So some ways to go quick: spry sports activities racers, pumped-up pony vehicles, high-strung Hondas. And we had all of them–and extra–at our Final Monitor Automobile Problem.
This 12 months, although, our Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile Problem Introduced by Grassroots Motorsports got here down two prototypes. Sure, they each had been Radicals, however two distinctly totally different takes.
Nicholas d’Orlando steered an SR3 with a Hayabusa-based 1500cc engine. The automobile weighs simply 1367 kilos, and the engine places out 229 horses.
“They’re only a blast,” Nicholas says of his Radical SR3. “They weigh nothing. They’ve an honest quantity of horsepower for his or her weight. Plenty of downforce. No energy steering. The automobile is probably not as quick in a straight line [as a sports car], however within the nook you may pull over 2g.”
Raiden Nicol, simply 17, competed with a Radical SR10, which makes use of a 2.3-liter Ford EcoBoost engine. It packs 1598 kilos but additionally 419 horsepower. “It’s fairly dang quick for what it’s,” Raiden notes. “With this automobile having a lot energy, it’s a handful. No energy steering. It’s tremendous bodily.”
Who received? Nicholas turned a 1:57.496 time, breaking the legendary 2-minute mark at NCM Motorsports Park. Raiden’s quick lap took his breath away. He set what’s believed to be the monitor file, a 1:54.253 lap, etching his identify into the file books and his Radical SR10 because the 2024 Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile.
1st: Raiden Nicol, 2024 Radical SR10
Quick Lap: 1:54.253
Raiden Nicol began racing karts at 5 years outdated. Now 17, he owns two SARRC championships and several other Spec Miata accolades. He started steering Radicals at age 14 with the 85-horsepower Radical SR1. Now he’s wheeling a 419-horsepower Radical SR10. He has just one Radical Cup occasion beneath his belt–Barber Motorsports Park in April–however set the quickest time for all the weekend. Raiden seems to run all the Radical Cup 2025 season, and if the UTCC is any indication, he may be one to observe.
- Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile ($1000 Tire Rack present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
2nd: Nicholas d’Orlando, 2023 Radical SR3
Quick Lap: 1:57.496
Nicholas d’Orlando research advertising and marketing at UNC Charlotte, not engineering as one may count on for somebody searching for a profession in motorsports. Nicholas feels the advertising and marketing diploma will profit him as he seems to climb the ladder towards an IndyCar journey. He earned Radical Cup North America vice champion accolades this 12 months and, in fact, Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile Problem runner-up spot. Nicholas hopes to parlay these hard-earned accolades to an open-wheel journey in 2025
- 2nd Place introduced by Tire Rack ($1000 Tire Rack present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
third: Ghais Khaleghi, 2012 Stohr WF1
Quick Lap: 1:59.146
The reigning Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile Problem champion introduced a more recent Stohr this time. In contrast to his older Stohr, this one is absolutely constructed out of carbon fiber, has extra downforce and is powered by a BMW S 1000 motorbike engine. Sadly, G.Ok. battled gearbox points, forcing him to carry with each shift. However, he beat his time final 12 months by 1.75 seconds, nevertheless it was not sufficient to earn one other Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile trophy.
- third Place introduced by Tire Rack ($1000 Tire Rack present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
- Quickest on Hoosiers (4 free Hoosier tires)
4th: Dakota Dickerson, 2024 Sebeco SPX
Quick Lap: 2:00.603
Can a automobile constructed for endurance racing flip only one quick lap? Apparently so within the case of this Sebeco SPX pushed by Dakota Dickerson. He usually races it in WRL with a 2.0-liter Mazda engine and on 200tw tires. Dakota introduced it to UTCC with a 2.4-liter powerplant and Hankook slicks. That setup virtually earned him a podium.
- 4th Place introduced by XS Energy (XS Energy battery, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
fifth: Steve Luca, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Quick Lap: 2:01.983
This Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 beat a McLaren Senna to interrupt the manufacturing automobile monitor file final 12 months. Luca got here again with a tubed rear body to cut back weight and added extra energy, with as much as 1200 horses out there. It helped him shed practically a second of time, placing him within the high 5 this 12 months.
- fifth Place introduced by XS Energy (XS Energy battery, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
sixth: Heikki Rinta-Koski, 2013 Radical SR8
Quick Lap: 2:03.628
Hillclimb. Autocross. Time trials. This Radical does all of it properly in keeping with its driver, Heikki Rinta-Koski. He went into the occasion hoping to interrupt the 2-minute mark however got here a couple of seconds wanting his aim. Regardless, Heikki, who proudly carries the flag of his native Finland, seemingly had a blast.
- sixth Place introduced by Wilwood (Wilwood present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
seventh: Jimmy Rauck, 1999 Honda Civic
Quick Lap: 2:04.782
The quickest front-wheel-drive machine on file at NCM got here again with extra horsepower–from 480 to 550 on the wheels–plus electrical energy steering and revised aero. That netted Jimmy practically 7 seconds, placing his Civic in the identical territory as some prototypes.
- seventh Place introduced by Wilwood (Wilwood present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
- Final Manufacturing Automobile introduced by CallToGrid ($500 money prize from CallToGrid, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
- Quickest on Hoosier A7 Tires (4 Hoosier tires)
eighth: Kenny Naill, 2023 Radical SR3
Quick Lap: 2:08.851
Kenny Naill had by no means raced something earlier than attempting a Radical a 12 months in the past. He made his racing debut at Sebring in March, the place he completed final among the many working vehicles. Kenny improved over the 12 months, ending third in Radical Cup factors and eighth in his first time trial occasion.
- eighth Place introduced by CRC (CRC prize pack, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
ninth: Kyle McKiou, 2022 Toyota Supra
Quick Lap: 2:09.175
A free monitor day that got here with Kyle’s new Supra led to him time trialing across the nation and souping up his Supra. These mods embrace a completely constructed engine that places out 840 horsepower, aero add-ons and suspension upgrades. He’s crashed his Supra thrice, however on the UTCC he appeared flawless, successful Final Street Automobile honors.
- Final Street Automobile introduced by Vorshlag (Vorshlag $250 present certificates, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
tenth: Andrew Brownfield, 2021 Toyota Supra
Quick Lap: 2:10.098
What do Toyota staff do after hours? They discipline a Supra, amongst different Toyotas, in occasions such because the Tire Rack One Lap of America Introduced by Grassroots Motorsports and UTCC. The Supra wears most of the widespread bolt-on mods–brakes, aero, suspension–places out 650 horses on the wheels and weighs 3800 kilos with driver.
eleventh: Terry Truthful, 2018 Ford Mustang
Quick Lap: 2:11.884
How does a 7.4-liter, LS7-based engine in a S550 Mustang sound to you? For those who’re a Chevy or Ford loyalist, you may cringe a bit, therefore the automobile’s identify, Set off. Sadly, Terry’s weekend ended early when chilly tires despatched him into an Armco barrier. After repairs, Set off returned to the monitor a month later.
- Editors’ Selection (Miller Electrical Folding Arc Station Desk, Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
- Longest Tow (Sunoco gasoline jug and 10 gallons of Sunoco race gasoline)
twelfth: Dallas Reed, 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Quick Lap: 2:12.845
With a hybrid, it is best to get one of the best of each worlds, proper? Dallas thought so, shopping for a Corvette E-Ray with 655 horsepower and 595 lb.-ft. of torque straight from the manufacturing facility. The one adjustments he made had been swapping on Apex VS-5RS wheels and Vitour P1 tires.
thirteenth: Nick Hendrix, 2013 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Quick Lap: 2:13.476
What are you able to do with a mildly modded C6 Corvette? For Nick, it earned him a set of Falken tires. He did so with simply lengthy tube headers, a tune, LG coil-overs, Delrin bushings and aftermarket anti-roll bars.
- Quickest on Falkens (4 Falken RT660 tires)
14th: Michael Younger, 2024 Chevrolet Corvette
Quick Lap: 2:15.069
The identify of Michael’s Z06 with the Z07 package deal may seize your consideration: Huge Horny Version. If that doesn’t, the orange will. Michael runs these colours for a number of sclerosis consciousness as his daughter has MS.
fifteenth: Ryan Harness, 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Quick Lap: 2:16.109
Many individuals stow away their Shelby GT350 Heritage Editions. Not Ryan. “It’s why I ordered this automobile: Most are museum items, and I didn’t suppose that was how they had been supposed for use,” Ryan says. “Certain, we’re hurting the worth, however we’re having lots of enjoyable doing it.”
sixteenth: Mark Kilgore, 2015 BMW M4
Quick Lap: 2:16.324
Mark says his M4, “with 65K miles, it is rather dependable … with few upkeep gadgets to take care of.” The automobile makes “north of 500 horsepower” with a Stage 2 tune from MHD. His different massive mods embrace suspension and wheels. “The automobile’s stability is nice, as anticipated in a BMW,” he provides.
seventeenth: Rob Wilmoth, 2018 Audi RS3
Quick Lap: 2:17.400
The quickest all-wheel-drive entry from final 12 months returned with hopes of creating a good quicker time. Rob achieved that, reducing a tenth off his 2023 lap, nevertheless it didn’t come simply. He needed to overcome a transmission mount failure that sapped him of helpful monitor time.
18th: Justin Slaughter, 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
Quick Lap: 2:17.471
What to do while you flip 50? Have a midlife disaster and purchase a Corvette. Justin by no means went greater than 100 mph earlier than April. Six months later, he was averaging 82-plus mph through the Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile Problem.
nineteenth: Jerami Bailey, 2013 Scion FR-S
Quick Lap: 2:19.358
Is the FR-S/BRZ platform the brand new reply? Jerami makes a convincing case. He gutted his automobile totally (2758 kilos to 2559 with driver), added aero bits, and swapped in a extra highly effective 2.4-liter from the current-gen BRZ/GR86.
twentieth: Monty Klein, Radical SR3
Quick Lap: 2:19.147
Monty first sat behind the wheel of a Radical the day earlier than the Tire Rack Final Monitor Automobile Problem. He’s competed in quite a lot of motorsport disciplines, from NASCAR to flat monitor bikes. Monty began off with an SR10 after which switched to an SR3, the latter of which he received his quickest time with.
twenty first: Phil Jue, 2003 Nissan 350Z
Quick Lap: 2:20.118
Phil campaigned his 350Z with the inventory VQ powerplant for 4 years earlier than an LS1 swap. He blew up that engine and put in one other LS the week earlier than the UTCC. Sadly, he endured a myriad of mechanical woes, from fluids leaking to a free kill change connector shutting down his automobile on monitor.
twenty second: J.G. Pasterjak, 2015 BMW 435i
Quick Lap: 2:22.027
We haven’t centered on efficiency for our BMW 435i mission automobile but. As an alternative, we focused on reliability and security. We handed the take a look at for each these elements with flying colours on the UTCC, and now can work on pace for subsequent 12 months.
