Time Attack has a very high profile at the moment. It's on an unstoppable path to hit the mainstream like the sport of drifting. Already popular in Japan, Time Attack has produced some of the fastest cars ever built because the objective is to beat the clock on a single lap, and the American tuning community is taking notice. Tuners recognize this type of racing requires the ultimate in driver skill and tuning. While wheel-to-wheel racing provides the thrill of the chase, Time Attack offers a more profound competition against time.
Companies like Stasis and Turner Motorsports have cars that are successful at Time Attack but were never built solely for that purpose. They tune cars to run fast on tracks around the nation. And while proper suspension setup, aerodynamics and power-to-weight ratio are important, the concentration of the driver to achieve the perfect apex and skillful braking is essential.
Red Hot Company is an up-and-coming tuner in Japan specializing in BMW performance. It recently entered the Time Attack scene with its extremely fast 2004 BMW M3 CSL. To be precise, the car was actually born a standard M3 but the company converted it to CSL spec, which included many of the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body and engine parts. The CSL name is synonymous with speed, perhaps second only to the GTR designation, which is considered the fastest of the M3 specials. This particular CSL made its Stateside debut at the annual Super Street/ eurotuner Time Attack event at Buttonwillow Raceway, CA (et 2/06). It was the unanimous European favorite at the event, with spectators awed by its speed and beauty.
The CSL harks back to the heritage and success of BMW's lightweight touring coupes in the '70s. It's an automotive masterpiece created by the engineers at BMW to exhibit the manufacturer's reputation for providing thoroughbred sports cars. The M3 CSL is known for being lighter than a regular M3, making it more nimble on the street and track. However, it's not just weight that separates the CSL from its closest relative. With its power-to-weight ratio of 7.7 lb/hp, the CSL is the sweetest M3 yet created. The tragedy is that it never officially came to America.
Red Hot Company already owned an M3. Not wanting to get rid of it they converted the car to CSL spec. They slapped on everything from the muscular front air dam to the newly-designed trunk lid. The only part that didn't make the conversion was the carbon fiber roof. But, of course, the added weight of the steel roof was compensated for with extensive aftermarket work.
With the help of US wheel distributor Mackin Industries, this CSL was shipped from Japan to America for the SEMA show (et 2/06) and then made it out to Buttonwillow for Time Attack.
Under the hood is the 3.2 CSL engine, which runs 360hp in stock form. Featuring an extremely large intake and huge carbon fiber air collector, this intake system allows the engine to breathe deeply, allowing the valve duration to be increased on the cams.
A stock CSL can go from 0 to 60 mph in just under five seconds. Naturally, Red Hot's version is faster than that. Boosting power is a Dixis titanium exhaust system, accompanied by a robust Dixis header. Red Hot also upgraded the fuel lines and pumps to increase the flow to the injectors.
All this horsepower is transferred to the ground by an OS Giken twin-plate clutch and Super Lock LSD.Under the chassis sit a set of Dixis race-spec coilovers. The system makes the ride stiff to the core, providing maximum rigidity through the bends. The suspension is assisted by a full rollcage and front chassis bracing from a German BMW GT racecar.