Formula Drift: On the Road to the Championship / Chris Ward's New Drift Car

[JITB]

Words By: Perri Minot

With less than a week away until the 2nd round of the 10th Formula Drift Season, we take an in-depth look at understanding some of the new FD rule changes that are already shaking up the field as well as new vehicle setups that ensure the dramatic unpredictability we are all used to.L


PHOTOS BY: PERRI MINOTLand JASON SCOTT









Dai Yoshihara finished 1st in Long Beach after achieving the top qualifying score giving him a huge advantage at the start of the year. When we consider the factors which make up this perfect score, qualifying scores are almost as important to each competitor as the actual competition itself.





Last year there was a big impression that some felt drivers may sandbag during their first qualifying runs, then go all out on the second. Could be plausible since everyone is doing their own solo runs.





the entire grid gets one qualifying run on the track. The drivers that receive the top 16 scores from the judges will be considered “locked in” for the top 32. The 17-on ranked drivers will have the opportunity to run a 2nd run and the better of the two scores will be the final. This new twist is sure to eliminate the controversy once and for all because drivers are instantly rewarded for performing the course perfectly the first time around.





Dai wasnt the ony heavy hitter to make some headway as he is joined on the Long Beach podium with Chris Forsberg and Vaughn Gittin Jr.





This again ups the ante of the impending drama since all three of these guys are former FD champions.





whoever maintains their momentum the longest, grows one step closer to joining the FD hall of fame for 2-time Champions.





So far Only Tanner Foust and Sam Hubinette exist in the ranks. Even Daigo Saito will now have a chance after the sensational victory during his “rookie” season. He currently sits in 11th place after a rough first event, but coming off a win in FD Asia might be all he needs to come back full force. Road Atlanta is after all one of the larger tracks affording him the advantage of flexing some of that Japanese Muscle we like to call the Smoke Train.





We’ve also been eyeing a lot of the new car setups for this year. It definitely seems as if some of the V8 vs Turbo debate has calmed down as there has been an interesting influx of both turbocharged V8s and V6s with most of the field making over 600HP now.





Even Fredric Aasbo’s Scion is seen fending off the ninja as Stephan Papadakis has rebuilt the original Scion tC 4 cylinder to over 800whp! This of course capable with a moderately sized turbo being spooled by a large nitrous shot.





Speaking of all this turbo-speak, we at Southrnfresh decided to give the world a sneak peak at yet another new rebuild for the 2013 Formula Drift Season.





Atlanta’s own Chris Ward has been hard at work piecing together his own wine colored S14 with very little shop help to get him back on track.





Last year I featured a photo of chris spraying a few parts on his own car. This time around, the entire tube chassis and roll cage was hand built and painted by Chris himself.





Chris has tastefully dropped little bits of Carbon Fiber as if it was fairy dust from the JDM Gods.





Chris’s car has already begun to claim internet fame, however if you haven’t already seen it, The power plant in question is a single turbo Toyota 2JZ built by one of our local shops Ball Engine.





Andrew and his Dad took great care preparing this machine to do battle and thankfully so since the last motor they built for Chris was able to last him the entire season without further engine problems.





Chris joins the, now several, turbocharged inline 6’s after changing from a 500HP LS2. But unlike many, he didn’t just stop at dropping in a new engine and calling it a day.





Chris has made huge leaps at making this a beautiful car with as much show as it has go.





In it’s current form, it has plenty of potential to get a good wipe down, and show up at any car meet turning heads all day long.





You know as they say, Stance will make the nerds Dance!





We’re all excited and looking forward to seeing this thing on the track doing exactly what it was meant for. Taking stance to a Whole-Nother-Level! So without further delay!





This little turbo was primarily used so that Chris could break in his freshly built motor nicely. Now that he’s gotten a little seat time in, it’s time to snatch this one off and go big, and as for Chris, hopefully the gloves are off too!






Thanks for looking!


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[Sil'vr-Boi6]

Awesome Picture man, I love the last shot, kinda makes my head spin(head spinning right way)

[Franco Tirador]

sweet shots of the 300sx