Early this month in Nagoya, Japan Masato Kawabata took the Toyo Tires 35RX GTR to the gymkhana course, in an attempt to beat Ken Block at his own game.
On July 5, viral internet favourite and known hoonigan Ken Block made his triumphant return to Japan with the ‘Ken Block Nagoya Experience’.
A crowd of over 9000 Japanese fans was treated to Block’s standard precision sideways tyre BBQ, a demo from the Monster FMX team and a tandem showdown spectacle between the ‘Ultimate 12’ drivers from the D1 Grand Prix.
Rolling into the arena, Block sent all 600 horsepower of the HFHV (Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle) into a frenzy, laying a haze over the Nagoya Centrair special event space.
The gymkhana course was decorated with the standard drift/gymkhana fare: energy drink clipping points, barriers, a stationary helicopter, enormous motocross jumps, and of course, the usual three large statues of polar bears, around which to perform donuts.
After the demo gymkhana lap, the D1 competitors set out to demonstrate their ability and intimidate Block on unfamiliar ground. The drifters attacked the longer bend in unison, sliding a twelve-car-long train through the course as the various motors bounced off their rev limiters.
As the D1 tandem contests began, 2013 D1GP champion Kawabata demonstrated his incredible skill battle after battle, with every tsuiso seeing the big-bodied R35 drift car take down its twitchier, more typical drift car rivals.
Riding Hibino’s UP Garage Toyota 86 doors in the final battle, Kawabata was untouchable and was crowned winner on the D1 challenge. The Liberty Works-kitted 1000hp+ 35RX GTR proved itself unexpectedly nimble and competitive on the tight gymkhana course.
It was a testament to both the innovation and build quality of the carbon-clad Toyo Tires/Trust machine and the incredible skill of the driver, who has twice taken championship honours in the D1 series and introduced the backwards entry into the drift vernacular.
Having climbed to the top of the D1 exhibition match, Kawabata earned the right to attempt to topple Block from atop his Gymkhana throne.
As rain began to fall over the car park course, Block and Kawabata separately hit the gymkhana course, each setting out out to record the lowest time.
Block laid down a typically tight run. Kawabata hit the course and wowed the crowd by circling obstacles with the same degree of accuracy as Block in the taught HFHV. Looking to match Block’s run, Kawabata lost valuable seconds as he spun-out while attempting the aptly named polar bear section.
After launching again Block bettered his previous time, leaving Kawabata to chase. Every moment of Kawabata’s second run saw white smoke pouring from the rear fenders as he sought to show Block how Japan does Gymkhana. Suffering another spin and battling mechanical difficulties (he did just win a drift competition in a 1000hp car) and soaring engine temperatures, Kawabata was forced to shut the car down in order to prevent the premature detonation of the fettled VR38, handing Block the win.
As Block celebrated with a smoky victory lap, the FMX team threw tricks over the top of the yellow Robinson R44 helicopter in the centre of the course.
Masato Kawabata and Team Toyo Drift are now busy preparing for round three of the D1 Grand Prix, at Autopolis in Oita Prefecture, in pursuit of victory for the 2014 championship.
