“With the recent announcement that Hans Ruiterman will be contesting the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge in 2018, we thought this was the best time to take a look at the car that got him there — his 708hp SR22VET weapon”
In New Zealand, there’s so much motorsport going on you’d be a fool not to give multiple disciplines a crack. Hans Ruiterman, a Pukekohe local, brothers with Carl Ruiterman, is one of those Kiwis who’s given several things a good nudge and continues to do so to this day. The best thing is, it has been in his extremely trusty E&H Motors Nissan Silvia S14. Now, when we first met Hans, it was at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park around 2008.
His extremely capable S14 at the time had been taking part in some time attacking racing held at the circuit that weekend, but that didn’t stop him throwing on an old pair onto the rear, grabbing a willing passenger and heading out to take part in some drifting. Fast forward a few years though, and it was grip racing that tickled Hans’s fancy with the tall Dutchman taking part in GTRNZ and New Zealand’s only time attack series; the Prowear NZ Superlap Series.
This fancy tickling was in part due to the development the Silvia has undergone over the years. We’ve seen it in every incarnation, with splitters added, heat-reducing methods installed, a stroker engine fitted, and finally, much larger wheels, tyres, and wings. What this meant for the drifting fan inside of Hans, is that it would now only compete in grip.
What you have before you now though, is an extremely potent package proven in both GTRNZ and the Prowear NZ Superlap Series. Sometimes, Hans competes in two race series throughout the same weekend. This seems backwards to those who are preserving tyres, fuel, and breakages, but Hans likes to get as much seat time as possible.
The final engine setup found in the E&H Motors Nissan Silvia S14 is one that Hans has been developing for some time. Utilising an SR20DET block, a Nitto 2.2-litre stroker kit has been installed for a boost in midrange boogie. Thankfully though, early on Hans made the switch to an SR20VE head from a Nissan Primera P11. This means, besides the mechanical strength benefits of the head itself, top-end power is on a new level thanks to the extra flow the SR20VE head is capable of. As Nissan buffs will know, the best SR20VE camshaft to use with a turbocharged setup is the Primera P12 setup as they provide the most lift/duration from factory.
With a higher flowing head and the extra capacity thanks to the Nitto stroker kit, it meant that it made choosing a turbo an easy task — a BorgWarner EFR8374 although big, would have no troubles at all being spooled up by this engine package. The EFR8374 is a big unit, but things are certainly helped by the twin-scroll Sinco manifold, dual TiAL 38mm external wastegates and a few acts of Link G4 Xtreme sorcery on the dyno Hans has available to him at his workplace in Pukekohe. On its highest boost setting of 30psi, the little four-cylinder produced a stonking 528kW at the wheels. For reliable circuit work though, Hans has the boost pressure set a modest 20psi resulting in 420kW at the wheels.
Now backing the feisty SR22VET engine package is no longer an S-chassis gearbox, but rather a TTi sequential dog box, that apart from one NZ Superlap round last season has been bulletproof. Power is transmitted brutally through a Xtreme twin-plate ceramic clutch and flywheel setup, finally making its way through the KAAZ LSD diff and 295/35R18 Yokohama A050 tyres.
Han’s S14 has to be one of the lowest time attack cars we’ve seen running here in New Zealand, thanks to the custom suspension modifications that have been taken part underneath the Silvia to improve on the factory geometry. These upgrades, combined with the Tein Circuit Master coilovers, custom front and rear aero means it handles extremely well in both high and low-speed corners with both aero and mechanical grip.
In the most recent NZ Superlap Series, Hans took out second place outright in open class with respectable times at every round attended. This aside, Hans just recently announced he’ll be taking part in the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge, which is huge news for the E&H Motors team. “We’ve started work on a new World Time Attack Challenge shell — this one will be a Nissan Silvia S15. There’s going to be plenty of interesting and high tech stuff going in with this car, so we’ll keep you posted,” Hans told us the last time we spoke.
With an almost identical platform to an S14 Silvia, Hans will no doubt be applying the lessons learned over the years to the new S15 chassis. We’ll be covering this build as it progresses too, so we’ll keep you updated in the build section of timeattackR.com. So, what’s in store for the mighty S14? According to Hans, it might get sold to fund the next build. If it does, the new owner – whoever it may be – is getting one hell of a sorted package to take part in New Zealand’s thriving motorsport scene — oh, and to kick some ass in!
A special mention must be made for Hans and his talented pit crew on behalf of the TimeattackR.com team — they're the nicest bunch of people in New Zealand motorsport and welcome us whenever we're around; thanks, team!
- Engine: SR20DET block, P11 SR20VE head, E&H Motors modified block, Nitto 2.2-stroker kit, oversized valves, P12 SR20VE camshafts, E&H Motors porting, E&H Motors race valve springs, custom retainers, E&H Motors custom twin-chamber plenum, custom intake runners, 70mm throttle body, BorgWarner EFR8374 twin-scroll turbo, twin water-cooled TiAL 38mm external wastegates, TiAL 50mm blow-off valve, E&H in-tank twin fuel pump setup, four 2000cc injectors, Evo III coil packs, Eagle leads, NGK plugs, Sinco turbo manifold, E&H Motors 3.5-inch side-exit exhaust system, alloy radiator, Primera cooling fans, Link G4 Xtreme ECU, GReddy sump, E&H Motors trigger kit, E&H Motors catch can
- Driveline: TTi six-speed sequential dog box, Xtreme twin-plate ceramic clutch, Xtreme flywheel, R200 differential with KAAZ two-way LSD
- Braking: AP Racing six-piston front calipers with Endless pads, four-piston rear calipers with Hawk pads, Brembo floating front brake rotors, Znoelli rear rotors, Tilton brake bias adjuster
- Suspension: Tein Circuit Master coilovers, Tein springs, E&H Motors geometry modifications (roll centre change, bump, toe, and camber adjustments, anti-dive adjustments)
- Wheels and Tyres: 18x10.5-inch Wedsport TC105N, 295/35R18 Yokohama A050
- Body: Onehunga Panel & Paint 2K red/black paint job, E&H Motors custom made front splitter and single element rear wing
- Interior: Racetech seats, Momo steering wheel, Race technology Dash2 race dash, E&H Motors eight-point roll cage
- Performance: 528kW (708hp) at the wheels on 30psi of boost, 420kW (563hp) at the wheels on 20psi for circuit racing
- Lap times: Hampton Downs Raceway: 1:06.5, Pukekohe Park Raceway: 1:07.1, Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park: 1:32.5, Manfeild: 1:10.1
- Driver/owner: Hans Ruiterman
- Age: 34
- Location: Pukekohe:
- Build time: 7 years
- Length of ownership: 9 years
- Thanks: The team at E&H Motors, Gull Sports/Gull NZ, Motul NZ, Pukekohe Auto Spares, Onehunga Panel and Paint, TTi GTO racing gearboxes, Enduro Fit, Alicia Ruiterman, Theresa Knight, Claire Robinson, Carl Ruiterman, Scott Withers, Shaun Judd, Alex Lean, Nigel Lucas, Hayden Roose Butcher, Wayne Cowley