Katha Pollitt

Manabu Orido’s choice to drive the RS-R Toyota Supra JZA80 in the D1 Grand Prix is more personal than strategic because the Toyota Supra is not an ideal car for drifting. The Toyota Supra has a very heavy front end that makes getting traction to the rear wheels difficult because the weight distribution is so uneven. Typically, drivers look for drift cars like the Nissan Silvia and Mazda RX-7 that have almost equal front and rear weight distribution simply because they are easier to handle when drifting. This is why you don’t see many Supras in D1GP or other drifting events. Nevertheless, Orido chose the Toyota Supra because he drives a Supra in the JGTC series and he drives one on a daily basis as his personal car. Plus, Orido says, “If I had chosen the S15 or FD3S as my drift car, it would be easy for everyone to compare me to the other contenders. The individuality of the Supra enables me to be myself.”

Soon after Orido joined the D1 Grand Prix as a driver, an unfortunate transportation accident, caused by a sleeping truck driver, destroyed Orido’s prized RS-R Supra and forced him out of the tournament. Currently, Manabu “Max” Orido is pursuing his Japanese GT Championship career. As a big fan of Orido’s style, Supra, and drifting, I hope he will return to the sport of drifting.

Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift
Toyota Supra Drift