LAP RECORDS FOR SMYTH

The SMS Fabrication FD RX-7 which featured on the cover of issue 238 had something of a rocky start, thanks to annoying teething issues with the engine, ECU, and diff. But with those ironed out the car is starting to show some real promise with Graeme behind the wheel. “It took us six months to get the car running right. It was extremely frustrating — to the point I nearly gave up.” But his perseverance has finally paid off, and the bridge-ported 13B has shown a record-setting pace at both Hamptons and Taupo.

The FD ran in the SS2000 final round at Taupo earlier this month and set the lap record for SS2000 twice over the weekend, with a best lap of 1.34.4 along with a pole position and race win. The car also went quicker than the SS2000 record at Hampton, although not while running in the class.

With the season all but over, the team has set its sights on running even faster. “Right now the car is too quick for GT3, but does not have enough power in GT2, while I can pass under brakes and cornering, the V8s will just pass again on the straights.” The plan is for CBR— which has rebuilt and tuned the current 13B — to build a turbo engine capable of around 485kW to 520kW, which he believes will give the car GT1 pace, although that is not the real goal, as Graeme explained. “I’m not interested in chasing championships or race wins, I really just want to build a car as fast as I possibly can. I love the challenge it presents.”

Alongside the new engine package, the car will also go on a diet to counteract the turbo’s added weight, to keep the total under the current 1200kg. The current set-up will go into the old chassis the team ran, so Graeme’s dad can get back behind the wheel at selected events.