Seeing as the V 4&Rotary South Island Champs entries are open, we thought we’d take a look back at last year’s standouts

Hamilton-based Lawrence Knight completed the transplant of the 350kW 4G63 engine set-up from his previous Evo, which ran a 10.6-second pass on chromies, just before the last South Island Champs. The South Islanders were extremely impressed by the North Islander's pace on the new set-up, as were we. 

Lawrence's engine set-up went into this shell after his last vehicle made contact with a wall at Meremere Dragway. Lawrence is a hardcore Evo fan, and one who we could've spoken to for hours about the platform as his knowledge on the topic is vast. 

The new build has already run a 10.6-second pass on only 303kW at the wheels and riding on street tyres. Lawrence wasn’t able to crack into the 10s down in Motueka, with a best time of 11.0, but once he attacks the drag strip in the North Island with the high-power setting, things should get interesting. Seeing as his previous PB was 10.6 seconds on chromes, we're excited to see what this more race-orientated platform can do. 

1994 Mitsubishi Evo II

  • Engine: 4G63, EMS ECU, Garrett GT30/40 turbo, Brian Crower crank, Bosch coils, custom three-inch exhaust system, custom turbo manifold, GFB 50mm external wastegate, Kelford cams, custom intercooler piping, 1260cc injectors, twin Bosch 044 fuel pumps, custom surge tank
  • Suspension: Tein Super Streets
  • Driveline: Single-plate clutch
  • Wheels and tyres: 
  • Power: 400kW at the wheels
  • 0—400m: 10.6-seconds on chrome wheels

René Vermeer

Dutch, French, or just a Kiwi, René isn’t quite sure, but he does know he has a passion for Japanese vehicles like no other. A well-seasoned Gran Turismo player dating back to his single-digit days, René has a comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of performance vehicles and has owned more than 30 performance cars here in New Zealand, ranging from Nissans to Hondas. A lover of photography, you’ll find him either peeping under someone’s bonnet to snap a detailed shot, or on the side of the racetrack, perfecting his panning.

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