Suspension & Control

In drifting, having a predictable car is key. After all, the driver is constantly pitching the vehicle from side to side while the spinning rear tires are solely dependent on a dynamic coefficient of friction. To maximize predictability, Kazama selected a set of lightweight, performance springs from Swift Springs to team with the DG5 custom-valved dampers. The suspension was aligned to increase response.

When it’s time to pay homage to the gods of drifting, a set of Bridgestone RE-01R Potenza tires becomes the sacrificial lamb. Up front, the tires are 245/40R17s while the rear utilizes 265/35/18s. A staggered set of lightweight, forged Prodrive wheels carry the Potenzas: 17×9 in the front, 18×9.5 in the back. The NISMO LSD ensures that both rear tires receive equal abuse.

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Seven, Going for Eight

In 2001, the D1GP series kicked off with five events. With a limited budget, Kazama was able to attend two of the events. For 2002, Kazama would only have the resources to compete in a single event. By 2003, Kazama was able to compete in three events. For Kazama, his breakout year would come in 2004 as he competed in six of the seven D1GP events, capturing two event victories and a fourth place championship finish. In 2005, Kazama realized his dream by not only capturing three event wins, but also winning the series championship. Halfway through the 2006 season, Kazama has two D1GP event victories and two third-place finishes. Currently, Kumakubo leads Kazama by three points while Ken Nomura is just seven points behind the leader. With four events remaining in the season, Kazama is hopeful that he’ll capture a couple of event victories as he vies to become the first repeat champion in D1GP history. On December 16th and 17th, you can be sure that DSPORT magazine will be at Irwindale Speedway to see who wears the 2006 D1GP Championship crown.