The smell of burnt rubber hung heavy in the air as Formula D drivers Daigo, Ken and Nishida tore around the vast expanse of tarmac at the Singapore Airshow grounds in their specially tuned drift machines. The drivers are in town to take part in the Singapore leg of the Formula Drift competition happening this weekend.
It was a day filled with plenty of burnt rubber, burnt skin and a whole lot of smiles as the Formula D drivers gave drift lessons and demos to the assembled media.
I hopped in with Charles Ng from Hong Kong for a couple of demo laps in the Spark Motorsports Nissan S13 drift machine. The 27 year old Chinese is an experienced drifter and road racer. Regularly participating in professional racing events around the world that range from drifting, time attack series, Japan Fuji Champion race series and Asian touring car championship.
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From my personal experience having had taxi rides in a variety of cars (both street and racing) thus far, a ride in a properly handled drift car is perhaps one of the most serene experiences ever. Due to the gradual weight transition required for skilled drifting, lateral Gs are kept to a minimum and it gives a sensation that almost feels like you're gliding across the tarmac instead of driving over it. A far cry from grip driving where your body is constantly assaulted with varying G forces during braking and cornering.
The star of the day though was the 2008 D1GP champion Daigo Saito and his totally off the rockers Toyota Altezza. The ultimate drift machine built by Daigo himself started life as a GT race car before it fell into the hands of the mad drifter known for his extreme style of drifting.
The Altezza runs a 2JZ powerplant from a Toyota Supra (naturally) that is hopped up with a Jun 3.2-litre block coupled with a Trust T88 turbo kit. Together, the mad drift machine pumps out more than 800bhp to its rear wheels. Destroying tires in no more than four laps around the drift course. Helming all that power is a six-speed sequential box.
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Pushing all four tires on to the tarmac is a custom aero kit that Daigo specified himself. Sporting one of the largest and most menacing GT wings ever seen on a drift machine. The machine is more beast than car when it is fired up as its pent up fury escapes from the single tuned pipe sticking out the back. Daigo even stuck a sticker on the rear quarter panel that fully describes what his ride really is...'Missile'.
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While it is easy to get the tail out in a drift car, balancing the counter steer and throttle input to keep the car in a steady drift is the key. Of course having a great big turbo under the bonnet helps with getting the tail out.
The brief experience in the Supra was enough convincing this journalist needed to understand the appeal of the sport. Balancing the car right on the knife edge of control at all times is truly addictive. Despite my best efforts, I wasn't able to carry the drift on for more than just two transitions. Note to self: Must get my own $28,000 drift machine in time for next year's Formula D!
During the event, all four pro Formula D drivers piled into a brave journalist's tuned RWD WRX for a spin around the drift circuit. The quirky bunch took turns taking on the course with the unique WRX. Despite the many spins, the bunch were having a ball of a time going around the circuit in a fully loaded car.
I'd like to thank the Formula D drivers that made this drift experience such an exciting and memorable one!
Catch Daigo, Ken, Robbie and Charles in action at the Formula D this weekend!
