Australia attacks Japan.

Hi-Octane Racing and RGM Racing took on the Japanese on their own turf at Tsukuba circuit Japan in December 2007. This year they're teaming up with Yokohama ADVAN and heading back with more firepower.

Hi-Octane Nissan GTR R32. Where it all started.

The Hi-Octane Nissan GTR R32 of Mark Berry and Russell Newman made a name for itself dominating Dutton Rallies and sprint events, with daylight second, throughout the eastern states of Australia from 2005 to 2008. Here are 2 examples of the car's tribute to the legend of Godzilla.

Gatton Street Sprints Track Record.

The Gatton Street Sprints are held during March each year around the Gatton Industrial precinct on Mt Sylvia Road in Brisbane Lockyer valley region. The event attracts 135 entrants and approx 5000 spectators. The 1km bitumen circuit is a challenge for drivers and the vehicles, usually.

Mark Berry drove the R32 to outright first position in the opening sprint of the day. That position was never challenged all weekend. The second driver - Russell Newman had to work harder. From fifth position and managed to get up to second position outright. With both drivers the car came first and second outright, in class and in the top ten shootout.Mark also broke the track record, three times over the two days. Taking the previous record from a Formula 3000 Loal open wheeler race car. You can view the in car footage here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48d3RQnlMZc

Kicked off Willowbank Drag Strip for not having a parachute.

On 30th December 2008 Mark Berry drove the Hi Octane Racing GTR at Willowbank Raceway to 9.7 seconds @143mph. Still in circuit racing trim from Superlap with full exhaust and Yokohama ADVAN A048R tyres designed more for cornering and braking Hi-Octane believes, with some tweaks, it would potentially go even faster. They also think this is a new world record for a low mount turbo GTR. Sadly we will never know. ANDRA (the drag racing governing body) will not let the vehicle race again unless was it modified to fit their criteria which would include the fitting of a parachute, something that be somewhat out of place on a time attack car!

Tsukuba time attack 2007.

The highlight of the car's competition history was the 2007 trip to Tsukuba circuit Japan. The car finished inside top 20 out of 60 vehicles entered. Having never been to the circuit before the car and driver clocked a respectable sub one minute time. The car was within ten horsepower of the winning vehicle down the straight despite lower corner exit speeds due to a tyre compound not suitable for the freezing conditions.

Returning to Tsukuba in December 2009.

The plan is to return to the holy grail of time attack racing, Tsukuba circuit, in December 2009 with a superior purpose-built time attack weapon. Watch this space for more information.

Hi-Octane ADVAN Nissan GTR R34.

The freshly built Hi-Octane Nissan GTR R34 is a worthy successor to the R32. At just 1250 kilos dripping wet it's much lighter. It has loads more horsepower from a Hi-Octane built dry sump RB30 3.0 litre straight six with 750+ horsepower. It has a sequential 6 speed Hollinger gearbox. It's wrapped in a muscular full carbon fibre aero kit. It stops with monoblock Alcon V8 Supercar brakes. It uses Proflex custom suspension in conjunction with Yokohama ADVAN A050 R-spec tyres. Obtaining these tyres in the right compound for Tsukuba will be a key factor in setting blistering times at Tsukuba circuit in the freezing winter months.

Impressively the Nissan GTR of Mark Berry and Russell Newman is built to a concourse standard. It is filled with the best bits and looks too good for a race track. There's no doubt Hi-Octane Racing and RGM Racing will move Australia much closer to the elite level time attack vehicles on their own turf at an outright level.

2009 Superlap 2009 Debut

The R34 debuted at Superlap Oran Park on 29th March 2009. On a slippery track that's estimated to be 2 seconds slower than last year the car showed it has plenty of potential with lap times improving throughout the day. Going into the finals with a fastest lap time of 1.13.64 Mark Berry came second outright. The car ran without swaybars, which haven't been built yet, and a driveline glitch was sending the power to the rear rather than to all four wheels. Mark estimates the car could have another 3 seconds in it. A 1:10 around Oran Park Gran Prix circuit would put the R34 mid pack in a V8 Supercar field, and that's on R-spec tyres not slicks! To see in-car footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxMqufRfo38&feature=related

Hi Octane Nissan GTR R34 Specifications