Behold

FEATURE CARRACK-READYTOYOTA VIOSSince the completion of the Sepang F1Circuit, time attack events have beenextremely popular with Singaporeandrivers of high performance vehicles.Attend any track day in the North, andthe weapon of choice would usuallybe a Mitsubishi Evolution, SubaruWRX or Honda Civic Type R. However,not everyone is able to afford such ahigh performance car hence thoughtsof tracking are usually shelved.If you look carefully enough though,you’ll realize you don’t actually need ahigh performance vehicle that churnsout above 200BHP to enjoy tracking.Take for example, this Toyota Viosin picture. Despite a stock 110HPengine, it manages to give most carson the track a run for their money.Serving as a daily driver, reliability ofcourse has to be of utmost importance.The decision to leave the enginestock was without a doubt. However110HP is of course insufficient for thehigh speed straights and to achieveoptimal exit speeds. After a lengthydiscussion with Jonathan of SKGarage, the owner decided to opt foran upgrade of his stock gearbox.More often than not, most drivers tendto only go for horsepower figures,the higher the better. Gearing hasalways been an overlooked aspectbut unknown to many, a well setupgearbox will do wonders for your ride.Unlike engine and turbo upgrades,replacing your stock gearings witha set of close ratio ones do notrequire additional installation of anyelectronics or ECU tuning systems.Benefits reaped include maximumacceleration due to minimal rev dropduring gear changes. Richard, theowner, added, “By being able to keepthe car in its optimal power band,Ultra Racing bars adorn the entire carThis particular Vios proves that tracking isnot only for high performance vehicles.I will be able to exit each corner atthe required speed without having toengage to a lower gear.”If you’ve grown up following JohorCircuit races, you might be familiarwith the owner. Back in his heyday,Richard Sim was a well-known namein the circuit racing scene. Withdecades of experience and havinggone thru numerous race cars andsetups, Richard knows exactly whathe wants out of his car. “You mayhave 600 horses on crank, but theyare of no use if you are unable tohandle them. Instead of going for rawpower, I chose to spend my money onhandling upgrades for the car”, saidRichard. Keeping in line with his word,the car got a variety of bars includingstrut, anti roll and fender bars. Theseenhancements serve to stiffen upthe chassis and with the finely tunedcoilover setup, body roll is minimal.Clocking an extremely impressive1min 58 sec timing round ourneighbouring Johor Circuit, Richard’sVios proves that your every day carcan be a worthy opponent for otherson the track. Instead of going forhorsepower gains, upgrading to aclose ratio gearbox is somethingworth considering. “Of course, howyour car handles in corners is asimportant as straight line speed”. Youcan’t help but believe the words froma veteran like Richard himself.Fast Facts: Toyota Vios 1.5ENGINEStock 1NZ-FE Engine, TRD RacingClutch, Earl’s Oil CoolerDRIVETRAINSK Garage Customised 3/4/5th & FinalDrive Straight Cut Gear Set, TRD LimitedSlip Differential (LSD)UNDERCARRIAGEFully Adjustable Coilover with CustomSpring Rates, Front/Rear AdjustableCamber Plate, Ultra Racing Front/RearStrut Bars, Ultra Racing Front/Rear AntiRoll Bars, Ultra Racing Fender Bars,15” Rota Slipstream with Toyo ProxesR888 (For track usage), Front HighTemperature Brake Pads with SteelBraided Brake LinesCABINWater Temperature Gauge, ExtendedShifterCoilovers with adjustable camber platesExtended shifter for easy reachPhotographer Roger Chua / Monstrosity16 APR 2011