Next Chapter >

I’ve made it widely known that one of my favorite aspects of Formula Drift is that fact that the competing cars don’t have power limits imposed on them. Instead, FD try their best to even out the playing field by limiting the amount of grip available through tire width restrictions based on car weight.

Of course, the teams overcome the limited amount of grip by using different tire compounds, utilising aero, suspension tuning and of course flat-out power for insane wheel speed. That said, I wanted to showcase a range of power plants from the 2015 Formula Drift field…

Rockstar Energy Volkswagen Passat

Engine: GM LS7 450ci

Pistons: Mahle 13.6:1

Rods: Callies

Crankshaft: Callies

Cylinder Heads: LS7

Camshaft: Stage 3 LS

Valves: titanium intake, stainless steel exhaust

Induction: 102mm throttle body

Engine Management: AEM Infinity

Other: nitrous

Horsepower: 900hp

Ever since the announcement of Tanner’s partial return to Formula Drift, people were wondering what engine would end up in the VW Passat. The Papadakis Racing team are not new to turning a front-wheel drive chassis into a competitive pro-spec drift car, so they went for a motor that would suit their power and reliability needs and found it a GM LS7. I can definitely see Volkswagen stepping up their involvement in terms of a engine package if Tanner makes a full-time return to Formula Drift, but until then I am just happy to see him back on the grid for a few rounds.

Achilles Radial Nissan R35 GT-R

Engine: Nissan VR38DETT

Pistons: JE forged

Crankshaft: Brian Crower

Induction: 2x HKS GT1000 GTII 7867, 2x HKS GT II 50mm external wastegates, custom screamer chimney pipes

Engine Management: HKS F-CON V Pro

Other: custom stainless steel exhaust manifolds Weldon fuel pump, Turbosmart FPR2000 fuel pressure regulator, HKS intake plenum, ATI/Titan crank damper

Horsepower: 1000hp

Daigo Saito returns this year with an out-of-this-world build. We took a quick look at this build the last time I was in Japan, and Dino and I were blown away.

The engineering that went into getting this project together is next-level. Although Daigo has been having some teething problems with the R35 GTR, that’s to be expected in the first year with an unproven chassis.

Achilles Radial Infiniti G37

Engine: Nissan VQ35DE (4.07L)

Pistons: JE forged 10.5:1

Rods: BC Pro with 925+ bolts

Crankshaft: BC stroker

Cylinder Heads: Mazworx custom

Camshaft: BC 272-degree

Valves: BC oversized

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4294R, DW2200 injectors

Engine Management: AEM Infinity 8

Horsepower: 1000hp+

It was about time for Robbie Nishida to campaign an all-new car, although it’s unfortunate that the team did not have a chance to get it all together before the start of the season. Robbie did not qualify in Atlanta due to mechanical issues.

Get Nuts Lab Nissan Silvia S15

Engine: Insane Power/Pineapple Tune Built Toyota 2JZ-GTE (3.4-liter)

Pistons: CP 10:1

Rods: Brian Crower

Crankshaft: Brian Crower 94mm

Cylinder Heads: OEM ported

Camshaft: Brian Crower 272-degree

Valves: Brian Crower 1mm oversized

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4294

Engine Management: AEM S2

Other: OCD Works billet valve covers

Horsepower: 1020whp

Probably the cleanest engine bay in Formula Drift also has the power to back up its looks. Forrest Wang has become the best qualifying driver, and he puts on a hell of a show every time he goes out on track.

Maximum Attack Infiniti G37

Engine: Nissan VR38DETT (4.0-liter)

Pistons: CP forged

Rods: Carrillo

Crankshaft: GReddy billet stroker

Cylinder Heads: custom ported & polished

Camshaft: Kelford

Valves: Supertech

Induction: 2x Turbo By Garrett GTX3076

Engine Management: MoTeC M150

Other: GReddy intercooler, intake manifold, throttle Bodies & fuel Rail

Horsepower: 800whp

While most teams in the FD paddock have progressed from a four or six cylinder to a V8, Charles Ng has down the exact opposite.

Last year he returned to Formula Drift running a supercharged LS motor in his Infiniti G37, but it didn’t suit his driving style. There was also reliability issues, so Charles started over with a new engine build team working on a fresh new platform.

With a GReddy-built GT-R VR38DETT-based stroker motor now consuming the bay, Charles is back in shape and finished in 6th place at Road Atlanta.

Briggs Nissan S14

Engine: Mazworx Nissan SR20DET (2.4L)

Pistons: CP forged 10.5:1

Rods: Carrillo

Crankshaft: Mazworx stroker

Cylinder Heads: Mazworx CNC-ported NEO-VVL

Camshaft: Kelford VVL Killer

Valves: Supertech

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX3582R

Engine Management: MoTeC M84

Other: AV Fabrication wiring harness, Darton sleeves, AV Fabrication exhaust

Horsepower: 900whp

There are only two four cylinder engined cars left competing in Formula Drift, and Dave Briggs has one of them. He also had a bad encounter with a V8, which was the catalyst for switching back to what he knows best.

Feal Suspension Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Engine: CBM GM LS7 440ci

Pistons: Manley

Rods: Callies

Crankshaft: Callies

Cylinder Heads: CBM Motorsports

Camshaft: CBM Motorsports

Valves: Manley

Induction: GM LS7 intake manifold

Engine Management: Holley HP EFI

Horsepower: 750whp

Aurimas ‘Odi’ Bakchis is one of the few drivers campaigning two different cars this season, but he’s doing it by choice. It seems like he is out for blood in 2015 and is currently leading the championship race.

HGK BMW 3 Series

Engine: MAST GM RHS aluminium 466ci V8

Pistons: Diamond 2618 Alloy 13:1

Rods: Callies Compstar

Crankshaft: Callies Magnum

Cylinder Heads: Mast LS7 305

Camshaft: Mast custom

Valves: titanium

Induction: Hilborn ITBs

Engine Management: MoTeC M84

Horsepower: 830hp

I know that a lot of guys out there hate V8 swaps, but I have to say – I love this car and think the powerplant suits it perfectly. I am looking forward to seeing the BMW – as driven by Kristaps Blušs – on the grid for the rest of the season.

Retaks Scion FR-S

Engine: Ryan Tuerck Racing Toyota 2JZ-GTE

Pistons: Brian Crower/CP forged

Rods: Brian Crower

Crankshaft: Brian Crower

Cylinder Heads: ported 2JZ VVTi

Camshaft: Brian Crower 264-degree

Valves: Supertech

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4088R

Engine Management: MoTeC M150 tuned by John Reed Racing

Other: Engine & assembly by Vigilant Motorsports, Nameless Performance header, anti-lag

Horsepower: 850hp

Many people think that Formula Drift is dominated by GM LS motors these days, but what they don’t realize is that there are just as many 2JZ-powered cars in the paddock. After all, this is the engine that started the ‘horsepower wars’.

Turn 14 Subaru BRZ

Engine: RHS GM LS 454ci

Pistons: JE forged asymmetrical skirt 10:1

Rods: Carrillo

Crankshaft: Callies

Cylinder Heads: All Pro

Camshaft: Erson

Valves: All Pro

Induction: 2x Turbo By Garrett GTX50R

Engine Management: MoTeC M800

Horsepower: 1000hp

Daijiro Yoshihara is one of the most successful drivers in the Formula Drift paddock, but he just has not been able to cut a break in recent years. I think quite a lot of it has had to do with the V8 in the BRZ platform, which of course took a few years for the guys at RS*R to perfect for Fredric Aasbø’s Formula Drift Asia car.

Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR

Engine: Roush-Yates DLM Ford 410ci V8

Crankshaft: Bryant

Pistons: Roush Yates/JE forged

Camshaft: Roush Yates DLM/Comp Cams

Cylinder Heads: Roush Yates D3/Ford Racing

Induction: Kinsler EFI, custom K&N filter assembly

Engine Management: MoTeC/Bosch components

Horsepower: 840hp

Ian at ASD Motorsports builds and manages Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s Formula Drift Mustang RTR, and he is definitely more in favor of rock-solid reliability over four-digit horsepower figures.

Of course, at the end of the day it’s how you put down the power that matters, and Vaughn’s team has spent many years developing the Mustang’s solid rear axle.

GReddy Scion FR-S

Engine: Toyota 2JZ-GTE (3.4L)

Pistons: GReddy-spec CP forged

Rods: Carrillo

Crankshaft: BC stroker

Cylinder Heads: PortFlow Design

Valves: Supertech

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4088, GReddy Intake Manifold

Engine Management: MoTeC

Other: NX Nitrous system

Horsepower: 850hp

It took a few years, but Ken Gushi is back on the podium this year with this very developed Scion FR-S drift car, of course powered by a 2JZ. Will he make a run for the championship?

Stoneback Nissan S14

Engine: RHS GM LSX 427ci

Pistons: CP forged

Rods: Manley

Crankshaft: Competition Engine Services

Cylinder Heads: All Pro LSX

Camshaft: Competition Engine Service

Engine Management: MoTeC

Horsepower: 650whp

2014 Rookie of the Year Geoff Stoneback is back in action, and was in great form over the weekend at Formula Drift Atlanta.

I think he has probably the lowest-power car the grid, although it doesn’t really seem to really matter as he is running with the best of them.

NOS Energy Nissan 370Z

Engine: Nissan VK56

Pistons: JE forged

Crankshaft: Bryant Racing

Induction: custom ITBs, AEM filtration, NOS nitrous system

Engine Management: MoTec

Horsepower: 1000hp (estimated)

Chris Forsberg is one of the few Formula Drift drivers who hasn’t changed his engine program from last season. If it’s not broken, why fix it, right?

Let’s not forget that he did win the 2015 championship with the engine, so it should be just fine for another year of thrashing.

Wicknick Nissan S13

Engine: Toyota 2JZ-GTE (3.1L)

Pistons: CP forged 87.5mm 10:1

Rods: Brian Crower

Crankshaft: OE

Cylinder Head: OE

Camshaft: Brian Crower 264-degree

Valves: OE

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX3582R

Engine Management: Driftmotion 1JZ AEM V2

Other: custom Chase Bays CM3 engine wiring harness

Horsepower: 820hp

Brandon Wicknick is running on the most shoestring of budgets this year, but he still manages to make lots of power. He has always been one of my favorite privateer drivers.

Hohnadell Nissan S14

Engine: GM LQ9 (6.2L)

Cylinder Heads: Trickflow LS1

Camshaft: Custom Insane Power

Induction: Magnuson supercharger

Engine Management: Holley EFI

Horsepower: 830whp

Alec Hohnadell is a champion motocross rider and jet skier who is trying to leave his mark in the drifting world too. He made it into the Top 16 for the first time in Atlanta.

Lucus Oil BMW Z4

Engine: Toyota 2JZ-GTE (non VVTi)

Pistons: JE forged 9.5:1

Rods: Crower Cams & Equipment Co Inc.

Crankshaft: Duttweiler Performance

Cylinder Heads: Duttweiler Racing port/polish

Camshaft: Crower Cams & Equipment Co Inc.

Valves: Crower Cams & Equipment Co Inc.

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX3582R

Engine Management: MoTeC

Other: Doc Race intake & exhaust manifold, OCD Works billet valve cover, GReddy intercooler

Horsepower: 800hp+

Joon Maeng has been around the FD paddock for years, and he decided to do something completely different this season having campaigned a V8-powered S-chassis for the past few years. I’ve always liked the BMW Z4, so it will be interesting to see how far he can go with this setup.

Rockstar Energy/Hankook Tire Scion tC

Engine: Scion/Toyota 2AR-FE (2.7L)

Pistons: JE forged 10.5:1

Rods: Carrillo

Crankshaft: Scat

Cylinder Head: Port Flow ported

Camshafts: OE regrind

Valves: Supertech

Induction: BorgWarner EFR8374

Engine Management: AEM Infinity

Other: direct port nitrous

Horsepower: 1000hp

In terms of an engineering feat, I think Stephan Papadakis has really gone above and beyond with the setup in Fredric Aasbø’s car. The fact that Papadakis Racing can make a motor that originally came out of a minivan output four-digit power figures is just amazing to me.

CX Racing Nissan S14

Engine: GM LQ9 block

Pistons: Wiseco forged

Rods: Callies Ultra

Crankshaft: Callies Dragon Slayer

Cylinder Heads: Trick Flow LS3 255

Camshaft: custom

Valves: Supertech

Induction: Vortech YSI supercharger with billet impeller wheel

Other: Tuned by Blacktrax Performance, 175hp nitrous shot

Horsepower: 1050whp

When Matt Field finishes a run, don’t expect to see the track for a few minutes. The cloud of smoke he never fails to leave is always so thick you can taste it.

GT Radial Mazda RX-8

Engine: Mazda 20B three-rotor

Induction: Turbonetics GTK750

Engine Management: Haltech Elite

Other: Mazdatrix/KMR porting & studding

Horsepower: 1000whp+ (estimated)

Kyle Mohan has always run rotary motors in his Formula Drift cars. Even though he has gone V8 for his Chinese drift car, you definitely won’t find one of those in his main competition car.

Chelsea Denofa BMW 3 Series

Engine: BMW M52

Pistons: CP forged

Rods: Eagle

Crankshaft BMW S52

Cylinder Heads: OE

Camshaft: BMW S52

Valves : Ferrea

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX3582R

Engine Management: OE tuned by RKTUNES

Other: nitrous

Horsepower: 777hp

Chelsea Denofa is the only one on the grid brave enough to run a BMW motor. The engine grenaded itself at Formula Drift Atlanta, so he actually had to borrow a car for the event.

Dean Kearney Dodge SRT Viper

Engine: Mopar

Pistons: CP forged 10:1

Rods: Carrillo H-beam

Crankshaft: RSI modified

Cylinder Heads: flowed, Crower assembly

Induction: Novi 2500 supercharger

Engine Management: AEM Infinity

Other: ARP fasteners, Moroso oil pan, Auto Verdi oil pump, nitrous

Horsepower: 1100hp

Dean Kearney probably has one of the most powerful drift cars on the grid. That might explain why he sheared off his lug bolts on the start line at Long Beach.

Coffman Nissan S13

Engine: Dart Machinery small block Ford 410ci

Pistons: JE forged

Rods: Pankl

Crankshaft: Bryant

Cylinder Heads: Roush-Yates D3

Camshaft: Rodgers Racing custom

Valves: Del West

Induction: Kinsler ITBs & ASNU 90/1,050cc injectors

Engine Management: MoTeC M150 tuned by John Reed Racing

Horsepower: 840hp+

I’ve said it before and I will say it again – Matt Coffman drives the most developed S13 in drift car in the world.

Enjuku Racing Nissan S13

Engine: GM LS2 402ci

Pistons: Wiseco forged

Rods: Callies Comp Star

Crankshaft: Callies Comp Star

Cylinder Heads: GM Performance L92

Camshaft: custom Comp Cam

Valves: Manley

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4502

Engine Management: Holley EFI

Other: Dailey engineering dry sump

Horsepower: 850whp

Nate Hamilton is another one of those privateers that really brings his personal style to drifting. I love that he has that skateboarder persona, as well as being a dedicated gearhead.

Gold In The Net Toyota JZX100 Chaser

Engine: Toyota 1.5JZ

Pistons: CP forged

Rods: Brian Crower HD Series

Crankshaft: OE

Cylinder Heads: 1JZ

Camshaft: Brian Crower 264-degree

Valves: Brian Crower stainless steel

Induction: Turbo By Garrett GTX4088R

Engine Management: ECU Master USA

Other: Nuke Performance fuel rail, FPR, surge tank & fuel filters, Deatschwerks 1000cc injectors & 4x DW300 fuel pumps, chassis & engine wired by Wiring Specialties

Horsepower: 850whp

While it’s awesome to see sportscars and coupes being turned into pro-spec drift cars, I still think it’s great to see big four-door sedans. There is something so right about seeing a grocery-getter pitched sideways.

Red Bull Mazda MX-5

Engine: PPRE Mazda 26B four-rotor

Housings/Plates: PPRE-modified Mazda OE

Rotors: PPRE-modified Mazda OE rotors,

Apex Seals: Mazda OE 3mm

Eccentric Shaft: PPRE 3-piece

Induction: 2x custom Garrett GTX40, 4x Turbosmart Mad Mike Signature Line Comp-Gate 40 wastegates, Plazmaman throttle body

Engine Management:Haltech Platinum Series Sport 2000

Other: M&W Ignitions CDIs, WB2 Wideband Controller, CAN Hub modules, Racepak SmartWire solid state power module

Power: 1032hp (low boost)

It makes me wonder, if Mad Mike’s RADBUL MX-5 makes 1032hp on low boost, what kind of power could the twin turbo four-rotor 26B make on high boost?

Larry Chen

Instagram: larry_chen_foto

larry@speedhunters.com