[Video] Keiichi Tsuchiya in an AE86 is driving witchcraft | GRR
I often get asked why I’m such a fan of JDM culture. It’s a struggle to comprehend how it isn’t the default for any petrolhead. The usual discussion is around excess camber, slammed ride heights and the like – not my bag at all. When I think of what best represents what I love about JDM culture, it is this video.
This video represents the complete opposite of a negatively-cambered stance. In possibly my favourite video on the internet (even including ones IT have blocked), we ride onboard with legendary ‘Drift King’ – Keiichi Tsuchiya. Instead of slamming the car and modifying for show, we have a car setup to be as fast as it possibly can around the twisty circuit of Tsukuba. Racing against a group of his fellow Japanese racing drivers in equally exciting machines, Keiichi uses every single RPM available to dice through the traffic. Instant throttle response, intuitive steering and a pedal cam on some world class heel and toe technique all come together to provide motoring heaven.
The biggest grievance I have in my life isn’t that I’ll never be able to afford a house deposit. It’s that I’ll never be able to pop on a pair of Asics racing boots and drive my Toyota AE86 '98-spec TRD N2 Levin like a scalded cat.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: The ugliest racing car ever sounded amazing