Scandinavia is internationally recognised as a breeding ground for serious motorsport talent. From F1 World Champions to WRC and Rallycross legends, the Nordic region enjoys an unrivalled heritage in top level motorsport success.
The new sport of drifting is no different. As the Prodrift Series made its first of 2 trips into the Nordic Region for this years championship, the level of machinery, teams and talent was, as predicted, extremely high. At Round 3, Sweden, Nordic Drifting Champion Fredric Asbo proved that when equipped with comparable machinery, the Scandinavian drivers have what it takes to mix it up with Europes best. Claiming qualification pole and pushing Eric O’Sullivan to a sudden death final battle Asbo made an unforgettable impression on the 2008 Prodrift European Series. We took time out to chat with Fredi and find out how he has battled BMW’s and budgets to rise to the top of the Nordic drifting scene.
Name: Fredric Aasbø
Age: 22
Hometown: Ski, Norway
Car: Toyota Supra
Sponsors: Japan Auto, Big Wheels, Federal, Consoll, AutoFX, Magic Styling
PD When & Why Did you Start Drifting?
F.A I started attending track days in 2006, but my debut in judged drifting was at the Drift Battle Norwegian Series round late 2006.
By accident I saw an old Volvo 144 with a rallycross engine ripping it up at one of the first Gatebil track days back in 1999. I was 16 years old and it reminded me of the rallycross videos I watched together with my dad when I was a little kid. I wanted to do what the guy with the Volvo did – stir up the track days and make the crowd smile.
PD What was your first Drift Car and how did it perform?
F.A When I was 19 I bought an old BMW E30 3-series with a 3-litre M3 engine, trying to make it into a good base for teaching me how to drift. I used it a lot on the street, and started to attend (and getting banned from) different track days. After a few mods and quite a bit of seat time I felt more and more at home in it, and I won the Norwegian Powerdrift Series and Nordic Drifting Series in 2007. I was stoked! The best part of the car is that it is still road registered. It’s a proper car for late night sessions or ice racing up in the norwegian mountains, come over in the winter and I’ll take you out!
PD What was your best experience competing in your first car?
F.A I have to say my best experience was beating Kenneth “Fast Kenny” Moen in the Powerdrift Final 2007 and the Prodrift Exhibition at Alastaro 2007. He has been my idol since I started drifting, and besides being a great driver he is a great bloke helping everyone out, and at the same time the guy to beat over here. I try to learn from him in every aspect of drifting, and to me beating him meant I must have done something right. I wish Kenneth all the best in 2008, he had a tough season last year with lots of mechanical failures, and I would like to thank for his help in building the new car. Thanks!
PD Explain how and why you decided to change car?
F.A I knew that Tom Ole of Japan Auto Car Imports was building a Supra drift car, and I asked him whether he had a driver for it. He then told me we could strike a deal if I won the Powerdrift Series. Prior to this I was seriously in doubt of what car platform I should opt for in 2008, as I wanted to get a new and more representable car to promote both sponsors and drifting as a sport. Toyotas are said to be very reliable, which I believe is a key aspect of a race car. We are now half way through the 2008 season and besides a few wiring issues in the first competition we have not yet faced any mechanical problems with the Supra (knock wood).
PD What was the biggest challenge with the new car?
F.A The biggest challenge was lifting the engine and transmission into the car! Hehe, the drivetrain is so heavy it nearly broke the engine crane, no wonder why those engines are so rugged and reliable. On a serious note I think weight is the major of very few drawbacks of the Supra, but there are a lot of ways to reduce the mass and increase the grip of the car. The car is still running bone stock alignment as well as stock turbos and engine management, and I don’t think we are nowhere near the limits of the car in terms of weight reduction, grip and steering angle characteristics.
PD So far, driving the new car, what has been the most exciting experience?F.A Prodrift in Sturup has been the most exciting drifting experience for me so far, it was a very professionally run event which gave a lot back to my team and me in terms of fun as well as teaching me lots about the competitive sport of drifting. Getting second place and a rerun against Flat Eric was a BLAST – he is the highest ranked European driver and a guy I respect very deeply.
Prodrift Sturup was also one of the first outings with the Supra, and I was shocked that a fairly stock Supra could perform this well with me as the driver. Watching the irish drivers in the practice sent goosebumps down my spine, they are all very consistant. I think O’Sullivan’s angles and lines make his driving some of the best drifting I have ever seen, and Alan Lenihan’s fast transitions are hard as nails!
PD You competed at Prodrift in Sturup, talk us through that day and how you approached it.
F.A I always enter a drift day or competition with the intention of having fun, and I love the complete package including the roadtrip with the team, watching the other drivers drive, comparing the different cars, and so on. Prior to and during the event I try not to focus on the result, but rather try to pick up what the other guys do and don’t do and what the judges are looking for. Drifting is very intensive in the way you have around ten seconds to do your impact, so when it’s my turn to go out I try to forget everything else and focus on one turn at a time.
PD What was the most memorable moment of that day?
F.A The most memorable moment for me was the mother of two coming my way saying “I saw you were smiling out there”, and asking me if I could sign two posters for her kids. It’s a good feeling when you understand others appreciate what we do, and I think a major part of drifting is finding ways to entertain the crowd and make them enjoy the show the same way we do.
PD Is there a particular driver that you would like to battle?
F.A There are two drivers I would love to try and follow, and both of them are known for putting up huge smoke screens: Ben Brooke Smith of Driftworks and Vaughn Gittin Jr. in his Mustang. I believe that seeing nothing through the thick density smoke and at the same time hearing the roars of their crazy cars should provide for proper adrenaline kicks! Drifting is my drug, and I like to battle every driver out there whenever I get the chance.
PD What is next in your plans for drifting?
F.A I will work on tweaking the suspension of the car as well as work on my driving, in particular I want to become more consistant, pick faster lines and be able to do deeper entries. We are only halfway through this season, and there are lots of driving left to be done! I love drifting and will do my best to try and put up a good show and make some “one more times” in the last rounds.Then, there’s off winter preparation in order to drive the full Prodrift European Series in 2009.
See you guys at Prodrift Alastaro, Finland in August!
Car Specification
Complete car specification list here: make model, power, modifications, etc.
2000 Toyota Supra MKIV VVTi RHD, courtesy of Japan Auto
Superlight carbon fiber hood and hatch, courtesy of HP Composites
D2 Inverted Coilovers, courtesy of AutoFX
Bomex aero kit, courtesy of Magic Styling
Drift-specific steering modifications, courtesy of Japan Auto
Twin Plate ORC Clutch + Flywheel combo, courtesy of Japan Auto
Side-exit Stubby exhaust, courtesy of Sunny Side Racing
400 HP and 550 NM
HKS Oil Cooler
TRD 2 way differential
Rallyprodukter WRC spec roll cage
Koyo Radiator
Compbrake Vertical Handbrake
Images Courtesy of http://www.powerdrift.no/ & http://www.pmcgphotos.com/
