disciplines they all come from; from Indy lights champions to Targa Tasmania winners, Japanese Super GT drivers to V8 Supercars drivers and everything in between. Regardless their background, there is only one thing they will all be focused on at World Time Attack – and that is putting down that single fastest lap for their team.
With the cars hogging most of the spotlight on our website, we thought we’d introduce you to the Pro Class drivers of the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Tarzan-567x377.jpg
Eiji “Tarzan” Yamada
Lives Nara-Kan Japan
Age 49
At WTAC he is driving:
Cyber EVO (Japan)
R35 GTR Mercury Motorsports ( Australia)
The current reigning champion and time attack record holder, Tarzan needs no introduction. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most experienced time attack drivers, he has competed in nearly all of the top time attack events throughout the world including Japan, USA and UK. Yamada has raced in both the Japanese Touring Car Championship andJGTC (now called Super GT). He has competed in both the GT300 and GT500 classes. He gained popularity on several Japanese videos with BAKA-MON, his trademarked logo that translates loosely as “stupid monkey” but never, for one second let his off track antics fool you, because when he gets behind the wheel he is deadly serious.
Yamada has raced in numerous series in Japan and America since 1981. His championships include the 1991 Formula Mirage class and 2002 N1Super Taikyu endurance. He held the Redline Time Attack Unlimited class track record at Buttonwillow Raceway Park from 2004 until 2007 in the Cyber Evo.
He is currently a judge for the Japanese D1 professional drift series and after finishing his driving duties will be judging the Tectaloy Drift Challenge.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Emrpingham.jpg
David Empringham
Lives Toronto Canada
Age 46
At WTAC he is driving: Sierra Sierra (USA)
David Empringham is a professional Canadian racing driver who is is a two-time Toyota Atlantic and one-time Indy Lights champion. Most recently, Empringham won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup GS division driver’s title, competing for Multimatic Motorsports.
Amongst his most memorable moments David lists a thrilling victory in the fastest Indy Lights race ever run on the high banks of Michigan International Speedway during the Inaugural US 500 weekend in May 1996. In recent years has been a coach and mentor to many upcoming open wheel racers throughout the USA.
He has been a strong advocate of time attack racing and is especially passionate about the World Time Attack Challenge. After the runner up position to the Cyber Evo in 2010 David wants the 2011 win probably more than anyone on the planet.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kouta-Sasaki.jpg
Kouta Sasaki
Lives Tokyo Japan
Age 37
At WTAC he is driving: Panspeed RX7 (Japan)
Kouta Sasaki is a Japanese Super GT driver who drives for the factory supported R and D sports B4 Subaru team in the GT300 class. In 2005 he won the GT300 championship with team Reckless in a Toyota MRS. He has also competed in Formula 3, Porsche CC Asia, Formula Nippon and in 2011 competed in the Nurburgring 24 hour race. He has had a long relationship with the Panspeed team in Japanese time attack racing.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/kinoshita-55.jpg
Mitsuhiro Kinoshita
Lives Nagano Japan
Age 46
At WTAC he is driving Garage Revolution RX7 (JAP)
Mitsuhiro Kinoshita is a Japanese Super GT driver that drives for the Hankook KTR GT300 team in a Porsche GT3RSR. He has driven professionally in JGTC or Super GT classes in Japan since 1997 when he started with the Endless team in a Skyline GTR, a team he raced with for many years after.
He is also a test and development driver for Hankook Japan and in 2010 he drove for the R magic RX7 team at World Time Attack.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Warren-Luff.jpg
Warren Luff
Lives Gold Coast Queensland
Age 35
At WTAC he is driving:
Prepd Motorsport Lotus GT3 (Australia)
Hankook carbon WRX (Australia)
Warren Luff is a professional race car driver who currently drives for the Lucas Dumbrell V8 supercar team. He started his career in V8 Supercars in 2002 after winning the Brute Ute championship and has driven for Dick Johnson Racing, Stones Brothers’ Racing and Britek Racing among others.
More recently Warren co drove a factory Audi R8 with Craig Lowndes and Mark Eddy to a podium finish at the Bathurst 12 hour race at Mount Panorama. He is the son of well known driver training instructor Ian Luff and is also works as a stunt driver at the Gold Coast Movie World.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/glenney3.jpg
Steve Glenney
Lives Hobart Tasmania
Age 32
At WTAC he is driving:
GT Autogarage R35 GTR (AUS)
Pulse Racing Evo 8 (AUS)
Steve Glenney is a professional racing driver who currently drives for the factory backed Mazda Motorsport racing team that competes in the Australian Tarmac rally championship.
Glenney is a former Targa Tasmania winner and has also many circuit racing victories as well most notably in the Australian Manufacturers Championship in a TMR prepared Evo X. He is also well versed in gravel rally, has numerous victories under his belt in this discipline and is also highly regarded as a driving instructor.At WTAC 2010 he won the open class by nearly four seconds for the Pulse Racing team Evo, a car he will be driving again this year in Pro Class format.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Jono-lester.jpg
Jono Lester
Lives Auckland New Zealand
Age 22
At WTAC he is driving: Team RevolutioNZ Evo 8 (NZ)
Jono Lester is a professional racing driver from New Zealand with his most notable achievements being in the Porsche GT3 cup racing arena which he started racing in at the tender age of 16 and took his first race victory at age 17.
Since then he has competed throughout New Zealand and Europe with Porsche AG. In 2010 he was selected by Porsche GMBH to compete in Porsche Mobil1 Supercup race that was a support race to the F1 at Monza in Italy where he finished 13th out of 34 starters.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/earl-bamber.jpg
Earl Bamber
Lives Wanganui New Zealand
Age 21
At WTAC he is driving: MCA Suspension S13 Silvia (AUS)
Earl Bamber is a professional racing driver who in 2008 was ranked sixth highest future star in the world by the internationally recognized websitewww.driverdb.com . Bamber was the 2006 Formula BMW Asia champion[and in 2008, also won the Imola round of the European Formula Masters series.
Bamber drove for A1 Team New Zealand in the opening round of the2008–09 A1 Grand Prix season after impressing the team during rookie seasons in 2007–08 and during pre-season testing with the new “Powered by Ferrari car” and managed several podium finishes in this car, In 2010, among other driving outings, he raced in the Toyota Racing Series for Triple X Motorsport car. He claimed six victories, including the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix held at Manfield as he finished runner-up in the championship for a second time,
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/John-boston.jpg
John Boston
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 40
At WTAC he is driving the Unique Autosports 300ZX (AUS)
John Boston is a professional driver who is currently employed by the Hilux Heroes stunt team that perform at shows around Australia.
He is also a test driver for various motoring publications including Top Gear, Wheels and Motor Magazine. He has many years of race experience and has won 4 production car championship titles and 9 state Motorkhana titles. He has also raced on numerous occasions at the famous Tsukuba circuit in Japan and is highly regarded as a driving instructor.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fernandez2.jpg
Jose Fernandez
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 42
At WTAC he is driving the Fernandez Motorsport XR6 ute (AUS)
Jose Fernandez is a V8 Supercar driver who competed in 2004 in the Fujitsu series with Dick Johnson Racing before moving to Britek in 2005 and then on to the V8 Championship series where he partnered Jason Bright in 2006.
In 2008 he campaigned another Fujitsu series entry under his own Fernandez Motorsport banner before retiring to focus on his business interests. Jose has also worked as a race driving instructor. Recently he has been tutoring two young racers in the Kumho V8 series and building insane time attack Fords at his Sydney based race shop.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Rick_Bates.jpg
Rick Bates
Lives Canberra Australia
Age 43
At WTAC he is driving the Notaras Motorsport Evo (AUS)
Rick Bates is a professional racing driver that can claim probably the most diverse range of disciplines of any competitor. Rick has competed in the Bathurst 1000 in a V8 Supercar where he recorded a top ten finish. He has won the Panama to Alaska Marathon rally that he led from start to finish in 1997, he won the Classic Adelaide rally in 2000 and has been a factory rally driver for Toyota, Mazda, Ford and Daihatsu and has even finished on the podium at a round of Drift Australia.
He has also competed in a round of WRC in China in a VW in 1999. He has done many Targa rallies and also won the Suda- Americana rally in 2006 and has many class wins at the 12 hour production car race at Bathurst.
These days he runs Bates Advanced driving school and often does vehicle releases for major manufacturers. Rick is the twin brother of former Australian Rally Champion Neal Bates.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/garth-walden.jpg
Garth Walden
Lives Sydney Australia
Age 28
At WTAC he is driving for Tilton Interiors Evo (AUS)
Garth Walden is a professional driver who currently holds the 2E Sports Cars lap record at Eastern creek in a Radical SR3 with a time of 1.30.7. He has driven in many forms of circuit racing including V8 Supercars and Australian GT and is the son of Australian racer Brian Walden. In 2011 he competed at the Radical Masters Endurance Series at Spa Franchorchamps Belgium. He is currently employed by Radical Australia as a manager and also provides tuition to the drivers. He is the 2009 Superlap Champion also driving for the Tilton Interiors team.
Many of the above drivers are also driving several cars in the Open Class, with Glenney and Boston being two of the busiest guys. Rick Bates is also driving a Evo X in Open Class for the V Sport team. These guys will join Nurburgring and circuit race veteran Ric Shaw who has been contracted to drive the Rotary Powered MX5 in the Open Class.
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/berry-44-567x378.jpg
As well as all these professional drivers there are also some guys who may not do it for a living but certainly have the pace in time attack racing to give these guys a big hurry up. Two of these are Mark Berry(Advan/Hi Octane R34 GTR) and “Under” Suzuki-san (Scorch Racing S15).
Mark has been racing carts from a young age and progressed to being a dominant force in Dutton rallies sprints and hill climbs around Queensland in the Hi Octane R32 GTR, but by day Mark is a defence contractor. Suzuki-san has almost done the impossible in Japan in the Evome time attack series where he has obliterated times set by much more experienced tuning houses with Super GT drivers despite the fact that this is purely a hobby and he works at a chemical company through the week.
Peter Lucas is another driver that wears a collar and tie through the week but on weekends loves to put on a racesuit and helmet and jump into a fast Lotus. He is the 2008 Superlap Champion. Steve Kakavas is an engineer that also has the ability to put down some very fast lap times in his WRX and Mark Hansen has done extremely well in the R35 GTR in the Queensland Time Attack series and will no doubt be looking to pick up some tips from Tarzan as they share the drive in his R35 GTR.
For more information on the Yokohama ADVAN World Time Attack Challenge 2011 Click Here (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?47615)
http://www.worldtimeattack.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/classbanner_PRO.jpg (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?47615)