The Dutch have been driving sideways for some time now so it was inevitable that from this crop of talent a driver of particular significance would emerge. Hailing from Rotterdam is a young man with no fear, big power, great sponsors and an uncanny ability to laugh his ass off whilst pitching a DBM R34 Skyline Sideways at 100mph. We talk to Lennard Wanders about his experiences so far.

Name: Lenard Wanders
Date of Birth: 05-nov-1985
Hometown: Rotterdam, Holland
Website: www.lennardwander.nl

Car: Nissan Skyline ER34 GT-T
Engine: RB25DET
Transmission: Osgiken 5-speed
Year: 1998
Power: 510 BHP
Powerband: 3500rpm => 7500rpm

PD When did you first start drifting and why?:
L.W The first time I started drifting was about 3 years ago. When some friends from street racing came up with the idea to beat up some old sierra’s , and after a while someone came up with welding the diff… from that day on I got that disease , that I had to go sideways around every corner….

PD. Previously you drive the DBM Firenza R33 Skyline, how does the R34 Compare?:
L.W I had that R33 for 2 years and built it myself… I did stupid things to the car trying to make it better but I wasted too much money on stupid parts that I didn’t really need. The car was ok to drift and it was a nice car. After that DBM built the engine for it and the car was pretty good.
But that R34 is so much better in every way. DBM has a lot of experience in racecars so they are taking the drift car very seriously.

PD.What’s your favourite part of the R34?:
L.W The looks of the car, and the sound of the screaming external waste gate!

PD Explain why your car has the biggest spoiler in the world?:
L.W.hahaha, Mitto (UK Drifter) Olaf (Falken Team Mate) & I started the battle of the spoilers… and I won

PD This year you have competed and done some Prodrift demos, what were the best bits?
L.W The shows are always really cool and when you travel to countries like Spain and Portugal the spectators just go crazy for you. I could hear them above all the crazy sounds the driftcars make.

PD Who is your favourite Prodrift driver and car?
L.W Buttsy, he’s funny and really dumb at the same time…
And that Bee-R Skyline looks awesome!

PD Which Prodrift driver would you least like to battle – why?
L.W Eric O’Sullivan, he’s just to good with that Corolla… that car is so light with so much grip.. and then I come with my heavy tank skyline..

PD Which Prodrift Driver would you most like to battle – why?
L.W Miguel Marini in his BN Sports Supra, his car looks so crazy!! I would like to have some pictures twin drifting with him…

PD What in drifting always makes you laugh?
LW.Just everything (exept having a broken car)…
Travelling with the guys, making the show, going crazy in our ridiculous fast cars…
And the best thing about drifting, there’s no rules about BHP. If you want to put 3483bhp in the car it’s allowed. That puts a smile on my face.

PD What has been the funniest moment when travelling with Prodrift?
L.W The show in Porto at maxi tuning was the funniest…. Eric, Buttsy and I were walking around the Show in our race suits on the show.
I said to guys..: ‘it’s weird man.. People here think we are heroes … but we are just a bunch of monkey’s with racing suits doing stupid things with cars’…
Eric: “speak for yourself”
Buttsy: he almost died laughing

PD What was your Highlight of 2007?
L.W The event ‘’NIGHT FIGHT UK vs IRL,
It was supposed to be a big fight between the Irish an de English… but I knew the organizer and he invited me as well.. and brought my team mate Olaf with me also..
The first time for me competing with the UK and IRL guys!! Promised to be an awesome weekend.. hoping to end up in top 16…
After qualifing 14th a was a bit scared, scared of the Irish an English…
But yeah, when the battle starts the thinking go’s away and the will to win is there..
After sending 2 Irish guys home and even mr BonBon, I was in the final.. against Brett Castle..
And even Brett needed a re-run to win! Brett was awesome.. and I really happy with the 2nd place, and my team mate Olaf in 3rd place…….

PD What are your plans for 2008, events, car upgrades, travel?
L.W We keep working on the car.. DBM is building an RB28 for me @ the moment.. so in 2008 I should have about 700-800BHP, that should be enough to make some crazy smoke @ the PRODRIFT events!

PD What are you looking forward to the most about next season?
L.W Hanging out with all the crazy people of PRODRIFT, always good fun!

DBM Nissan Skyline R34, Specification

Engine modifications:
Greddy TD06 Single turbokit
Greddy Polished intakeplenum
Greddy Throttle adapter
Greddy #8 iridium
Greddy Billet Fuelrail
Greddy injectors 550cc
Greddy Timing belt
Greddy Airinx luchtfilter
Greddy Aluminium Radiator
Greddy Breathertank water
Greddy catchtank
Greddy twin oilcooler
Greddy waterpipe sensor kit
Greddy Type-R Dumpvalve
Splitfire coilpacks
Transmission:
Osgiken 5 speed Close ratio gearbox
Osgiken reinforced centre plate
Carbonetics Carbon twin plate clutch
Carbonetics 2 way Carbon LSD
Custom rear propshaft
GTR R32 rear Diff. conversion
4.4:1 Ratio differential

Suspension:
Tein tierod/ends
Tein Tension rods
Driftworks Front lowerarms
Driftworks Rear lowerarms
Cusco Rear Traction rods
Whiteline Rear upperarms
Whiteline upperbush
Whiteline swaybar V+A
Whiteline difflock bushings
Whiteline front camber bushes
Racing Logic complex Suspension

Braking:
Greddy 360mm 6 pot front brakes
Greddy 360mm 4 pot rear brakes
Racing logic Hydraulic handbrake
Willwood brake balancer
Driftworks line locker

Interior:
Defi BF Watertemperature
Defi BF Oiltemperature
Defi BF Oilpressure
Defi BF Fuelpressure
Defi Link meter Turbopres. 115mm
Defi Link meter Tacho 115mm black
Defi DF Indicator II
Defi Controlunit II
AEM air/fuelmeter
Blitz SBCIII boostcontroller
Apexi powerFC + commander
Sparco steeringwheel
Sparco EVO seat
Sparco 3″ harnass
Sparco seatmounts
ATL fuelcell
Wiechers rolecage
FIAA Carbon Batterycase
Fire exthinguisher

Sponsors:
Dbm engineering
Falken
Greddy
ceemo
wiechers
kosei wheels
de wild bestickering
TW Steel watches
Wim hofland
autostyle
whiteline
Racing logics
driftworks
silcolene
coronel
YamYam