Maxxis will once again have one of the most exciting stands at the Autosport International performance car show, with the tyre maker announcing plans to unveil 2014 British Drift Championship (BDC) winners Team Japspeed’s new Nissan 370Z drift car.
With the competitive drift scene advancing at an astounding rate, the pressure on teams to take their cars to the next level of performance is intense. So despite the team coming out on top in the 2014 BDC series, Team Japspeed made the decision to build a new flagship car for Shane Lynch to compete in during the 2015 season.
To ensure that the team continues to assert itself as the forerunners on the UK drift scene and retains the British Drift Championship title, the Nissan 370Z has been completely gutted back to a bare shell, then rebuilt to improve power and handling characteristics to guarantee it achieves the best possible performance.
Part of the work involved the complete shell being acid dipped to remove unwanted weight, as well as expose the original bodywork so that the Team could strengthen and enhance the panels. A full roll cage has been installed to provide better safety and protection for both the driver and car. A supercharged VH45, (previously removed from the V8, S15), a Quaife QBE69G sequential gearbox and a rear mounted cooling system have all been installed to maintain optimum performance throughout competition weekends.
With the necessary preparations taken to prepare the shell for the Team’s vibrant livery, the car was sent to be electrostatically primed. Once this had been completed, the team got to work on seam sealing the shell and undersealing the underside of the shell to help protect it from the inevitable track debris and gravel that it will be exposed to.
Suspension and steering lock plays a pivotal role when it comes to drifting, and as aftermarket suspension components for the 370Z in the UK are few and far between, a team from Trackday Performance (TDP) was drafted into Japspeed’s HQ to measure up the 370Z’s inner arches and plot suspension mounting points, before manufacturing and fitting the bespoke system.
Having supported Team Japspeed for over five years, being able to unveil its new car on stand at Autosport International 2015, marks a significant moment in the partnership, as Maxxis International’s managing director, Derek McMartin confirms: “2015 will be the sixth year that we have sponsored Team Japspeed, so it is a great honour to have the opportunity to unveil the teams latest vehicle on our stand at Autosport. In the last five years, we have seen the team achieve some fantastic results on our tyres, and given us the opportunity to test our rubber to its limits in very demanding conditions. This also means that we can continue to develop our range and ensure that we provide the drivers with the best tyres possible.”
The car is due to make its competitive debut in the 2015 British Drift Championship, but visitors to Autosport International will be able to come and see the Team unveil the new build on Thursday 8th January at midday on the Maxxis stand located in hall 20, stand 2250.
