chris walrod

The project at Swift that has kept me extremely busy is our latest chassis, the 017.n. It’s designed and built for an all Japanese racing series called Formula Nippon.

After a year of design and two months of assembly, the first two cars, one Honda powered, the other Toyota hit ground at 3:30am on August 8th. for the first time after the typical mad thrash of that week where everything arrived to assemble the two test cars literally daily up through the 8th. Another new racecar is born.

These are powered by Honda or Toyota 3.4L v-8’s naturally aspirated purpose built racing engines producing 600 hp. This car will weigh around 1575lbs complete. Lots of aero downforce.

Then, later on the 8th both cars were crated and air freighted to Japan that night. The following Tuesday, I met the cars and customers in Japan for the next 8 days. The last two days were spent testing on-track at Fuji Circuit.

Some random images...

chris walrod

Notes from the trip:

Just past midnight here, tired from working today just outside of Tokyo in a city called Asaka, not the big one Osaka.

I was checking out a book store in Ginza, a suburb of Tokyo and came across this magazine. Cool!! Had to buy it despite not being able to read it, and the fact it cost $15.00!

Anyhow, couldnt resist

chris walrod

Images from M-Tec formally known as Mugen Honda. Very nice lobby with a few F-1 cars, rather complete cars and engines on display stands.





View from 21st floor of hotel in Ginza city:




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Here are some images from Fridays travel to Gotemba city, where the Toyota factory team called Tom's is located:

One hour and a half bullet train ride from Ginza to Mishima. From Mishima we rented a car to travel to Gotemba.




rental car:





Racing transporter


Very small hotel room


Another heated toilet with built in parts washer




Tomorrow is more race prep at Tom's on the 017.n while workers prep the Lola FN chassis as well as several Dallara F3 cars -- very nice cars as well!!

The Toyota 017.n was started for the first time with the 'race' engine install and after their race prep. They seem to have done a tidy job as well!! The car was run through the gears with all drivetrain installed, ready to go.

chris walrod

Forgot to add I am really digging these little box cars -- cars that make my xB look huge!

chris walrod

An update:

after uber long days, the cars have finally hit the track today at Fuji Circuit, an extremely nice racetrack. F1 races here, so not really surprising.


Some images and video clips:














Roll out of one of the two test cars:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=2EZy1GBtb24


fly by:

chris walrod

some track pics -- testing concluded today, travel home tomorrow -- cannot wait to get back home -- been gone way too long!!











Some lead follow aero testing today
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=wQl6mE5WKa4

earlyapex

Beautiful car. The front wing looks unique.

Greg Smith

AWESOME.

dmoffitt

darn right I dig it!!

DarkSideDE

Thank you - what an experience!
Have you thought about writing it up for a magazine?

SeanR

I

Want

Your

Job.

Nice pics and vids.

sleder

That was GREAT! Thank you for sharing!

Veloce Raptor

New car is beautiful, Chris!

Can you hook me up a test drive?

Flying Finn

Very cool!

I used to follow Formula Nippon those three years in 90's when Mika Salo drove there, it's a good open wheel series.

ilko

very cool thanks for sharing