Earlier this year, upon confirmation that Darren McNamara’s Falken Corolla was returning home from its 12 month stint in Formula Drift, we promised news on Darrens new USA machine for 2008.
Shortly afterwards it was announced that Darren would pilot the Sears Saturn Sky running out of the Falken Tyre stable, a 720hp V8 powered roadster converted to right hand drive for the Irish driver.

Following 2 events in the USA, Darren has had mixed fortune in the Saturn. At Round 1 Long Beach he qualified the car in 2nd position however went out in the Top 16 following a spin. A similar outcome ended Darrens  progress at Round 2, Atlanta.
Earlier this year, Gary Keith and his team at The Drift Zone caught up with Darren whilst testing the new machine and also detailed the history of the Sears Saturn during its 2007 debut.
The following feature gives a fantastic overview of this vehicles potential and how Darrens Saturn could give us an indication of the future of drfting machines.

Main image courtesy of Everything Drift

Back in November 2007, I was invited to an off-season exhibition match in Teeside. The event was a relaxed affair that pitted some British, Dutch and Irish drivers against each other. It was during the morning practice session, I spotted a tidy white over black AE86 Levin. It wasn’t until this guy was on track that I got a first hand account of just exactly how hard he could drive this little 1600cc AE86.

Coming out of the first wide hairpin, onto a straight away, the driver was flicking the car from side to side, dropping one wheel onto the grass as he went before catching the perfect line through a tight chicane around and up a hill and out of sight again. Breathtaking. The 4AGE motor could still be heard long after the car was out of sight, singing on the rev limiter the whole way until it came back into view again.
Fast forward five months and I’ve just had an interview with the man himself, Mr. Dan Chapman. Having just debuted his new Driftworks Nissan PS13 at Mondello Park for the first round of the Prodrift European Series, he seems happy with his ‘cheating’ car. He says ‘cheating’ because to this guy anything that isn’t a normally aspirated Toyota, is just going the easy route.

Dan started back in 2006 when his best mate, Jon Beezy, bought an S13 200sx. This was his first taste of drifting. Like so many others, looking at drifting videos on YouTube only briefly satisfied the hunger for more. Dan had decided he needed to drift himself. He picked up his now infamous panda AE86, as a fresh, low mileage Japanese import and had his first drift day at Lydd in December 2006. ‘Open diff, stock 16-valve with standard seats, I drove there and home on the same set of tyres and I bloody loved it! It went against all my knowledge of car control as coming from a grip racing background, making the car go sideways but still taking the racing line seemed so messed up to me, but my god the most fun ever, from that day on I wanted to just drift 24/7, just as fun at the time, with no thoughts of competitions!’
Because Dan learned to drive a car with considerably less power than his rivals, he had to learn to push the car harder and harder to keep up. By going this route Dan depended on his driving skills, rather than pure horsepower, to keep his car sideways. He maintains that because he learned to drift with so little power, it’s what has helped him develop so fast as a driver. ‘Starting out in the 16-valve open diff, stock seated AE86, I think that’s what made me learn so much so fast; from never owning a RWD car before to now never wanting to be without one,’ he laughs. ‘The Corolla to me has such a fine balance and the harder it is driven the better it performs, I left the Corolla stock for as long as possible because I believe that you do not make any modifications to the car until it is holding you back.’

Dan will be competing in the 2008 Prodrift European Series, competing under the well established banner of the Driftworks team. ‘Being sponsored by Driftworks and also being apart of the team is amazing, something I never expected or felt I deserved. Here is a group of friends like Drift Republic that love drifting and everything about it. They have all been around since the start of drifting in the UK to my knowledge, and have so much experience between them, that I know I can just call any of them up and ask a question and get a good honest answer. Having the feeling of backup makes things a lot easier, not only are they all top guys but they can all drift so good, and they have asked so little of me, they just want me to have fun and do my best, knowing that again makes competing more relaxing for me, and stress free, lets me concentrate on myself and not worry about others!
I still find it a little embarrassing when people mention Driftworks and me together. As Driftworks has had such a role in the UK and European drifting scene and I’m still such a new person on the scene, I feel I have not earned the right but hopefully will do so this year! Of course being the new boy, I am here to represent Driftworks across Europe on my travels as they compete in different championships, so little old me is here to represent everywhere I go. I love them long time!’

Watch out for Dan flying the Driftworks flag at Prodrift European Series Round Two, Saturday 24th May at Teeside Autodrome, Middlesborough, UK.

words & photos by paddy@prodriftseries.com

Name : Kenneth Moen
Age: 28
Home Town: Fetsund, Norway
Car: Nissan Sylvia S15 V8

Kenneth Moen is one of the most established drivers in the Prodrift European Series. Kenneth first met the Prodrift team at Silverstone in 2005 and has since represented PD in France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Ireland, Finland and of course his native Norway. During the last 2 years we have also seen Kenneth compete and drive some of the most spectacular cars in the Prodrift European Series. From his 2006 Sylvia S15 to the Sharifs R34 Skyline of 2007, Moens fleet of immaculate machinery have always been of the highest quality.

For 2008 competition Kenneth is preparing a very special Nissan Sylvia S15. Since he started building Japanese performance cars, Kenneth has always had to steer from the right hand side of the cockpit. In 2008, Kenneth, and his team of Norwegian spanner men, have transfered the controls to the more familiar left hand side which will give Moen a massive advantage in 2008 drift battles. We took some time out to ask Kenneth how this build has progressed and what he can expect to achieve with this one of a kind Sylvia.

PD. Where Did you get the shell for the new car?

KM I bought a complete car from Japan Auto in Norway. The car was from Tokyo originally.

PD When did you start working on the new car?

KM. I started on the car late 2006. The car was supposed to be raedy for the 2007 season, but we had to wait a long time for the shell to be acid dipped and when the car returned it was too late for 2007.

PD.What has been the most difficult part to create?

KM. I think the most difficult part was to choose the engine. I was first thinking about Lexus v8 with 2 turbos. Then we thought about an AMG V8 with Kompressor. These engines probably would have been more powerful but we eventually settled on the Chevy engine because it has no turbos no compressor and less problems. I think we can now get the reliability to drive a whole seson with no engine problems.

PD. What will make this car different from all the other S15’s?
KM. I think the big difference will be the engine. No turbo lag and big power from 1500rpm. The weight balance should be like a stock S15. The Engine is 20cm more back than the SR20 and the engine weight only 165kilo. And in this car I drive on left side offcorse;) when is the corect side for me hehe.

PD.Why Did you choose the V8?
KM.I was tired of broken SR20 engines, And turbo lagg of course. Its a really powerful engine when working from low rpm and its very reliable.

PD. What is the expected power/torque?
KM. Well it’s a 420 7.0 litre chevy aluminium engine with all racing parts. I think we get between 600-700bhp and 700nm Torque.

PD. Where are you looking forward to driving this car in 2008?

KM. I looking forward to drive everything with this car. Prodrift, Gatebil, Powerdrift and Nordic Drift Series. Most off all i like demos so I hope to continue to travel around Europe with Prodrift demonstrating to new crowds. I also want to do a 4 hour race with this car on nurnbergring if I get time.

Kenneth is now in the final stages of this build and we’ll keep you right up to date with the installation of the Chevy V8 prior to this car unleashing all 700 horses as part of the 2008 Prodrift European Series.

Cllick below for Kenneth Moen Video>>>>>>>>>

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