In what alternative universe could we have at one time envisioned a four-cylinder powered racecar knocking on the door of the five-second zone? Amazingly enough, it’s a reality. Queensland, Australia’s Collin Willshire is leading the charge with his world record-holding Mitsubishi Eclipse, which has set the standard on numerous occasions. In fact, it reset the mark just a week ago in Florida, with a stunning 6.20-second, 225 mph blast.
Willshire, a veteran and well-regarded name in drag racing in his native Australia, pilots the unique Eclipse that’s powered by a trick turbocharged Mitsubishi 4G63 2.0-liter engine. The mill produces an astounding, estimated 2,000 horsepower. Willshire races the car in Australia’s Factory Xtreme, a sport-compact eliminator, where engine and vehicle make are required to match.
Willshire and his JETT Racing crew purchased the chassis — originally a Jerry Bickel Race Cars kit — under the 2004 Eclipse body more than a decade ago. Since then, they have gradually modernized it from nose to tail, adding a double-framerail configuration, completed a virtually one-off carbon-fiber body with carbon-fiber wheel tubs, carbon-fiber brakes, and a host of other updates.
The powerplant is centered around a production-based billet aluminum block for the ultimate in security under high-boost load, along with an aftermarket billet cylinder head. As it sits, the engine measures a mere 122 cubic-inches. The JETT group developed and built the block and head in-house, along with the crankshaft, custom GRP rods, and custom JE pistons, Victory valves, and so on. Despite it’s more beefy design, though, Willshire says any genuine OEM Mitsubishi rotating assembly or valvetrain component will bolt right up to it, or vice versa.
NEW 4cyl WORLD RECORD 6.200 225mph!!!!! Yeeeehhaaa!!!!
Posted by Jett Racing on Thursday, November 29, 2018
Willshire is running two turbochargers in a compound configuration, with a Garrett GTX55 98mm Gen2 and a GTX4202R 102mm linked together to shovel air into the four cylinders. The mighty Mitsubishi is backed by a clutch-less, paddle-shifted Liberty five-speed transmission. A MoTec ECU manages the entire program.
The custom floater rearend housing is outfitted with a Strange Engineering 40-spline center section. Penske shocks are mounted up out back, while Santhuff struts are located up front.
Willshire, on his record-breaking run at Orlando Speed World, went .984 to 60-feet, 4.037 at 182.33 mph to half track, and 6.200 at 225.30 mph (the 229 career best speed came on a subsequent lap), weighing in a 2,265-pounds. Willshire previously held the mark this season at 6.26 before the TeknoToyz Nissan team eclipsed it with a 6.22, only for Collin and the JETT group to reclaim it at the Orlando season finale.
