In my main coverage from Attack Tsukuba 2024, I covered the general atmosphere of the event around the pits and multiple paddocks.
With 190 entrants competing on the day, it was hard enough to even check out all the cars let alone select a few for a closer look, but I managed to pick four favourites to share with you. They might not be what you’d expect…
We’ll start with the obvious pick – the Y’s Produce FD3S Mazda RX-7. There was no mistaking the symphony of Yuki-san’s four-rotor FD; its glorious sound echoed across the entirety of the Tsukuba grounds when the Mazda was out lapping. It’s not just all noise though – the RX-7 placed 23rd outright with an impressive 56.548 lap time.
Yuki-san’s FD is no new arrival by any means. It’s actually been around for quite a while, but that’s what makes it so special.
Compared to some of the other FD3S RX-7s competing at the event, Yuki-san’s car has very tame aero. The rear fenders have been widened by 45mm and the front fenders by 30mm, but this only came about through a desperate need for wide tyres with a whole lot of extra grip.
That’s to be expected with the RX-7’s staggering 980kg (2,160lb) wet weight coupled with a Scoot Sports-built 600hp naturally aspirated four-rotor engine.
Like most cars at Attack, Yuki-san’s RX-7 also runs an Endless 4-pot big brake kit up front.
Next up we have something a little bit different – a Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. At an event stacked with meticulously modified cars, you might be wondering why I would take such an interest in a ‘standard’ Cup car.
Well, despite me being unapologetically obsessed with everything Porsche, these cars are becoming more and more common as weekend track toys here in Japan. Just at Attack, I counted no less than three 991 Cups. That’s three more Cups than standard 991 GT3s.
These retired race cars are becoming an affordable gateway into turn-key racing, and boy do you get a lot of car for your money. I managed to get my camera into this car for a few laps, so judge for yourself.
Kanjo-style Civics aren’t the first things you’d expect to see at an Attack event, but once you’ve seen these two go around Tsukuba it all starts to make more sense.
Civics in general made a bit of a comeback this year, with this EF hatch pairing making the trip up from Osaka. Ikegami-san put down a 1’02.740 lap in his B16A-powered JACS EF9.
No fancy aero, no giant turbos or inlets poking out the bonnet – just pure N/A VTEC power and some insane driving.
The Petronas Aslan EF9 was ever so slightly quicker, posting a best lap of 1’02.055, but this car has K-power under the hood.
Finally, we have this almost grassroots style 180SX. This is another car I’ve seen at Attack several times in the past, but the Toybase RPS13 attended this year with a freshly-fitted wide-body kit, allowing 295/30R18 tyres to squeeze under the fenders.
With a stripped-out interior, 450hp SR20DET and a relatively tame aero kit, this is a build that many of us can relate to. Its 58.691 lap was nothing short of impressive as well.
That’s it for my Attack Tsukuba 2024 coverage. You can guarantee I’ll be back next year for more, and potentially some other Attack days in between.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco