Varis Arising II Build
 

Hi everyone,

In July 2018, we purchased a 2014 FR-S show car from a local friend in Vancouver. Most of the mods were parted out.

Here's the list of mods that could not be reverted back to oem/I purchased with the car:
- Varis Arising II Front Bumper
- Varis Arising II FRP Front Lip
- Varis Arising II FRP Side Skirts
- Varis Arising II FRP Rear Bumper
- Varis Arising II Rear CF Air Shrouds
- Varis CF Euro GT Wing 1580mm with CF Stands
- Valenti Revo Full Red Sequential Taillights
- Valenti Fourth Brake Light
- T1R Overpipe
- Koyorad Race Radiator
- ORC Light Series Clutch with Lightened Flywheel
- TSS Shift Knob
- Spoon Wide Rear View Mirror

My plan is to take this car to Global Time Attack and participate in enthusiast class. Previously, when I stated my long term goals, I got a lot of hate for running Indy 500 tires. Remember, only tires with a utqg rating of 240+ are allowed in enthusiast class. Obviously the Indy 500 isn't a competitive tire but I'm focusing on supporting mods because I don't have the funds to fix anything serious. As I live up in BC, a track day at a track equivalent to Buttonwillow would cost me upwards of 350USD just for 3-4 20 minute sessions. Global time attack for me is a way for a filthy casual like me to get some less expensive seat time, drive on an amazing track, and get to experience time attack while saving lots of dollars for all the other car related things I want to do.

2019 Mod List:

Exterior
- Varis Arising II Front Bumper
- Varis Arising II FRP Front Lip
- Varis Arising II FRP Side Skirts
- Varis Arising II FRP Rear Bumper
- Varis Arising II Rear CF Air Shrouds
- Varis CF Euro GT Wing 1580mm with CF Stands
- Valenti Revo Full Red Sequential Taillights
- Valenti Fourth Brake Light

Engine/Exhaust/Drivetrain
- T1R Overpipe
- Koyorad Race radiator
- ORC Light Series Clutch with lightened flywheel
- Tomei 60r catback
- GReddy Circuit Spec oil cooler (on order)

Interior
- TSS shift knob
- Spoon wide rear view mirror
- Works Bell 62mm hub adapter (on order)
- Personal Trophy Suede 350mm (on order)

Suspension/Footwork/Chassis/Brakes
- Fortune Auto 500 coilovers 8k/9k
- StopTech Sport Performance brake pads
- Eibach camber bolts
- Advan RG3 bronze
- Indy 500 255/35
- SPL or Cusco rear LCA (haven't decided)

So far I've done 3 track days at Mission Raceway and hit a 01:22:42.
I'm signed up for a lot more seat time for 2019!

Seems kind of odd to plan on using Firehawk Indy tires for a GTA build. Even for Enthusiast class. Hell, is the car even eligible for enthusiast class with the wing and bumpers?

If I were you, I'd look into what options you have depending on the class you're wanting to compete in at GTA. An LS swap will move you into a pretty competitive class... and Firehawk tires aren't exactly up to par if you want to be competitive lol. And an LS swap isn't going to keep you in Enthusiast class. You'll be in Limited class at the very least because you're going from 4cyl to 8cyl.

If it were me, I'd just go turbo. Actually, I'd probably stay N/A - but between the two options you listed, I'd go turbo.

Yes, my car currently is eligible for enthusiast class.

Sorry I may not understand what you mean by saying it is an odd plan on using Firehawk Indy tires for a GTA build, could you elaborate?

The LS Swap would definitely put me into the Street Limited class for GTA, and Track Mod class for Grid Life, I'm not set on which direction I would like to take at all yet though, and I won't be doing power mods in AT LEAST 2 years, so I will have much more track experience by then.

So far, I've only done one track day, so I don't really understand much... I will be doing some track days on the 255/35 Indy tires to learn more about the setup. If it really doesn't work, I will be looking at some more narrow Enkei RPF1's that I can always go back to for GTA 2019.

The main reason why I want so much grip is that stock FR-S really just isn't competitive in the enthusiast class especially with such an inexperienced drivermod such as myself, I do care about the learning experience, but I also care about being competitive when I compete.

Only one track day under your belt and already building a car for Global Time Attack? Unless I'm misunderstanding, you're probably better spending your time/money on learning the car and gaining more track experience first before building a a GTA car.

Global Time Attack for me is not my final goal. I have much larger aspirations with many more other cars. To me, GTA is a place for me to learn the car and gain track experience. To me, the FR-S is a car for me to learn and improve the drivermod. I have aspirations to go into Formula Ford, Formula BMW, or Formula Lites, or other street car events. So in my opinion, I am spending my time/money on learning the car and gaining track experience with my GTA car. I may not have specified, but I will be doing many many more track days THIS year, and my car will be evolving throughout the GTA seasons, I will be running very different, or maybe very similar setups each event.

Sorry for not clarifying, I've updated my original post to specify many more things. I didn't really want to write too much haha, I already feel like I wrote too much.

A 325 tire on the back for an NA LS swap is a bit much. Not sure you can even fit that under the rocket bunny flares.

I did say 285-325, I've never test fit anything near 285 so I honestly have zero clue how I would get 325 tires to fit. However, I have seen 86 builds running 325 in the rear so I'm sure it is possible. I'm not sure if 325 would be too much for NA LS, I will have a better idea once I drive more cars though!

Thanks for the input.

I got a lot of criticism for looking too far into the future haha, I've edited the post with just my plans for 2018.

You say you want to be competitive but want to run Firehawk Indy’s... which will not be a competitive tire.

You want to learn more about driving and the setup, but want to participate in GTA, rather than just a standard HPDE where you’ll get just as much seat time for less money.

You care about being competitive when you compete but talk about running narrow RPF1s and such.

It just doesn’t seem like there’s any consistency.

Want seat time and to progress, just focus on seat time. Want to compete? Build a competitive car.

Stock FRS won’t be competitive in GTA class, but turbo one will (with the right driving skill). But even if you have the turbo or LS swap, you aren’t going to be competitive worth a damn if you can’t drive.

While GTA might not be the end goal, it’s a stepping stone. I just don’t see the benefit in spending a bunch of extra money for GTA events to compete when it’s pretty apparent you won’t be competitive, given Your experience.

I run 295 square and with no spacers in the rear they fit. I run 35mm of spacers to widen the track width out. A 325 will fit.

You are taking heat for talking about GTA but being a 100% beginner because there is such a HUGE gap between your current state and future aspirations. It is fine to have aspirations and long term goals. Unfortunately it can be compared to hanging one picture of the wall of your apartment and talking about the mansion you're going to construct from raw materials. If you're talking about Firehawks at a local club time attack you look foolish, let alone GTA.

You've got a lot of learning to do.

HPDE events are very inaccessible here in Vancouver, it's very hard to get the amount of seat time I would like for a reasonable price compared to the states. Believe it or not, a track day at Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit can cost upwards of $550 CAD... Thus why I want to find events down in the states where they are more abundant and accessible.

There is no consistency, which is the main reason why I created this thread. My original post was definitely all over the place, I guess what I meant was that I'm going to run Firehawk Indy tires for the rest of 2018 (still don't exactly know if that's a good idea). I know the turbo or LS swap won't do anything without the driver, which is exactly why those two options are so far down the road, at least 2 years down...

You're exactly right about either focusing on seat time, or being competitive, and I definitely need seat time because I won't be able to be competitive given my current experience. For now I take back all the plans I made and I'm going to run stock suspension/wheels for the scarce amount of track days I can muster up here in Vancouver.

Thanks for the help!


Firehawk Indy tires is a budget learner option recommended to me by a couple people in the HPDE scene in Vancouver. I do understand that they are not up to par in terms of UTQG rating so I will not be running them if I decide I want to be competitive.

I do have a lot of learning to do, but I'm super excited for all the learning I'll be doing.

Don't just take my word for it lol. It's just my opinion. See what others say.

PERSONALLY, if it were me, I'd stay N/A and just get some wheels/tires (like you mentioned) along with whatever suspension and slap on a good oil cooler, some pads and brake fluid, and just go out and drive a few events and get my feet wet.

After that, I'd probably assess what other things I want to change and maybe could better figure out what direction I'd like to take with the car.

I'd probably take this year and 2019 to determine my end goal and get some good seat time, then take 2020 to do GTA (if that was still the desired route)

I laughed at the "Show Car" purchase haha. Isn't this the Nightrunner Scion FRS?

I think it is too soon to make up such an extravagant future plan. If you are just getting your toe wet in Motorsports and Performance Driving, Overtime thing will unravel as you learn more about your self and the car.

This looks like it will be an interesting build thread, I look forward to seeing more future updates.

I can't imagine the weight that shoulder on my wallet If i track this car. I have had several off-track excursions, hitting pylons at autocross and ruining the bumper. and those Varis parts ain't cheap to replace.

This guy's build, (which is amazing) has a 335/30 rear tire. It is possible.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=74391&page=30