CTR Track Journey

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Hi All,

First post here and thought I’d show my 1 year journey on tracking the CTR. My goal by the end of 2025 was to hit a sub-2 minute lap at Buttonwillow CW13 and…mission accomplished! Here’s also a comparison video of my first PB to my latest:



Happy Early New Year and may your 2026 be filled with PBs!

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[jdml3ia]

Nice! I was at the same SDC track day!

 

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Nice! I was at the same SDC track day!

Ayyyye congrats on your own PB too. Sub2 bros!

 

[jdml3ia]

Ayyyye congrats on your own PB too. Sub2 bros!

I saw your sticker as you drove by the garages and figured you sub2'd before that day! I still haven't stuck mine on yet, overthinking placement

 

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I saw your sticker as you drove by the garages and figured you sub2'd before that day! I still haven't stuck mine on yet, overthinking placement

I was so hyped that I put it on almost immediately haha. Don’t overthink placement, just go with your gut. Sub2 comes from within

 

[iforgettopee]

congrats!!!

 

[BackslashBrian]

Congrats! Took mine on the track for the first time a few weeks ago! What wheels and spec did you end up going with? Trying to let me OEM's serve as a dedicated all season setup so looking for track/summer options!

 

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Congrats! Took mine on the track for the first time a few weeks ago! What wheels and spec did you end up going with? Trying to let me OEM's serve as a dedicated all season setup so looking for track/summer options!

Awesome, I see a lot of fun in your future! In the past year I’ve had three configurations as I was learning how to drive the car:

1. OEM
2. 18x9.5 +43 Apex EC-7 on 265/35/18 Dunlop Direzza ZIII (had to hop on it for the Tire Rack closeout deals!)
3. Same wheels as above but with 275/35/18 RE-71RS

Depending on your track experience, if you’re relatively new then learning the lines on any safe wheel/tire setup is fine. But if you’re intermediate/advanced from the options above I do recommend #3 but on 265s to better match the wheel width. Going with the 275s made the car feel a bit more “lazy” on turn-in.

Ultimately I’ll be looking for some 18x10s to run 275 width tires though!

 

[BackslashBrian]

Awesome, I see a lot of fun in your future! In the past year I’ve had three configurations as I was learning how to drive the car:

1. OEM
2. 18x9.5 +43 Apex EC-7 on 265/35/18 Dunlop Direzza ZIII (had to hop on it for the Tire Rack closeout deals!)
3. Same wheels as above but with 275/35/18 RE-71RS

Depending on your track experience, if you’re relatively new then learning the lines on any safe wheel/tire setup is fine. But if you’re intermediate/advanced from the options above I do recommend #3 but on 265s to better match the wheel width. Going with the 275s made the car feel a bit more “lazy” on turn-in.

Ultimately I’ll be looking for some 18x10s to run 275 width tires though!

Thank you so much for the info! I think I'll probably go with option 3. I've done a good amount of track days with my FK8 but unfortunately it was stolen early last year so I ended up buying an FL5 but haven't gotten around to getting a proper tire/wheel setup yet (FK8 had on my beloved Rays 57CR's and Michelin PS4S when it was stolen )

Excited to get a more focused setup this time around! I've heard lots of good things about the RE-71RS and I appreciate your note about 265 vs 275! I was going to ask you that next so you killed 2 birds with one stone haha. I'll look more on Apex's site to see if I want the EC-7's or VS-5's since I like em both. Are you lowered at all? And do you feel like 18 was a better choice for the track than a 19? I like how 19 inch fills in the wheel well a little more with a 35 sidewall but if 18 has more benefits then I see the argument for them. Thanks again for your help!

 

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Thank you so much for the info! I think I'll probably go with option 3. I've done a good amount of track days with my FK8 but unfortunately it was stolen early last year so I ended up buying an FL5 but haven't gotten around to getting a proper tire/wheel setup yet (FK8 had on my beloved Rays 57CR's and Michelin PS4S when it was stolen )

Excited to get a more focused setup this time around! I've heard lots of good things about the RE-71RS and I appreciate your note about 265 vs 275! I was going to ask you that next so you killed 2 birds with one stone haha. I'll look more on Apex's site to see if I want the EC-7's or VS-5's since I like em both. Are you lowered at all? And do you feel like 18 was a better choice for the track than a 19? I like how 19 inch fills in the wheel well a little more with a 35 sidewall but if 18 has more benefits then I see the argument for them. Thanks again for your help!

No problem at all and sorry to hear about your FK8 . I’m lowered with zero rubbing on the street and track:

TBH I’m running 18s because everyone else seems to be doing so. My guess is because of tire availability and perhaps they perform better on track? I have zero experience running 19s on track on this platform. I’m trying to be as budget-conscious about my build so I can’t afford to try the 19s and not like them

 

[BackslashBrian]

No problem at all and sorry to hear about your FK8 . I’m lowered with zero rubbing on the street and track:

TBH I’m running 18s because everyone else seems to be doing so. My guess is because of tire availability and perhaps they perform better on track? I have zero experience running 19s on track on this platform. I’m trying to be as budget-conscious about my build so I can’t afford to try the 19s and not like them

Ahh ok makes sense, and I think this picture might have sold me on the EC-7's haha, I don't plan on lowering anytime soon so I think I'll see a small gap with the 18's but I can live with it, especially since its my track setup. Thanks for everything! Can't wait to hear about your next track update

 

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Ahh ok makes sense, and I think this picture might have sold me on the EC-7's haha, I don't plan on lowering anytime soon so I think I'll see a small gap with the 18's but I can live with it, especially since its my track setup. Thanks for everything! Can't wait to hear about your next track update

it doesn’t look too bad not being lowered. I’ll attach a couple pics and a very funny 4x4 style picture on track:

 

[BackslashBrian]

it doesn’t look too bad not being lowered. I’ll attach a couple pics and a very funny 4x4 style picture on track:

Wow you’re right, it actually looks fine on stock suspension! That seals the deal 🤝🏾 Also love the 4x4 pic haha, gets me excited for my next track day in March

 

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Wow you’re right, it actually looks fine on stock suspension! That seals the deal 🤝🏾 Also love the 4x4 pic haha, gets me excited for my next track day in March

Glad to help!

 

[derbo904]

Nice!

What is the car lowered on?Any other mods? Brake pads? etc?

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