Here is Papadakis Racing’s entry for the upcoming
Formula Drift season, which is sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink and Nexen
Tire, and produces about 1,000 hp. The competition car is based on a 2017
Toyota Corolla iM and Corolla and drifting – does that remind you of
something?
Yes, Initial D.
The most winning team in Formula D history is well aware of this too, and to
introduce its new drift machine, it created a live-action, shot-by-shot remake
of the opening sequence to the cult-favourite Japanese anime series.
Tthe
Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM employs a 2AR 2.7 litre
engine that runs on E85 bioethanol. With its BorgWarner EFR turbo, AEM Infinity
8 fuel injection, and some nitrous, the cute-but-deadly drift car serves up
1,000 hp and 1,152 Nm of torque.
All that power is sent to the rear wheels via a
four-speed Gforce GSR four-speed dog box transmission, which required a lot of
custom fabrication. This includes a new transmission and driveshaft tunnel for
the car, while the rear end and axles are installed into the rear subframe. The
car rides on Motegi Technomesh D wheels wrapped with Nexen N’fera SUR4 rubbers
(245/50 front and 275/40 rear).
The drifting Corolla is set to make its racing debut
at the Formula D opener at the end of the month in Long Beach, California.
