Photos by Joel David White
Those who made it out to this year’s Hot Import Nights in Las Vegas are likely to say Giovanny Ayala smoked the #TBGLIVE competitors with his 2013 Mitsubishi Evolution X GSR. While there’s no denying that statement to be true, it’d also be a lie to say they couldn’t have foreseen the blow out after reading the Evo’s hit list.
Previously coming home with three 1st Place Best Mitsubishi wins and a single 2nd Place at IFO, Ayala has gained an additional two 1st Place titles at 742 Race Wars and Puente Hills Subaru Show, respectively, as well as Hottest Mitsubishi at HIN San Diego.
It about took three years to turn an ordinary Evo into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. During this time, Ayala made numerous changes to the car, including the installation of a Varis widebody and Voltex spoiler, as well as additional modifications with the help of Mishimoto, SPEC-D Tuning, Tomei, NGK, Blitz, Action Clutch and Password JDM.
“When it comes to body work, no one lays hands on my car but Western Auto Crafters,” explains Ayala. “When it comes to installs, no one touches my car but 5150 Racing and my dad, Carlos Ayala.”
Now the owner of Elite Throttle, working closely with installs and modifications on a day-to-day basis, Ayala recalls first getting his hands dirty, alongside his father. It was a 2007 Honda Civic Si, custom-painted AMG galaxy silver by – you guessed it – Western Auto Crafters.
“The motor was built by my father and myself,” Ayala recalls. “The car was equipped with a K24A2 bottom and a K20Z3 head that was port and polished with Buddy Club valvetrain.”
It was around this time when Ayala would be hit with the diagnoses of a lifetime: stage four Burkitt's lymphoma cancer. Yet, in the true spirit of a champion, Ayala not only came out victorious in the long run, but later decided to channel his energy into a new personal project.
“I built this car to my liking and to what I envisioned it to be,” Ayala proudly states. “My biggest obstacle was beating stage 4 cancer, so after beating that, I learned to never give up.”
Of course, there are those who Ayala says he couldn’t have done it without, and wants to give a special thanks to: Team Elevate, Andrew Juarez, Brian Canales, Marko Diminski, Western Auto Crafter, Luigi Arroyo, Nick Hogan, Jimmy Gomez and Team Nvus Worldwide, as well as Mauricio and Oscar Roque.
#TBGLIVE WINNER | 742 RACE.WARS (LAS VEGAS, NV)
86% OF THE POPULAR VOTE
@tunerbattlegrounds
@officialracewars
ESSENTIALS
LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
CAR CLUB: Team Elevate
ENGINE: Mitsubishi 4B11T 1.8L I-4
HORSEPOWER: 437 hp (E85)
TORQUE: 400 lb-ft (E85)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: @giovannyevogioayala
Twitter: @evogio
Instagram: @evogio_89
ENGINE
ETS 3.5-inch intercooler
Mishimoto radiator hoses
Blitz blow-off valve
AEM cold air intake
AMS fuel rail
DeatschWerks 225 fuel pump
NGK Iridium spark plugs
Optima YellowTop battery
EXHAUST
SPEC-D Tuning exhaust system
Tomei 4-inch down-pipe
AMS test-pipe
DRIVETRAIN
Action Clutch (Stage 3 clutch, ultra light flywheel)
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
Volk Racing ZE40 wheels - 18x11 +15 (f/r)
Toyo Proxes R888 tires - 295/30 R18 (f/r)
Brembo brake calipers - 4-piston (f), 2-piston (r)
Drilled & slotted rotors – 13.5-inch (f), 13-inch (r)
StopTech steel braided lines
AMSOIL fluid
Bendix ceramic brake pads
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
Eibach Pro-Kit sway bars
Password JDM front strut bar
EXTERIOR
Lamborghini Rosso Mars red paint
Varis Type-B widebody (bumper, grille, fenders, carbon fiber lip)
Voltex Type-5 spoiler
Custom headlights (OEM projector halo, “demon eye” retrofit)
INTERIOR
Veloz Racing shift knob
NRG (steering wheel, quick release, steering wheel hub)
ProSport Evo gauges
MOBILE ELECTRONICS
Sony AX770 head unit
Hifonics amplifier
Infinity Kappa component set
SPONSORS
Western Auto Crafters, Limitless Garage, R1 Concepts, 5150 Racing, Action Clutch, Toyo Tires, 742 Marketing, Mishimoto, JDM Mafia Motorsports, Manji Garage, AMSOIL and AWDsome Lifestyles
Contributor: Adam Steinberg, Joel David White
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