“50 good-looking street-style cars in Ireland, door-to-door on a tiny Japanese-feeling car track. Teams, style, noise, smoke, and a good atmosphere.”

This quote sums up the recent event held at Watergrasshill, County Cork, which has been ten years in the making for the Juicebox team with help from TS Drift Days.

Last month, Tanoshidori’s organizers headed to Wisconsin to check out the legendary drift event that inspired Tanoshidori – Final Bout.

Known as the mecca of street-style drifting, it’s where America’s ultimate JDM low-style cars get together to throw down their best drift trains and tandems in front of like-minded crowds.

With similar events across the globe (DoriDore in Japan, Dorifest in the UK), Juicebox worked hard behind the scenes to bring the same vibes to Ireland.

Like many old-heads who’ve been around the drift scene far too long, the guys were initially inspired by old-school drift videos from the likes of Drift Tengoku and Hot Version.

Then came the glory days of drifting in the UK and Ireland years later, when affordable JDM cars and parts flooded the market.

From there, Irish drifting has delivered serious success at the top level. James Deane smashed the record for most Formula DRIFT wins not just once, but twice, and is now the five-time champ.

Pair this with ‘The Shanahans’ (Conor and Jack) continuing to impress on the world stage with Conor clinching the Drift Masters title this year, and it’s easy to see why many Irish drifting fans are more inspired than ever.

But with all the success, things have changed drastically along the way. In the past, you could rock up to a comp with a slightly-modified S-chassis running an SR20.

These days, you mostly need 1,000+ horsepower paired with a huge budget and sponsors to stand a chance of keeping up.

That’s why they created Tanoshidori (“fun drift” in Japanese) to bring back the golden era of the ’80s and ’90s JDM scene that so many of us still live for. Back when “keep drifting fun” was the goal and style was the priority.

To avoid missile E36s stealing the show (sorry guys), they hand-selected 50 drivers for the event, split into two groups to maximize track time, along with a dedicated team session just like we’re used to seeing at Final Bout.

Plenty of rare cars and big names joined the action, so check out the official aftermovie to appreciate everything that went down over the past ten years, and what’s next for Tanoshidori:

With the 2025 Formula DRIFT and Drift Masters seasons over, Adam LZ returns to the drag strip in his four-door Skyline R32 sedan in an attempt to chase down the elusive 9-second pass.

After previously landing a 10-second run and nearly cracking into the nines on some old tires, LZ came better prepared for some fresh testing.

This time around, they added a manual launch control system mounted on paddle shifters behind the steering wheel and threw on some fresh rubber.

Heading to the track, LZ preps the tires for the first run of the night, unsure how things will go…

Putting down what he says felt like a clean lap; LZ’s optimistic as he confidently states it was a 9.

When he gets handed the receipts, it’s confirmed that he JUST made it with a 9.98-second quarter-mile on his first run of the day at 136 mph.

However, as he celebrates, he gets dropped a bombshell, stating, “It’s good news and bad news.” The good news: he officially ran a 9. Then, while celebrating, he gets told immediately after, “You can’t run anymore” by the track official.

The issue is due to a lack of safety gear. Only wearing a helmet, proving it’s capable of a 9-second pass, means he needs full five-layer safety gear to continue in the R32 Skyline. Despite being kicked off the strip, he takes the news surprisingly well. 

He’d already stated he only wanted to test things and see if he could get in the nines, as he intends to go faster at the GT-R Festival in Texas in two weeks (November 14-16). In addition, despite clocking the time he hoped for, he admits he missed fifth gear, leaving even more potential time on the table.

Content with not being able to run the Skyline for the rest of the evening, he swaps it out for his latest garage addition, the BMW X Drive G80 M3, to see what he can throw down for fun.

Despite only having bolt-on mods, the G80 M3 still manages 10.4 seconds.

After hitting up the drag strip, the team gets back to work on the Midnight Purple Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R and big block builds. LZ fans will also want to peep the end for a throwback to the old-school babyfaced Adam and Jimmy videos!

We’re often asked, “What’s the craziest drifting video on the internet?” and our answer is simple – this one. It’s also a harsh reminder of the severe consequences that come when street drifting is taken a step too far.

At this point, you’re probably expecting to see our favorite door-to-door Japanese touge action, so it’s a good time to warn you that we’re not kidding with the title.

This is a whole different level of crazy, and something we certainly don’t condone trying. Seriously.

If you’re under 18 or don’t want to hear the reality of what happens when things go wrong, this might not be the article (or video) for you.

Unlike the calm, twisty, uphill Japanese mountain roads we’re used to seeing drifters use to push their skills to the limit, this video takes place in a far less ideal location: rush hour in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (Europe, not the U.S. state!).

The skilled madman behind the wheel

The driver in the clip is Giorgi “Tevzi” Tevzadze, the leader and founder of the Tbilisi-based crew NeedForDrive (NFD), the guys behind the viral BMW M5 street-drift videos. There are many more similar videos on their channel.

He spent much of his childhood in Russia before settling in Tbilisi, where he first got behind the wheel at age 13. He then became one of the most talked-about street drifters in internet history.

Although the NFD team shot to fame with a collection of drifting videos similar to this one, with over 10 million views, this one is among the most-watched. And for good reason….

A harsh reminder of how quickly things can go wrong

While you’ll likely appreciate the incredibly impressive driving skills throughout the clip, it’s a sobering reminder of why these antics shouldn’t be done on the streets.

Titled “LAST ILLEGAL Street Racing and Drift”, it’s rumored that he had intended to change his ways after the video was recorded.

However, it would become the last footage captured before Tevzadze met his tragic death at just 26 years old, having just married and become a father around the time of the incident.

Although he wasn’t driving at the time, he was a passenger in his M5 from the clip, with his friend behind the wheel. After losing control of the car at an estimated 87 mph (140 km/h), it collided with a tree, destroying the side where Tevzadze was sitting.

Although the crash sealed his fate, the driver survived.

Giorgi Tevzadze’s BMW M5

The Daytona Violet BMW E34 M5 featured a 3.8-liter inline-six with the Nürburgring pack, and was known as “OOM-500” from its distinctive license plate.

Providing 335 horsepower in stock form, it was (unsurprisingly) modified, with the eventual power rumored to be in the low-400s. Not massive numbers, but plenty for what he used the car for.

“I use BMW M5 for this job. This car is old but it can do anything. But there is one issue. This car doesn’t forgive any mistakes.” – Giorgi Tevzadze

Tevzadze remains worshipped to this day in street drifting circles across the globe.

However, we hope none of you use this as an opportunity to follow in his footsteps. It sadly proves the “f*ck around, get found out” principle inevitably ends in tragedy, even if it wasn’t his fault.

Subaru just dropped two wildly different visions for the future of its STI performance brand at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, and they couldn’t be more different if they tried.

Performance-B – What (most) fans have been asking for

The Performance-B STI appears to be what Subaru fans have been begging for over the better part of 10 years. Many wanted a new STI, a hatchback, and the plastic cladding gone. Subaru delivered on all three.

Based on the current Impreza, Subaru revealed the concept has a “a horizontally-opposed engine”, which many expect to be a turbocharged FA24 boxer-four.

Thankfully, fans at the show confirmed it retains the six-speed manual and an actual handbrake.

Expected to produce over 300 horsepower, it also features Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) and multi-mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD).

The Performance-B gets styling features you’d expect, such as a massive rear wing, flared (and painted!) fenders with huge vents, and a selection of hood cut-outs.

In the cabin, alongside the correct number of pedals, fans at the show are pleased to share that it has Recaro bucket seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and physical controls.

Although it’s a concept, rumors are swirling that Subaru is set to race this car next year, which would make production far more likely if true.

Despite checking all the boxes, initial reactions to the concept remain mixed. Some fans love it, while others aren’t sold on the styling. You can’t please everyone.

Given how most things are heading in the high-performance sector, we’re just grateful to see them sticking with a traditional engine… Which brings us to the next point.

Performance-E – The (controversial) electric future

Alongside the Performance-B, they also showed off the Performance-E STI concept. According to Subaru, it’s “a battery electric vehicle (BEV) concept model that represents the future of the Performance Scene, spearheading Subaru’s new generation.”

The four-door hatchback features dual-axle electric motors and AWD, and the aerodynamic design bins the typical huge rear wing STIs are known for. Instead, it features dual winglets on the rear hatch.

It’s certainly different, and the wild gold wheels with massive calipers behind certainly get your attention, even if it’s a little more tame on the whole.

While the Performance-B looks realistic and ready for production, the Performance-E looks too much like a concept car, and it’s unlikely it’ll be ready to hit showrooms anytime soon.

Unsurprisingly, fans are once again arguing about whether they like it or not. Let’s be honest, though. EVs will always be controversial, especially with ICE purists.

Opinions aside, it’s great to see Subaru continuing the STI’s future after years of silence, even if it looks like it’ll eventually steer towards the (seemingly inevitable) EV path.

Just when we all thought the rotary was dead, Mazda just unveiled the Vision-X Coupe at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, and it’s certainly got people talking.

When I heard it’s got a turbocharged twin-rotor rotary engine, I started paying attention. Even more so when I heard it’s expected to have 503 horsepower in stock form. Sounds pretty sweet, huh?

As you’d expect, the futuristic, electrified four-door coupe has wacky modern styling, funky side mirrors (well, cameras), and no visible door handles.

While it looks like your typical next-gen concept that’ll never make production, they might eventually be bringing rotary power back to the roads (sometime after 2035).

However, at this point, you’re likely already clocking that this isn’t going to be the future of budget rotary drift cars (like the RX-8), but let’s take a look at what we know so far about the next-generation rotary.

What to expect from Mazda’s new rotary

If you’re hoping this will eventually bring us the next FD RX-7, brace yourself for disappointment. (If the lack of grille didn’t already give it away.)

While the Vision-X Coupe’s turbocharged twin-rotor rotary engine sounds epic at first glance, the excitement will be quickly killed when paired with the usual EV-style buzzwords such as ‘PHEV’ and ‘carbon capture technology’. Yay.

While the full capability is expected to be 503 horsepower, from what we’ve heard so far, it sounds like the rotary is there to help charge the batteries rather than for the tire-destroying rev-limiter bashing we’re used to. And good luck if you’re hoping to push out the crazy power figures we’re accustomed to from the legendary 13B-REW!

We never imagined we’d hear of rotary-powered cars “combining a carbon-neutral fuel derived from microalgae with Mazda’s proprietary CO2 capture technology”, yet here we are.

Mazda developed technology that captures CO2 directly from the exhaust and repurposes it for other uses. Pretty cool from an environmental standpoint, but not exactly what drift fans were hoping for.

It’s much bigger (and probably heavier) than it looks

At nearly 199 inches long, it’s far from small and nimble. For comparison, the RX-7 FD is under 170 inches.

If anything, it’s more similar to Mazda’s lesser-known 20B-powered JDM car, the Eunos Cosmo, since both are luxury rotary grand tourers. Given that the Cosmo is 189.6 inches, the Vision-X is still almost 10 inches longer.

As you probably guessed, the weight will likely be a far cry from the featherweight properties of old-school rotaries, especially once the batteries, electric motors, and whatever other modern gadgets and comfort features they throw into the massive cabin.

On top of that, while Mazda hasn’t officially confirmed the drivetrain, we’d put our money on it being all-wheel drive.

Don’t get your hopes up for an RX-9

Unfortunately, if you were hoping this could be the future Mazda RX-9 many are waiting for, you might want to reconsider. Once again, efficiency and economy are the main priorities, and the rotary, as we know it, will soon become a distant memory.

Recent developments have seen some insanely capable drift EVs surfacing, so perhaps all hope isn’t lost for electric sideways action in the future. Still, we doubt we’ll see the Vision-X Coupe becoming a top pick for drifters, even if it can claim supposed “rotary” bragging rights!

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring back the Drift Hunters MAX leaderboards, which are now available across the Drifted site.

Bringing new features and fresh styling, the new leaderboards are now better than ever. The best part? We’re just getting started – there’s plenty more still to come!

If you’re not already familiar with Drift Hunters MAX, it’s a completely free, Drifted-exclusive browser game that can be played on just about any device. Whether you’re playing at home or school on your Chromebook, laptop, PC, or mobile, you can pick up where you left off on each device, as long as you’re signed into your free Drifted account.

Play Drift Hunters MAX now

Let’s take a look at where the new leaderboards are located and how you can begin topping them right away.

New Drift Hunters MAX leaderboards

The new ranking system provides the perfect opportunity to get your name out there and showcase your skills to thousands of visitors who visit the Drifted website every day. On the Drifted homepage, you’ll find two opportunities to dominate the charts:

Before you start, it’s worth noting that ‘Freestyle’ is a daily leaderboard, and ‘Drift Attack’ is an all-time list. However, there’s also a ‘Daily Leaderboard’ within ‘Drift Attack’, which you’ll see after registering your score:

Freestyle Leaderboard

Providing a fresh opportunity to conquer the rankings every day, all you need to do is show off your sideways skills in the ‘Freestyle’ game mode and rack up as many points as you can.

To begin earning points, from the Drift Hunters MAX main menu, press ‘RACE’ followed by ‘FREESTYLE’.

Choose any track of your choice. If you plan to reach the top of the rankings, we recommend choosing somewhere you feel confident you won’t crash and easily lose your combos.

With your track of choice loaded, it’s time to get drifting. In Freestyle, there’s one goal – rack up as many points as you can! The best part of Freestyle mode? There’s no time limit to worry about, making it the perfect opportunity to take your time to ensure you get enough points.

If leaderboard positions are your goal, there are two important things to be aware of:

1. You need to play for at least one minute for your scores to be eligible for the leaderboard.
2. When you’re finished, you must press ‘END RACE’ in the ‘Pause’ menu for the score to register.

After following the steps above, you’ll see the new in-game leaderboard pop-up showing your current ranking. Dissatisfied with your position? There’s only one thing for it – earn more points to climb higher!

If you need to polish your skills, make sure you head over to our ‘How To Drift’ guide for Drift Hunters MAX, which breaks down everything you need to know.

Drift Attack Leaderboard

If you’ve already played the ‘Drift Attack’ mode in DH: MAX, it should come as no surprise that these leaderboards are the ultimate test of any drifter’s skills!

Setting the game apart from its predecessor, Drift Hunters, you’ll need to throw down your best laps against the clock while hitting all the clipping points. Your score is based on your speed, combos, and whether you manage to hit all the clips.

To give it a try, instead of ‘Freestyle’, you’ll need to enter the ‘Drift Attack’ game mode from the main menu.

Choose your ideal track and Config (layout), or click ‘Refresh Events’ if you’re searching for a specific section.

After throwing down your best effort, you’ll automatically see the in-game leaderboard pop-up. Unlike ‘Freestyle’, you don’t need to end the race manually. You can then check out the leaderboard or click the ‘X’ in the top right to exit.

There’s even more coming soon

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled, as we’ll soon be rolling out even more DH: MAX leaderboard updates.

Expect to see more weekly, monthly, and yearly additions. Who knows, maybe there’ll even be some giveaways thrown into the mix, too!

In an unexpected reveal, Infiniti unveils a one-off Nissan GT-R-powered ‘QX80 R-Spec’ for the upcoming 2025 SEMA show.

While it might seem like an unusual choice, some of you will likely remember the GT-R-engined Nissan Juke R, which was revealed in 2012, and started life with ‘just’ 485 horsepower before the final revision provided 690 hp.

This latest behemoth from Nissan’s luxury division takes things up several notches from the Juke – not just in size, either.

A nod to the R35 GT-R

Based on the brand’s flagship full-size luxury SUV, the monster project is once again powered by the now-discontinued Nissan GT-R NISMO’s 3.8-liter V6 VR38DETT.

Putting the Juke R to shame, Infiniti has chosen to extract a whopping 1,000 horsepower from the twin-turbo powerplant.

They didn’t just use the GT-R’s engine, either. The design inspiration comes from the T-Spec Takumi Edition, which uses the GT-R’s huge carbon-ceramic brakes (with some custom tweaks) for stopping power behind massive bronze 24-inch wheels, “designed to resemble those from the GT-R”.

A surprising amount of effort went into the build

To extract 1,000 horsepower from the hand-built VR38, Infiniti went all-out with aftermarket upgrades, showing just how much effort they put in.

Inside the VR38DETT engine are a selection of familiar names to drifters – JE pistons, ARP rod bolts, and Boostline forged rods.

Alongside these lies a pair of uprated Garrett G-series turbochargers, ETS exhaust manifolds, and a custom intake with twin front-mount intercoolers. For fueling, they’ve opted for a custom flex-fuel system, 2,600cc injectors, and a Fuel Lab pump. A MOTEC ECU puts the icing on the cake.

Thankfully, rather than using the GT-R’s stock suspension, they opted for a custom setup for the monstrous luxobarge, utilizing MCS three-way external reservoir coilovers with Eibach ERS springs and modified steering knuckles.

All of this is undoubtedly essential. While we don’t know the exact weight, we imagine it weighs quite a bit more than its sportier counterpart, given the 6,000-pound stock version. For comparison, the Takumi GT-R weighs 3,880 pounds.

If you squint, you’ll (maybe) see the GT-R-inspired styling

All aspects of the R-Spec’s ‘thicc’ styling are “directly inspired” by the GT-R, including the custom widebody kit, which sits lower thanks to a custom front splitter.

Finishing touches come with added diffusers, badges, and various other design changes. One that’ll likely stand out to enthusiasts is the custom “R35-inspired” burnt tip exhausts. (We’ll let you form your own opinions there.)

Of course, nothing built as a nod to Godzilla should be without its iconic Midnight Purple colorway, which they’ve chosen for the full body wrap.

“[The] QX80 R-Spec is extreme, aggressive and a showcase of what INFINITI can do when our engineering and design teams take off all the guardrails,” said Tiago Castro, INFINITI Americas’ vice president.

What’s next for the QX80 R-Spec?

While the previous 690-horsepower Juke R came to life and was available to buy and own (if you had around $700k spare for a Juke), the chances of you being able to do the same for the R-Spec are… Very slim.

It’s a one-off, built specifically for the SEMA Show as a “creative exercise for the brand” to flex their capabilities.

Admittedly, it comes at a surprising time, given recent concerns about Nissan’s long-term future. Hopefully, it’s a sign that things aren’t as bad as they seem, and it’s great to see them continue to push the boundaries.

With that said, we really hope this will see more action than simply sitting on a stand at SEMA. If not, we’d much rather see them investing the time working on an R36 (or S16) instead!

Best known for his role as Han Lue in The Fast & The Furious franchise, Sung Kang is set to return with a new sideways action movie he co-wrote and directed – Drifter.

Instead of the Mazda RX-7 he’s best known for, Kang decided his car for this movie, ‘Lola’ (derived from the USDM ‘Corolla’ naming), needed to be a Toyota AE86, and Hypebeast gives an insight into the build.

You may already be familiar with the hero car

The AE86 is arguably the most recognizable car in drifting history. It’s been the weapon of choice from the likes of the ‘Drift King’ Keiichi Tsuchiya, to Initial D’s Takumi Fujiwara, and Kang once again decided nothing was better suited for the role than the humble Hachiroku.

Sung states, “For Drifter, it was the only choice for our hero car.” It’ll likely come as a surprise that it’s not just any old AE86, though. It’s Formula DRIFT legend Dai Yoshihara’s SEMA ‘AE86R’ project car.

In the movie, the ’86 starts life as a humble stock 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S and evolves throughout the film, beginning as a simple drift beater before being transformed into the familiar drift weapon.

It’s far from a stock Corolla

Thankfully, unlike most Hollywood movie cars, this AE86 is actually built for the task at hand.

However, there’s no 4A-GE engine lurking under the hood, unfortunately. They’ve instead opted for a controversial V8 swap, pairing a Chevrolet LS3 V8 with a GForce GSR gearbox. Dai admits, “Personally, I prefer keeping 86s four-cylinder, but this setup does exactly what we needed for filming.”

Sung explained, “The LS3 comes into the story because a mentor character donates the motor from his daughter’s Corvette to help the car compete professionally. It’s a symbolic gesture about passing on passion and potential.”

That wasn’t the only reason they opted for the V8. “We needed more torque and reliability for the drift sequences,” explained Dai.

Under the widebody chassis lies a Toyota Supra/Celica rear end paired with KW suspension. We can also see a Sparco bucket seat and classic Watanabe Wheels with Yokohama Tires.

What to expect from ‘Drifter’

In the upcoming movie, Sung Kang plays the main character who “discovers his passion and skill in the art of drifting while working at his local race circuit.”

Alongside Dai Yoshihara, who plays Kang’s stunt double (peep the amusing wig!), plenty of other huge names from the drift scene are on board the project, including Adam LZ, Ryan Tuerck, and Chelsea DeNofa.

They join the likes of Brian Scotto from HOONIGAN, who directed the stunt driving scenes, James Pumphrey, and many others.

“Drifter isn’t just about drifting,” Kang explains. “It’s about finding hope. It’s a hero’s journey about someone lost in life who finds purpose through the car community.”

“I want audiences to walk away feeling that when you find something you love, and surround yourself with people who share that passion, anything is possible.”

It’s likely a relatable story for many car enthusiasts, and something that’s definitely got us interested.

Further details of the movie are set to be released soon, but it’s certainly one that we recommend keeping an eye out for.

Hot Wheels just launched the ‘Elite 64 Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86) Custom’, a hyper-accurate model based on Formula DRIFT driver Daijiro Yoshihara’s Turn 14 Distribution Toyota Corolla AE86 drift car, dubbed the ‘AE86R’.

For some, it might come as a surprise that the real-world version features a Honda K-swap, with a 306-horsepower 2-liter Civic Type R turbocharged K20C1 engine paired with an S2000 gearbox.

However, we can’t promise there’s a K20 under the hood of this model version!

Originally designed by Kei Miura, the AE86R features a TRA Kyoto Pandem Widebody Kit that has been perfectly replicated for the model.

It could be the perfect Christmas gift

Given that your chances of owning Dai’s one-off build are slim, this 1:64-scale version is the closest you’ll likely ever get. Well, unless he fancies selling up, of course.

The best part? It’ll only set you back 20 bucks, making the dinky Hachi-Roku model the perfect Christmas stocking filler for any JDM, Initial D, or drifting fan.

There’s a surprising attention to detail

With the widebody model, you get Hot Wheels “Custom Real Riders” replicas of Dai’s real-world deep-dish custom BBS Motorsport wheels, and they’ve even provided some negative camber for added drift-ready vibes.

Inside, the details continue with red bucket seats (though the listing states light-blue?) based on Sparco Racing QRT-Rs, alongside a chunky teal roll cage.

Up front are more intricate details like a GReddy intercooler and even hood fasteners. Unfortunately, there’s no opening hood, though!

The Elite 64 Toyota Corolla Levin (AE86) Custom comes packaged on an illustrated blister card in a Kar Keepers clamshell case, making it the perfect addition to any Hot Wheels fan’s collection.

Admittedly, it’ll sit nicely under my monitor, and I’m now fighting the urge to click the buy button!

Hot Wheels not your thing? This LEGO version of Takumi Fujiwara’s AE86 might be more up your street.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at a secret, invite-only underground car meet featuring one of the most epic drifting demos we’ve ever seen. Only a handful of unsuspecting, hand-picked invitees received word to head to a secret warehouse location in Tokyo Bay, and they had no idea what awaited them.

With over 100 incredible cars packed into the location, it featured just about every JDM legend you can think of, and much, much more.

Alongside some of the most recognizable cars from Tokyo Drift were modern-day-inspired replicas and some of the finest builds that legendary Japanese tuners have to offer.

Liberty Walk brought their Nissan Skyline R34, as well as the incredible widebody Ferrari F40, which had everyone’s jaws on the floor.

Other recognizable builds included Red Bull’s own Honda NSX, which recently featured in a viral video with F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda.

A car nobody expected to see was the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, proving this meet wasn’t messing around.

As you’d probably expect, it was a JDM car fan’s dream, with row after row of Japanese classics filling every corner of the warehouse.

If that wasn’t enough, a variety of motorsport celebrities were also hanging out among the crowds, including rotary legend Mad Mike.

He joined Formula DRIFT driver Hiroya Minowa to experiment with VR glasses while driving RC versions of their real-world drift cars.

Then, just when fans thought things couldn’t get any better, the drivers put down the VR glasses, and the real action got underway.

Just when the fans thought it couldn’t get any better…

Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of a four-rotor destroyed everyone’s eardrums as one of Mad Mike’s (many) insane builds echoed through the warehouse.

That’s right, Mad Mike and Hiro weren’t just there to play with the toy cars. They had the real things lying in wait.

As Mad Mike lined up in his rotary-powered Mazda 3, he was joined by Hiro Minowa in his 2JZ-powered Toyota GR Corolla.

Let’s face it, no Tokyo Drift event would be complete without some multi-storey car park drifting. Fans were in for a treat as the pair stunned them with live door-to-door hatchback drifting action as they climbed up the eight-level parking area. Just imagine the sound of that insane combo!

What the event meant to Mad Mike

Mad Mike Whiddett says the event had a deeper meaning to him than just another drift demo. His 17-year journey with Red Bull came full circle, bringing the spectacle back to “the motherland of drifting.”

The New Zealand driver originally made the jump from freestyle motocross after watching Option DVDs and early D1 Grand Prix footage, delivering the same underground energy that filled the Tokyo Bay warehouse.

Bringing that same energy to an invite-only Tokyo meet, with some of the rarest JDM builds surrounding him and Hiroya’s 2JZ screaming alongside his rotary, was a full-circle moment that captured everything he fell in love with all those years ago.