TRUST Event Coverage from D1GP Rd.3 Autopolis

Qualified #1 Position Tanso, Top 8 Tsuiso Finish

2014 Series Ranking: currently 12th

The 2014 Round 3 of the Gran Turismo D1 Grand Prix series was held at Autopolis on July 26-27th.  The long straight of the the circuit played into the hands of Masato Kawabata and the 1000+hp GReddy 35RX Dspec GT-R of the TRUST Racing X Team Toyo Tires Drift Team.  Debuting a new Artfactory Metallic Blue livery for the event, and coming off a Exhibition match win at the Ken Block Nagoya Experience, Kawabata won the top Qualifying position with a 100.41pt score in the dry.

However Sunday's competition day, again brought bad weather, with rain and fog.  Because of this, the event was shorten to start with a Top16 field of cars.  The first round win came again the Team Mori with Goodyear Athlete in the wet.  In the next round against eventual winner Kunny's, a power-steering issues a raised to stop the day short.  All in all it was a very positive round, which showed the potential of Masato Kawabata in the fairly new R35 Drift car.  Next round is dangerous but exciting Ebisu Circuit in August 23-24. 

Tanso Video from Rd.3
Tsuiso Video from Rd.3 

VR engine specific Racing Spark Plugs

Now aviable to Authorized GReddy Dealers customers, are the highly searched for JDM spec. R2558A-9 NGK Racing Competition Spark Plugs!

NGK Part # 22401-RS080-09
GReddy Part # 23000009
MSRP $49.95ea. 

One of the best spark plugs you can find for a highly modified R35 GT-R.  Proven to perform on many GReddy 35RX builds. The NGK Racing Spark Plugs in a colder, Heat Range 9 is an ideal design for powerful VR builds.  A redesigned angled ground strap has provided improved anti-smoldering or fouling characteristics.

These VR Specific NGK Racing Spark Plugs feature a 0.55 Electrode Diameter, an electrode constructed with a Iridium center & Platinum exterior, and a built-in resistor.

The "Long-reach" plug type measures 12mm diameter X 26.5mm long for the threaded section and it uses a 14mm socket size.

For a full line of GReddy Total Tune-up products for the R35 GT-R click here!

 

The GReddy 35RX Dspec GT-R wins in Nagoya

Ken Block's Nagoya Experience D1GP Stars Winner!
   Masato Kawabata - Team Toyo Drift x TRUST Racing 35RX Dspec GT-R


On July 5th, Ken Block returned to Japan for a huge demo featuring 12 of the top D1 Grand Prix drifters.  Or very own Masato Kawabata in the Team Toyo Tires Drift x TRUST Racing 35RX Dspec GT-R, not only qualified no.1, but came out victorious in an unusually tight and strangely decorated Gymkhana-like course to over 9,000 Japanese fans.

Being the winner of the D1 Tandem battle, Kawabata won a chance to challenge the purpose built AWD Ford of Ken Block.  We have to say, for a large, high-speed pro-drift car like the 35RX GT-R, was surprisingly competitive at the hands of Kawabata!

Check out the side by comparison...

TRUST Event Coverage from D1GP Rd.2 Suzuka

Round 2 of the 2014 Gran Turismo D1 Grand Prix series was held at Suzuka Circuit.  The Suzuka course layout is the fastest of the series, with a very long straight-away going into the famous Turn 1.  The key to this round is speed and a having a good line to take advantage of the speed.  Teams that can achieve this, will gain high scores.  The obvious weight handy-cap we faced in round one, was far less important on this high speed track, since we could use the raw horsepower of the GReddy-powered VR engine.

 
In Saturday's first pre-qualifying session, Kawabata was able to take advantage of the 35RX's power with an exciting, high speed run scoring 101.40pts (the highest score ever recorded in D1GP,) placing him in 1st.  Kawabata was faster then all the top teams and was clocked at speeds in excess of 227km/h (140+mph.)  The team was feeling confident and aimed to better the speed and score in the Qualifying finals (Tanso,) unfortunately it was just over the limit and a slight mistake, placed the Team in the 22nd position for the tandem battles. 

In Sunday's Tsuiso round, Kawabata faced Tokita of Goodyear Racing.  Kawabata manged to keep an impressive proximity to Tokita and received a decisive victory to move on to the next round.  Unfortunately car troubles, which could not be repaired in time, forced the team to retire and miss the next battle.

Round 3 - Autopolis is scheduled for July 26-27th


22 in the final run 1st ■ The single qualifying run ■ single [ dry : sunny road surface ( Sat ) Weather May 24 ]

[ May 25 (Sun) Weather: Fine Surface: dry ] ■ ■ Tsuisou qualifying victory Tsuisou final ( last 16 ) retired

TRUST Event Coverage from D1GP Rd.1 Fuji

The start of the 2014 D1 Grand Prix series starts at Fuji Speedway. We have returned to the D1GP with the GReddy 35RX Dspec GT-R we revealed with Toyo Tires at the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon, back in January.   The official team name is " Team TOYO TIRES DRIFT TRUST RACING "


Last year D1GP Champion, Masato Kawabata had solid runs through out practice.  In Tanso (single car) Qualifying a slight miscalculation in speed cause a slight straightening.  The result a 20th place in qualifying.

Heavy rain fell on the second day of competition for the Tsuiso (twin drift) rounds.  Kawabata in the new car, and Saito, in his IS struggled in the heavy rain with the win going to Saito in the first round, before the rest of the competition was cancelled because of the rail.

The team faced a lot of challenges and learned a lot from this first event at FUJI DRIFT.  Round 2 is Suzuka.  Thank you for your continued support!


[ March 29 ( Sat ) Weather: Fine Surface: dry ] 
    ■ 20 of the final run single Tanso
[ March 30 (Sunday) Weather: rain road surface : wet ] 
    ■ 1 round knockout defeat Tsuiso, Tsuiso qualifying canceled due to bad weather
[ 2014 ] Series # 22 ( 1.5 points)