Jamal “Jimmy” Assaad stamped his authority on the Haltech Clubsprint class of the 2022 Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge from the first session on Saturday. However, like any good story it has been a long time coming for the owner of Evolution Racing Spares.
“I came in this morning and, in my head, I wanted a 1.33,” says Jimmy. “I knew the car had it and I knew I could do it, so if I wasn’t able to get that I was going to pack up and go home.”
Thankfully he was able to nail that brief by running a 1.33.7 to gap the rest of the field by three seconds, and obliterate Jordan Cox’s 2017 class record of 1.36.839. “I was celebrating coming back into the pits, as I feel grateful for it all to come together today.”
The Mitsubishi Evo VI RS has been developed in the two years the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge hasn’t been able to run.
“The car is similar in power and driveline but we fitted a new Garrett turbo which is more responsive,” says Jimmy. “The biggest change is the Sydney Composites aero and the Bosch Motorsport ABS. The car has just been flawless but that reliability has come from all the hard work we’ve put in.”
With such a large gap back to second in class, Idin Ahangar in the Got It Rex STi (1.36.482), the Haltech Clubsprint title looks set to be safe in Jimmy’s hands as we headed into the night session.
“Our goal was always to dominate Haltech Clubsprint class because I feel it suits my passion for street cars and the types of cars my business works with,” says Jimmy. “If we do take it out I think I’ll celebrate with a good night’s sleep and maybe a holiday!”
