When you concentrate on time assault vehicles, what’s the primary issues that come to thoughts?

For me personally, it’s late ’90s Japanese tuner vehicles that appear to be they’re able to take flight, with extra pointy carbon fiber bits and items than my creativeness permits. Thanks, Dino.

For Håkan Olofsson from Sweden, it’s his 1975 Opel Ascona A. I caught up with the pair within the 2023 Gatebil Mantorp paddock.

Håkan first laid eyes on the Opel race automobile in 2012 whereas take a look at driving his son’s BMW E36 at Kinnekulle Ring (situated 152km from Gothenburg). The Ascona wasn’t on the market on the time, however a few months later it was, so Håkan did what any rational individual would do and purchased it right away.

There have been two earlier motorsport competitor house owners earlier than Håkan, and from what he may inform that they had each used it in the identical fundamental monitor specification. It was lacking its drivetrain and injectors, however that was of no actual concern to Håkan as he had his personal plans for the automobile.

From a naturally aspirated BMW M52B28 motor to a turbocharged BMW M50B25 engine, Håkan’s present setup is now constructed round a completely solid BMW S54B30 from an E46 M3 spitting out 754hp via a GearMotive BMW ZF S5D H-pattern canine field transmission.

You might need seen that the engine sits fairly far again within the bay, which is in fact by design. Not solely did positioning the engine extra rearward open up room for an oil cooler, intercooler and massive racing radiator, however the entrance of the inline-six now sits straight above the middle line of the entrance wheels, leading to 50/50 weight distribution over every axle.

For the present setup, many of the work was completed by Håkan and his son Tobias, who’re each well-versed in engine constructing. One of many few issues they wanted assist with was machining the block, which now comprises DP solid pistons in customized T-Elements sleeves, PPF Professional H-beam solid rods and extra. It’s exhausting to see the turbo, however there’s a Precision 6266 hiding within the bay that goes nuts at 3,400rpm with 1.8bar (26.5psi) of increase.

The large-boosting M3 engine is a thirsty factor, and it’s suitably fuelled from the rear by way of a 50-litre Sellholm Tuning gasoline cell with an built-in surge tank and two Bosch Motorsport 044 pumps. The gasoline and spark is all managed by a MaxxECU engine administration system.

I first noticed Håkan’s Opel working laps at Mantorp Park again in 2020, its wild customized exterior the very first thing that caught my eye. The bubble-arched fenders have been impressed by these seen in basic rallying, whereas the rear wing is comprised of half plastic/half aluminium stays and a Porsche 911 GT3 blade.

The Opel rides on GAZ coilovers, with the wheel and tire combos tucking underneath the fenders. I say combos, as a result of Håkan has three setups to select from – 16-inch BBS RS and 16-inch Compomotive wheels each shod in Kumho racing tires, and the setup pictured, which marries 17-inch BMW M5 Type 21 wheels with Yokohama Advan slicks.

As for the brakes, Porsche Boxter 4-piston callipers are used in any respect 4 corners with 330mm entrance and 265mm rear discs, and PFC pads. The automobile solely weighs 1,120kg (2,469lb) absolutely moist, so it stops very nicely in accordance with Håkan.

Inside, it’s all enterprise. Your entire inside was absolutely stripped and solely racing necessities have been put again in.

The seats, harnesses and steering wheel are by GP-Race, the shifter is a Coolerworx merchandise, and the total cage got here from Finess.se. Lately, digital tablets and devoted sprint shows are commonplace in each modern and classic race vehicles, however Håkan has saved it old skool in his Ascona with analog gauges.

For Håkan, it’s not about being the quickest within the TimeAttackNu.se collection. “There are loads of quick vehicles and quicker drivers, however I believe I’ve probably the most enjoyable,” he stated.

Regardless of not all the time ending first in his class, there are all the time individuals questioning why his smile is larger than everybody else’s. Properly, driving flat out, quicker than some supercars, in a ’70s coupe that was by no means meant for use as a race automobile is certain to place a grin on anybody’s face.

Alen Haseta
Instagram: <