No Tsukuba Lap Record Yet: Nob Taniguchi & Top Fuel S2000 Run 51.762

Nobuteru Taniguchi and the Top Fuel S2000 went out to reset the Time Attack Record at Tsukuba and set a blistering time of 51.762 seconds. That’s .6 seconds off Under Suzuki.

In 2014, Scorch Racing Under Suzuki’s Nissan S15 set a new time attack lap record at Tsukuba of 51.127 breaking his own previous record of 52.363 and eclipsing Nob’s old record set in 2012. According to Nob himself on his personal blog earlier Tuesday, Top Fuel’s S2000 went out to Tsukuba today and set a personal best of 51.762 seconds at the hands of Nob. Unfortunately that was .6 seconds off the record and it looks like Top Fuel and Nob have some work to do to get grab the record back. Fortunately, for us though Nob strapped a camera inside the S2000. Have an awesome point of view look at the record attempt below. Additionally, Option Video was out there filming so we caught a bit of behind the scenes there.

Fortunately for us though, Nob strapped a camera inside the S2000. Have an awesome point of view look at the record attempt below. Additionally, Option Video was out there filming so we caught a bit of behind the scenes there.

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If you’ve been following the Tsukuba lap record there has been no greater rivalry between drivers then Nob Taniguchi and Under Suzuki. Both have been swapping lap records for over a decade. This time around it looks like Nob is banking on Top Fuel to reclaim the record. Both the Nissan S15 and S2K utilize heavily modified 2.0-liter engines (F20C and SR20) boosted close to four times their stock horsepower.

But when it comes to setting a time attack record at the famed Tsukuba circuit, it’s a game of tenths and every bit of aero and horsepower counts.

If you’ve got the time, a read through of his record-breaking attempt is definitely worth it. Top Fuel and other time attack cars had the circuit for one hour which we suppose is cheaper than renting out the track. Then again, they would have to deal with the traffic of other time attack cars on the circuit (which they did early on.)

Their first hot lap hit a time of 54.645. A red flag on the track following a crash brought them into the pits.

A second hot lap got the Top Fuel S2K to 54.105. Definitely getting faster but nowhere near the record. After dialing in the aero and increasing rear spring rates they went out again.

On their third lap Nob hit a time of 53.285 and he felt the S2k was dialed in enough so fresh tires were swapped on.

Finally, Nob put down his foot in an attempt for the record and even with a slipping clutch, the Top Fuel S2k hit 52.538. By this point the Top Fuel S2K was suffering from cooling issues which saw coolant spitting from the engine but Nob asked Top Fuel if there was at least one lap left in the engine and was given the go ahead.

With coolant spurting from the hood and the engine screaming, Top Fuel’s S2K hit a PR of 51.762.

We assume Nob really wrung the neck of that F20C and potentially damaged the block, but such is the life of Time Attack cars going for the record.

According to Nob’s analysis, compared to Under Suzuki’s S15, the Top Fuel S2000 can afford to lose some weight. The S2000 is a whole 220 pounds heavier.

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We imagine Top Fuel will put their S2000 on a strict diet and maybe fortify the block even more to make sure cooling issues are non-existent. Under Suzuki had better get ready because Nob really wants a sub-51 second lap soon.