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

Red Bull and Pirelli sponsored WRC driver Kris Meeke  has today confirmed his intention to contest the 2008 Prodrift European Series.

Making his drift debut at Prodrift European Series Round 1, Mondello Park, on April 19th/20th, Meeke will compete in the WKD Imports Nissan180SX supported with Pirelli Tyres and Red Bull Energy Drinks.

Former British Junior Rally Champion, Meeke began his career as a computer aided designer at M-Sport Ford before winning a seat in the Peugeot 106 Cup where he subsequently attracted the attention of WRC hero Colin McRae. Under the guidance and tutorage of McRae, Meeke embarked on a successful rally career that saw him win the British Junior Rally Championship driving a Ford Puma before earning a seat with the Kronos Racing Team in the Citroen Sport C2.

Meekes’ participation in Prodrift marks a significant milestone in the evolution of European drifting proving that the audiences, attention and respect attracted by the Prodrift Series now makes it a viable outlet for established motorsport professionals.
At Mondello Park today, Meeke said that he “was looking forward to the challenge” and that this opportunity to drive the WKD 180SX will be a new and exciting experience.
Meeke is widely regarded as one of Britains hottest rally talent, his career to date has taken him to many of the capacity spectator stadiums of WRC and this latest move for the Ulsterman will certainly increase Meekes’ appeal to the legions of drifting fans throughout Europe.

Also present at Mondello was Prodrift Managing Director Graham McNamara who added, “ we are delighted to have Kris competing in this years competition. His pedigree in top level rallying is second to none and the addition of his name to the Prodrift entry list really sends a strong message across European motorsport that the Prodrift European Series is now home to top European motorsport talent. We look forward to seeing him compete at Round 1 Mondello”.

Kris Meeke will begin his drifting career at Prodrift European Series Round 1, Mondello Park, April 19th & 20th.
For more information see http://www.prodriftirl.com/ ,  http://www.mondello.ie/ or http://www.krismeeke.com/

It’s a cool Sunday morning in March as we pull into the crowded Mondello paddock. The area is swamped with mechanics and drivers doing final preparations for the first race day of the season. Just out of sight of the many Fiat Abarths, Lotus Exiges, Minis and Global GT Lights sits the unmistaken combination of electric yellow and baby blue of Prodrift Series Competitor Martin Ffrench’s 2008 Prodrift Series car. The yellow Nissan Silvia S14 with S15 headlight conversion sits indiscernibly amongst other entries to the first round of the Time Attack series. However, there is no drift demonstration planned here today and Motorsport Ireland takes a dim view on drifting or what they perceive it to be at least. Martin has brought his car here not to drift, but to time attack. To see what can a well setup drift car can do against the clock.

It is a common misconception that drift cars are setup to have the least amount of grip possible. If this were the case, it would be impossible for the drivers to do what they do, round in and round out of each Prodrift Series event. 100mph entries into turn two reversed at Mondello park would not be possible, rubbing the Rosebowl wall would only be fictitious and every run would end in spin after spin after spin. Some drivers religiously run the rear tires with zero camber, ensuring that there is full contact between the tire and the track. Not many drivers will reveal their exact setups and in most cases it won’t matter, as the cars are setup to personal preferences. It can be noted that most run negative camber on the front, for extra grip at the front mid drift.

It’s closing on 11a.m. when the Time Attack cars pull out for their first practise session. The pit wall starts to crowd with eager mechanics and assistants watching on, to see if their hard work from the hours, days, weeks and months previous will hold up. The yellow 14 waits behind the works EP Honda Civic of Brendan Stone as he pulls out of the pit lane. ‘Christ that fasts’ someone to my left observes. It was fast; it was the first time I questioned that maybe a drift car wouldn’t be competitive in a timed series. After all Martin was still running the same tires, let alone setup that he used to place second the previous weekend at the inaugural JDM Allstars event. Little over a minute passed before the Civic reappeared coming out of Dunlop, the last corner at Mondello, with a yellow Nissan lodged firmly behind it. It would be easy to get excited but that was only a warm up lap, how would Ffrench keep up when Stone opened the Civic up. It took only another minute to find out that Ffrench was still keeping into the Civic. Hopes were high as we returned to the paddock as the session ended.

Ffrench was a little unhappy about the lack of traction the car had. Due to the nature of the National circuit, it consists of mostly second and third gear corners. With 435bhp going through the rear tires, it was proving difficult to get grip coming out of corners. Two weeks earlier, Ffrench had taken part in a Trackday on the International Circuit, which he found to have more speed because of the faster corners. It was going to be a struggle to find the extra grip he needed.

For the second session, I picked up a spot at the end of Honda, gaining a perfect view down the main straight. It was a surreal experience to watch all these Abarths and other classes coming in two and three cars abreast into the first corner, really shuffling for positions. Sometimes it’s easier to be a snob and brush aside other motorsports as boring just because we are used to something else. It is this attitude that holds back motorsports in this country. Regardless if your first preference is drift, rallying or a grip series, everyone needs to support every motorsport here if we want it to continue to grow and expand. A true car nut will never turn down the experience of seeing a motorsport of any shape or form in the flesh.

As the Marshalls checked the track for any debris after the Saloon Car Challenge, the Time Attack cars once again waited to be released. Ffrench was second out the gate, manoeuvring the car viciously from side to side to get the tires up to temperature. Second lap round and the 14 came into view, getting hard onto the brakes, the back of the car was squirming. Through the viewfinder I could see the yellow tape on the steering wheel that indicates the wheels direction moving quickly from left to right before dropping out of view to my left as the 14 turned in hard right, easy on the power and back out wide before turning left and heading back out into the countryside. Lap three and he comes in nice and wide again, just inches from the grass, turns in right and the back steps out. He effortlessly applies some opposite lock and lets the car slide smoothly through the corner. The marshalls beside me are gobsmacked. ‘I was sure he lost it’ says one ‘That’s some serious car control’ says the other. It’s lap four and Ffrench has resorted to more natural ways of getting the tires sticky. He arrives into Honda, wider again and turns in hard, releasing the rear tires before powering on through second gear, smoking the two Works 18” wheels, before transitioning back and out into the countryside. A veil of tire smoke rises from above the ditch that obscures our view. The marshalls are in pure admiration of what just happened.

On returning to the pits, the bonnet of the 14 is up. ‘Its over for today lad’ he greets me. He points to a cracked exhaust manifold and shrugs. ‘After running 1.2bar for twenty minutes, I’m delighted to know that the weakest link gave up. At least the car can be readied in confidence for the first round next month. New exhaust manifold, new clutch and new box and she will be some weapon come April.’ Crowds of people are now gathering around the car they ignored all day until Ffrench demonstrated its potency. ‘The marshalls loved it!’ He exclaims, ‘I was coming into Dunlop getting a little crossed up. The first time they were just about to reach for the flags thinking I was gone but when I caught it and held it they were amazed. The next time around I was getting cheers and thumbs up from them. Savage!’ Talk reverberated around the paddock of the Wexford man who could get a car sideways like they had never seen before. The commentary team praised his professional level of drifting and his on track courtesy to other drivers.

Ffrench had left his mark on them. He even ran the car in the final session to record the fastest 2WD time of the day and a very respectable 5th overall. ‘I’m going to get the car sorted, some stickies on the back, maybe a 1.5 way diff and come back again and set some real pace.’

The Time Attack world has been warned.

Words & Photos by paddy@prodriftseries.com

For the third year in a row, Prodrift European Series will headline the Live Action Arena at the S.I.T.C.A exhibition hosted by Maxi Tuning Magazine Portugal. Travelling with some of Europes top drifting talent, the Prodrift team will once again perform to the capacity Potugese audiences visiting Portos Exponor venue.

Returning for his second year in a row will be Prodrift Champion Eric O’Sullivan driving his famous VTEC86 Corolla. Joining Flat Eric will be Prodrift Rookie of the year ,and 16 year old drift superstar James Deane (Nexen Tire Nissan Silvia S14A) as well as Team Hankooks number one Irish driver Alan Lenihan (Nissan Sillvia S13.5). With more exciting cars to be added to the line up, the 2008 prodrift spectacular at Porto will kick off the 2008 Prodrift European Season in style. For further information visit http://www.maxituning.com.pt/

2007 Prodrift Porto Demo

2006 Prodrift Porto Demo

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>>>>>>>>>

Welcome to the new online hub for the Prodrift European Series. Here you will find all information relating to the events, drivers, teams, gossip, rumours and news releases concerning Europes premier drift league.

Over the coming weeks and months we will be busy adding new content and features to the site so please check back often for updates. Better again, please take the opportunity to register with us by entering your email address into the designated field at the top of the page and you will be guaranteed to receive all news, promotions, offers and information from Prodrift as it happens.

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With just over 4 months until the official launch of the Prodrift European Series things are going to take shape rapidly. Ensure that you are first to hear about it all, right here, www.prodriftseries.com.