World Time Attack 2017 is pure madness, and it's only Friday...

World Time Attack is, quite literally, where the most ridiculous engine swaps and custom builds come to die.

Only the most hardcore 'swapped builds from around Australia come here to compete in several different classes. The objective? Post the fastest time around Sydney Motorsport Park. Except for the fact you only get one lap. That’s where the clincher is. Which is why every component seems to be turned up to 11 and pushed to the extreme.

Expect a lot of blown tops, bottoms, and everything in between.

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Needless to say, the entire paddock set up around the garages full of insane cars. It’s an engine swap and tuned car paradise.

Here are some shots of our favourites.

RB swaps

I doubt BMW was thinking of this potential engine swap when they made the E90. (image credit: Thomas White)

I'm gonna guess that it makes much more than the 114 kW on offer from stock RB30. (image credit: Thomas White)

Bye, bye plasma lined twin-turbo V6 from 2007+. Hello early-'90s. (image credit: Thomas White)

Nissan’s revered RB straight six is one of the most famous motors of all time. It’s up there with historically significant engines like the Jaguar XK6 unit.

It’s relatively compact and endlessly tunable, thanks to being engineered far beyond the fairly tame power restrictions set upon it by the so-called 'gentleman's agreement' in Japan.

It’s really the ultimate tuning engine; perfect for World Time Attack. Which is why it appears in everything from a VL Commodore (of course) to an insane BMW 3 series. Also - as an ironic middle finger to Nissan - a team has even swapped one into an R35. Hmm.

Barra swaps

A Skyline with a Barra engine? This'll be interesting. (image credit: Thomas White)

The true definition of a sleeper. (image credit: Thomas White)

Whereas Nissan's RB engine likes to stand in the spotlight to soak up the limitless international applause, Ford's Barra engine is a little bit different. He likes to sit at the quiet end of the pub instead, despite having the monstrous capacity to blow everyone in the dust.

Powering Falcons for decades, this large, unstressed (but long and heavy) block also has near-endless tuning potential. It’s representation down in WTAC’s paddock proves that this engine has a lot to offer. It appears in this amazingly slick Nissan R32 GT-R as a kind of antithesis to the RB-powered VL.

It almost looks at home there, with the matching paintjob on the head. It also appears in the amazingly-close-to-stock looking Mightycarmods Toyota Cresta. Neat.

Hemi swaps

A 370Z with a Hemi... Now you don't see that every day. (image credit: Thomas White)

Representing MOPAR are the Chrysler Hemi swaps with completely over-the-top heads. But you were probably expecting that, weren't you. Get a load of this Nissan 370Z, which looks like it might've bitten off more than it can chew.

Whatever - it only has to last one lap, right?

Other cars and rare stuff

In race trim, old Sierras could handle a fair bit of power. Up to 470kW, in fact. But power was pretty much either on-boost or off-boost. (image credit: Thomas White)

Unlike the previous Delta S4, the 037 Stratos used a single supercharger, instead of a turbo as well. (image credit: Thomas White)

These things, in race spec anyway, weighed just 980kg. (image credit: Thomas White)

Note the lack of door handles... (image credit: Thomas White)

Man - those headlights look like they're from Mad Max. (image credit: Thomas White)

50% car, 50% engine. (image credit: Thomas White)

Which one would you rather? The bus, or the bike? (image credit: Thomas White)

Doesn't matter if it's stock - it's still cool. (image credit: Thomas White)

There's even some supercars here. (image credit: Thomas White)

Love the green colour contrast. (image credit: Thomas White)

Speaking of green, what the hell is that? (image credit: Thomas White)

"It's so I can dodge the kangaroos much quicker, officer." (image credit: Thomas White)

Cars and car people. What could be better. (image credit: Thomas White)

Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper car event without some properly rare stuff being trotted out. My favourite spots included this TVR hiding out the back, complete with signature chameleon paint. A very, very, well kept Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and, my personal favourite: a Lancia 037.

If you could take one of these insane cars for a ride, which one would it be? Tell us in the comments.