LOS ANGELES (November 13, 2007) – HKS USA, Inc., the premier manufacturer and supplier of automotive performance systems and parts, is proud to announce that HKS’ Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi (NOB) shattered both the Super Lap Super Lap Battle Track Record and the Overall Single Lap Track Record at Buttonwillow Raceway during the Superstreet and Eurotuner Super Lap Battle Competition.

LOS ANGELES (November 13, 2007) – HKS USA, Inc., the premier manufacturer and supplier of automotive performance systems and parts, is proud to announce that HKS’ Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car driven by Nobuteru Taniguchi (NOB) shattered both the Super Lap Super Lap Battle Track Record and the Overall Single Lap Track Record at Buttonwillow Raceway during the Superstreet and Eurotuner Super Lap Battle Competition. Competing in the Group A (Unlimited AWD) category, the HKS Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car broke the previous record held by Sun Automotive (1:48.906) in the first session of the competition, posting a 1:44.668. This wasn’t the only record HKS broke; the 1:44.668 time also made history beating the overall track record of 1:48.766 set by Team JIC/Hancook Tire earlier in 2007. The history making didn’t stop there…the HKS Racing Performer CT230R Circuit Time Attack Car piloted by Taniguchi then went on to break the HKS record posted at 1:44.610 in Session 2, with a record of 1:43.523 in Session 3. In total, HKS broke three records during the one day competition.

“Outside the United States, HKS is recognized as a premier motorsports developer that engineers, fabricates and manufactures record-breaking, pure race cars. Our purpose in bringing the HKS CT230R to this competition was to demonstrate HKS unique capabilities to North America motorsports fans and car enthusiasts,” said Rick Lafferty, president, HKS USA. “The HKS CT230R proves that horsepower is not enough to be a winner, to achieve such a decisive win it takes all the resources of a bona fide performance engineering company to develop a balanced package combined with the expertise of an exceptional race driver. We at HKS USA are proud of our engineering team for developing this winning car and to Nob for bringing the full potential of the HKS CT230R. With this irrefutable performance, HKS has verified its unique capabilities in delivering driving performance on the track and the street.”

The Superstreet and Eurotuner Super Lap Battle competition was a special invite competition that brought together many of the world’s most successful Super Lap Battle competitors. Taniguchi is no stranger to winning as he is one of the most widely recognized Japanese motor sports figures ever to get behind the wheel of a race car. He is best known for his versatile driving ability and composure behind the wheel.

Motor sports competitions, like the Super Lap Battle, are more than just venues for HKS to showcase its motor sports capabilities; they are opportunities for HKS to advance development of products for street applications. The HKS Racing Performer CT230R represents leading edge motor sports engineering. Constructed by HKS engineers from the tires up on Mitsubishi’s Evo VIII platform, the car showcases motorsports technology and HKS’ products many of which are available in the market.

HISTORY OF HKS TIME ATTACK SUCCESSES
HKS and Taniguchi have teamed up since 2001, when Taniguchi piloted the HKS D1 Silvia, and won the D1 Grand Prix Series Championship. Taniguchi continued to pilot HKS D1 machines through 2005, but the HKS and Taniguchi tandem did not stop with drifting. In 2005, Taniguchi’s grip driving skills placed him behind the wheel of the HKS TRB-02 and CT230R Time Attack Mitsubishi Evolutions. Taniguchi’s driving skills and HKS’ technical prowess combined for an unmatched force in Time Attack.

Taniguchi raced the HKS CT230R into the Time Attack record books running a 53’589, which made it the first car ever to run in the 53 second range at Tsukuba Circuit, Japan. The HKS - Taniguchi association has not been limited to Japan events and competitions. Taniguchi drove an HKS USA developed Mitsubishi Evolution RS in the Car and Driver Super Tuner Challenge. Racing against top US aftermarket manufacturers and tuners, Taniguchi and HKS once again found themselves on top, besting the nearest competitor by three seconds, and setting the day’s fasted ¼ mile, 0-60, and road course time.

In 2006, Taniguchi piloted the HKS-sponsored Speed Source RX-8 in the Grand Am Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. Taniguchi qualified at the top of all the other RX-8s competing, including David Haskell’s #70 Speed Source RX-8; Haskell was the 2005 and 2004 Grand AM ST class champion and in ’05 he won and qualified P1 at Phoenix.

DRIVEN Press Release