A motorsport format where competitors aim for the fastest single lap on a closed circuit, with cars typically heavily modified for outright pace.
Time attack is a motorsport format where competitors aim for the fastest single lap on a closed circuit. Unlike wheel-to-wheel racing, time attack runs cars one at a time (or in small groups) on the same track, with placement determined by the fastest single lap each driver records during the event. The format originated in Japan in the 1990s and grew internationally through the 2000s and 2010s.
Time attack cars are heavily modified for outright pace. Common modifications include extreme aerodynamic kits (massive rear wings, splitters, diffusers, and underbody panels), aggressive tire compounds (slicks or semi-slicks), stripped interiors, weight reduction (carbon fiber panels, plastic windows), high-power engines (often 700+ horsepower), and chassis reinforcement. The result is a road-illegal car that exists primarily to set lap times.
Major time attack series include WTAC (World Time Attack Challenge, based in Australia), Global Time Attack (US), Tsukuba Super Lap (Japan), and various regional events. The Tsukuba Circuit in Japan is the most famous time attack venue and the benchmark for many builds. Records on Tsukuba have stood as cultural milestones in the time attack community.