18/08/2026
Before Takashi “Nitro” Matsumoto acquired Es**rt’s お買い物号, or “shopping car” Evo CT9A, it had already spent years as a test bed for Fire Ando’s time attack program.
Built with the purpose of being Ando’s pracitce car, the once grey colored Evo VIII existed alongside the Evo IX that became the center of Es**rt’s Takumi Project. The nickname suggested something relatively tame (by Es**rt standards), but the car was still a serious competition build. The roof was removed to properly integrate the cage, the body widened, and an in-house aero package was developed that followed the direction of the record car without duplicating its more extreme attributes.
Its job was to take the first risk. At unfamiliar circuits, Ando could establish references in the Evo VIII before committing the Evo IX, preserving the main chassis, engine and drivetrain for record attempts. It traveled with Es**rt to Suzuka, Autopolis, Motegi and Tokachi, and we've documented laps in the 2’10 range at Suzuka and 1’56 range at Autopolis.
After Matsumoto acquired the car a couple years ago, the mechanical package initially remained largely intact while the grey body was changed to white, retaining the exposed carbon and black aero. Rather than disappearing into his collection, Nitro continued using it as Es**rt intended, across multiple circuits and in active Attack competition. It's been really cool to see him continue to use the car as intended.
By the end of this season, the Evo was listed at 600 hp and 1,350 kg, with a Tsukuba best progressing from 57.445 to 57.002 before hitting a 56.7 at Zummy in January.
The 2.2L 4G63 uses a Manley 94 mm billet crank, 300M I-beam rods, Arias/CP 86 mm pistons, Tomei Powered 280/11.5 cams and a NAPREC big-valve, big-port head. A GCG G35-1050 turbo, ID 1300 cc injectors and twin nitrous jets support the 600 hp setup, backed by an Albins 5-speed dog gear set, ATS carbon triple-plate clutch and Es**rt-tuned Ohlins suspension.
