WAYNE, NJ (May 3, 2007) With a lap time of 1:48.76, Tyler McQuarrie in his Nissan S-15 Silva broke records and re-wrote history Sunday at Buttonwillow Raceway in Southern California.  During Round 2 of the Redline Time Attack Series, McQuarrie and his Hankook Tire/JIC Magic Motorsports team not only broke the standing record lap time for a Time Attack event at Buttonwillow by 0.2 seconds, he also came away with first place finishes in the rear wheel drive and overall Unlimited classes.

The previous lap record at Buttonwillow Raceway was held by Eiji “Tarzan” Yamada, one of the most successful and popular drivers in the drifting and time attack communities.  Though Yamada’s record time of 1:48:96 was set in an exotic 800-hp Mitsubishi Evo, McQuarrie had help from his newly improved Hankook Z214 C71 R-compound tires, designed specifically for Time Attack and Autocross.

“I was on site at the first Redline Time Attack event at the California Speedway in February,” says Dave Martin, Senior Project Engineer for Hankook Tire.  

“I learned a lot then about how the unique conditions of a Time Attack event affect tires differently, which guided our decision on what tires to use today,” said Martin. “I have to say, I’m incredibly pleased with the result, and don’t think it’s boasting to say that the tires played an integral part in today’s record-setting performance by Tyler.”


The Hankook Tire/JIC Magic Team went into the event with two goals: to win the Unlimited rear wheel drive class and the overall Unlimited class, and to have the overall fast time at the event.  A “stretch goal” was to establish a Time Attack track record at Buttonwillow.  All three were achieved.

“This is really great, beating that record in a car that’s not even designed for Time Attacks,” said McQuarrie.  “I kind of feel like the underdog who came out of nowhere, breaking that record.  It was definitely a team effort and I’m thankful to everybody; my crew, the sponsors, and our fans.”