We are delighted to announce that Danny Eyles is back with Team Japspeed and will be piloting our 1JZ Subaru throughout the 2014 season!

Danny originally joined Team Japspeed back in 2007 and competed in Eurodrift, the European Drift Championship, JDM Allstars, Prodrift and the early days of the British Drift Championship in his time behind the wheel of the Japspeed R33 Skyline and the RB powered S15 Silvia that followed it.

Danny still holds the record for the most consecutive podium finishes in UK drifting with a grand total of 14 back-to-back top three finishes between 2009 and 2010. He was well recognised as one of the most naturally talented drifters on the scene and made perfect qualifying runs and aggressive battling techniques look effortless.

Having hung up his racing boots back in 2011 and traded four wheels for two Danny immersed himself in motorcycle racing, fulfilling his need for speed. For 2014 however Danny will be making a welcome return behind the wheel of a drift car and is more eager than ever to get himself back on the podium.

Danny joined Team Japspeed drivers Shane Lynch, Paul Smith and Shane O’Sullivan at the team’s recent test session at Anglesey circuit to get himself accustomed to the Japspeed 1JZ Subaru. Things have moved on a lot in the drift scene since 2011 and Danny’s initial impression of the car was of pleasant surprise due to the savagery of the power delivery from the freshly rebuilt and mapped 1JZ engine.

The new front suspension setup was also working wonders having been reworked by Walton Smith at Nispro since the car’s last outing. The Scooby looked a lot more balanced than before and also had no issues dealing with both the high speed, 5th gear corners along with the tight and technical hairpins. Danny’s comment of “I can’t spin it!” might come back to haunt him at a later date though!

The Scooby was also sounding particularly wild – check out this on-board footage of Danny in action:

With Round 1 of the Maxxis British Drift Championship taking place this weekend at Lydden Hill circuit we’re all excited to see how Danny performs on his return to competitive drifting for the first time in three years – we can’t wait! Check out the video below to see how Danny got on at Anglesey along with an interview with the man himself:

Team Japspeed: Danny Eyles is Back! from Team Japspeed on Vimeo.