Since 2009 Team Japspeed has worked closely with tyre manufacturer Maxxis focusing on competitive drifting. Maxxis were one of the first to produce a tyre specifically designed for this sport, the MA-Z1, and since its launch Team Japspeed have always ran this compound which has enabled the team to take many victories within the British Drift Championship including the constructors in 2011.
With the season now finished, Team Japspeed were invited out to Spain with Maxxis to further test the MA-Z1s drifting ability. This was an absolute honour for the whole team to work so closely with one of our biggest sponsors, and who in their right mind would pass up the opportunity for a day’s drifting in the middle of Spain! With all three team cars loaded up and the trusty Japspeed tool van ready, is was time for a 1000+ mile road trip starting from Manchester and ending up at Cartagena!
If you’ve never heard of the Cartagena Circuit, it’s a PROPERLY fun and challenging 2.1-mile course for both driver and car (thanks to Spain’s 30+ degrees heat!). With undulating gradients and three hairpin s-bends one after the other, Japspeed’s Paul ‘Smokey’ Smith was able to pull 5th gear at over 100mph sideways thanks to the awesome Maxxis MA-Z1 tyres fitted – not many tyres could put up with that level of abuse, let alone see him all the way round like the MA-Z1s did!
Throughout the day, all three drivers Shane Lynch, Steve Biagioni and Paul Smith were on hand performing drift demos for those specially-invited guests of Maxxis including one lucky fan who won the chance to go out in the V8 twin-turbo S15 with Shane. Aside from filling the air with tyre smoke, the Maxxis engineers were on standby to evaluate every set of tyres after each drifting session as well as talking to the Japspeed drivers on just how well the tyres perform. Maxxis are keen to keep evolving this dedicated drift tyre, and with the help of Team Japspeed we cannot wait for any future developments – this is a tyre manufacturer genuinely listening to the needs of us drifters and responding!
After a hard day’s drifting the Japspeed staff could take some well-earned rest before the long drive back to Manchester. Despite the heat and intensive drifting, all three Japspeed cars performed faultlessly – a true testament to the hard work every single Japspeed crew member puts in, and yet another reason why Japspeed and Maxxis are the 2011 constructors champions! Once again we’d like to thank Maxxis Tyres for this unique opportunity and hospitality, and we cannot wait to start developing once again in 2012!
