Photography courtesy Tony Szirka (left), Global Time Attack (right)
There are many paths on the journey to constructing a truly quick track car. And, sometimes, those paths run parallel to each other.
Such is the case for two Mitsubishi Lancer Evos entered to compete in our search for the fastest track machine on four wheels, our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports.
The first of the two is the 2003 Lancer Evolution of Tony Szirka, featuring a paddle-shifted sequential gearbox, a rear-mounted radiator, extensive aero upgrades and even a few inches shaved off the top. (Three inches, to be exact.)
Described as “one of the fastest four-cylinder cars out there” by its driver, the Evo is good for some 900 horsepower.
In the other corner is a 2006 Lancer Evolution that has “gone pretty far down the rabbit hole,” according to driver Ben Denkers.
The mods are extensive, of course, and include an 800-horsepower powerplant mated to a sequential gearbox, a fully stripped interior and lots of big aero: “Big splitter, flat bottom, and a wing that probably has its own zip code.”
“It’s loud, raw, and a little unforgiving,” Denkers says of the Evo, “but it does exactly what it was built to do.”
Two very powerful, heavily modified and blisteringly fast Evos, yes, but there can only be one Ultimate Track Car.
See both of these cars compete, in addition to several more of the fastest track machines in the country, on October 22 at Eagles Canyon Raceway, home of the 2026 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge.
Our search for the fastest track machine on four wheels welcomes virtually any vehicle, so long as both car and driver can pass a safety inspection. If you can manage to pass that, register today.
Taking place at Eagles Canyon Raceway, our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge will be joined by the lightning-fast cars of the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge.
The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, Vbox Motorsport and Red Line Oil, with trophies from BimmerWorld, Nine Lives Racing and Falken Tire.