Why time attack?
Time to Attack
South Africa has a rich racing history. The country’ s early diamond wealth created dashing amateur racers. It’ s also why South Africa has some of the most regarded and formidable racing circuits in the world: they date back to the early era of Grand Prix racing, when safety was not a consideration and speed was everything.
Beyond traditional circuit racing, South Africa has a storied history of time-trial type racing. The country’ s hillclimb racing history dates back decades and has been spectacularly revived by the hugely successful Simola Hillclimb( SHC) event in Knysna. Team Efficiency / aBr has a terrific time at this year’ s SHC. But what to do between hillclimb events?
Why time attack?
Developing road cars into racers is a rewarding experience for any dedicated automotive enthusiast or motorsport follower. Team Efficiency / aBr has been on a rewarding journey with the Giulia, taking it from a daily driver family car to something which can compete at SHC and is ready to venture into the time attack world.
Originating in Japan, time attack motorsport is similar to hillclimbing, but runs on a traditional closed racing circuit. It’ s like the qualifying run concept, but as an end in itself. In time attack racing, drivers need to put it all on the line for one lap, which counts as their time.
Regulations are generally unlimited, which allows teams, drivers and engineers to develop wonderfully exciting and individualised cars for time attack racing. Because only one lap counts, car set-up is everything. There’ s no time to find rhythm or learn to‘ drive around’ an issue, like you can in a traditional spring or endurance race, with many laps. Time attack is true 10 / 10ths racing.
WORDS IN ACTION 42 JUNE 2026