In a stunning display of speed and precision, Hazelwood claimed victory at the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC), setting a new benchmark in the Emtron Pro Class. Driving the Tanuki Racing Nissan Silvia S13, Hazelwood clocked an extraordinary lap time of 1:18.1690s, shattering the previous best and outpacing his closest rival by over four seconds.
Alex Rullo, piloting a modified Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX for IntelliSpatial Fleetcare Racing, secured second place with a time of 1:22.7650s. Tim Slade completed the top three in the Scura Motorsport Lotus Exige, posting a 1:25.3920s.
Hazelwood’s Remarkable Journey
Reflecting on his achievement, Hazelwood expressed sheer joy and gratitude. “What an absolute joy to drive this rocketship here behind me,” he said. “It’s been one helluva journey joining the team. I only drove the car for the first time Friday last week.”
Hazelwood’s performance was not without its challenges. “We had our gremlins, we had our challenges, and to get a taste of a (one minute) 18 is just an incredible feeling around this circuit,” he noted. His lap was marked by a moment of heavy steering and understeer, yet he managed to push through and deliver a performance that left him beaming.
Pro Open Class Drama
In the newly introduced Pro Open class, Robert Nguyen emerged victorious with a last-moment lap of 1:22.2860s in the Dream Projects Nissan Silvia S15. His triumph was dramatic, as the tailshaft of his Nissan exploded just as he crossed the finish line.
Tim Slade, driving the Xtreme GT-R Nissan Skyline R32, was narrowly beaten, clocking a time of 1:22.8040s. Nathan Morcom finished third in a Mitsubishi Evo with a time of 1:25.1910s. Meanwhile, Cameron McLeod faced setbacks when his Nissan GT-R-powered Toyota 86 suffered a rear wing failure, resulting in a spin at Turn 1.
“Unfortunate end to our World Time Attack Weekend,” said McLeod. “Rear wing mounts cracking and bending down the straight meant I had rear wing lift into Turn 1 at 305 kph and went spinning into the wall.”
Other Class Highlights
The WTAC saw several other notable performances across various classes. Adam Casmini took the top spot in the Yokohama Advan Tuner Class with his Toyota GR Yaris, setting a time of 1:35.4850s. Alex Michalsky dominated the Haltech Clubsprint in his Mitsubishi Evo with a time of 1:30.7180s.
Darren Bishop claimed victory in the GCG Turbos Open with a 1:26.8190s in his Mitsubishi Evo, following the disqualification of Yuuki Kamakura for pit lane antics. In the Plazmaman Pro-Am, Feras Qartoumy from the United States impressed with a 1:23.2690s in his turbocharged Chevrolet Corvette C6.
Inaugural Hypercar Class
The newly introduced Hypercar class witnessed James Golding triumph in the Brabham BT62, setting a time of 1:24.3210s. He was followed by Tim Slade in the Pagani Huayra R and Fraser Ross in the Pagani Zonda R, marking a thrilling debut for the class.
This year’s WTAC not only showcased incredible driving skills but also highlighted the technological advancements in motorsport. As Hazelwood and his fellow competitors demonstrated, the pursuit of speed continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on the track.
Looking ahead, the success and excitement of this year’s event set a high bar for future competitions. As teams and drivers regroup, the motorsport community eagerly anticipates what innovations and performances the next WTAC will bring.
