REDLINE VR-4 MAKES A COMEBACK

It’s been five years since the Redline VR-4 hit the strip, when it previously ran a best time of 9.51 at 240kph. The car was then detuned to around 400kW and set up for hill-climb events, and it was quite competitive until owner and driver Adam Wilson decided to convert it back to drag-racing duties. The entire car has been revamped apart from the gearbox, and the engine now pushes out 740kW (992hp) at the wheels. The Redline team debuted the VR-4 at the 2015 V 4&Rotary Nationals, which it treated as a testing day.

After rolling off the line to ensure nothing would break, Adam managed a very easy 12-second pass. But he wasn’t so lucky on the second run, as he launched the VR-4 much harder that time around, and while the transfer case survived the launch, it didn’t survive being changed into second gear, and the entire unit was destroyed. The team replaced the transfer case on the day, but a misfire on the third run ended the day’s racing. The Redline team has sent the transfer case off to a company in the USA which will beef it up, to guarantee the strength required to cope with 1.2-second 60-foot times.

The Redline team is confident the VR-4 will run in the 8.6- to 8.7-second range once the new transfer case has been installed, and the set-up is dialled in.