Daigo Saito's Italian stallion with a Japanese kick is coming to shores near you
Drift cars are largely wild, brash, and silly machines. But leading international drifter / demigod of the sideways craft, Daigo Saito, took things all the way to 11 when he revealed his drift car Lamborghini Murcielago late last year.
Saito's crazy rear-wheel drive 650hp beast made mainstream airwaves earlier in the year thanks to this crazy video on the streets of Japan, and now the best opportunity Kiwis will likely ever have to witness it fry tyres in the flesh has been announced.
The Lambo will headline this year's International Drift Challenge, held alongside the World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) at Sydney Motorsport Park — or Eastern Creek to us old folks.
“I am a racer so of course I want to compete. And of course I want to win,” said Saito, not one to mince his words.
WTAC's initial goals were to have the Lambo and its flamboyant owner fly down to simply do demonstration miles at what has become an event with an incredible cult following among all sorts of facets of Australasia's motoring community. But, both surprisingly and unsurprisingly, Saito expressed interest in actually competing in competition with the Lambo.
On one hand, it's incredible to think of the caliber of risk involved drifting in close proximity with such a vehicle. But on the other hand, this is Daigo Saito we're talking about ...
Photo / Monster Energy
“We are certain this car will be a hit with our fans. I don’t just mean the drift fans. Anyone with even a remote interest in motorsport will want to take a closer look at this beast,” said WTAC marketing manager Greg Lysien.
“After all, it is not everyday you see a Lamborghini at full noise, sideways, swapping paint with another car!”
While those he'll be competing against in the International Drift Challenge are yet to be confirmed, there's a healthy chance that several Kiwis will be there for him to battle against, with drivers like Shane Allen, Gaz Whiter, and 'Mad Mike' Whiddett all former competitors at the event.
The 2016 WTAC takes place on October 14-15 — one week after the SuperCheap Auto Bathurst 1000, funnily enough ...