The first ever target-style drifting event in the country, MSF Drift Gonzo took place on 2 Dec 2017 as part of the MSF Series 2017 Finale event. Held at the Sepang Circuit Paddock carpark, a total of 26 entries made it to the event and thus being part of Malaysian motorsports history.
The course this time featured a fast 120km/h entry into a left turn, for which to score maximum points the drifters were expected to initiate the slide 60 metres earlier. The course then tightened into a right, with a front clipping point, then a flick left for another front clipping point, and then into a Figure-8 series with a rear clipping point exercise and two more front clipping point targets. This exited into a “Walkway”, a narrow 15 metre pathway section which the drivers had to hold the car in a slide which going straight, before taking a left for another rear clipping point. Then finally into the Donut Box ala Ken Block style, and past the timing beams at the exit.
In a nutshell, here’s how MSF Drift Gonzo is scored:
– every drifter has 2 runs for which to score points
– each run starts with 10,000 points
– the Wall Ride has marking cones every 10m for a total of 5 cones. Each cone that they drift past at speed doubles up in score, starting from 500 points for the first cone, then 1000 points for the second, and 2000 points if they pass the next, all the way for a maximum of 8,000 points for all 5 cones
– front clipping points have 2 targets to hit, one at 1.5m and another at 1m. If they hit 1 it’s 2000 points, if they hit both it’s 4000 points
– rear clipping points have only 1 target to touch with the rear portion of the vehicle, and this is worth 4000 points
– the Walkway is worth 10,000 points
– the Donut Box is worth 10,000 points
– each cones dropped is deducted 1,000 points
– each time a driver kills the drift or straightens out of drift, further points are deducted
– the baseline time for the course was 50-seconds. Every second below that scores an additional bonus of 1,000 points per second.
Morning was the practice session, and for many of the drifters it was the first time that they had encountered such a technical course. The skill of driving the car forwards but still drifting throughout the course that ebbs and flows, tightens and opens and twists left and right, left and right was alien to some. However, given that many of the drivers in attendance that day were some of best drifters in the country, it did not take them long to develop a feel and acclimatise. By lunchtime, they were coming into the first turn at full throttle with a short clutch-kick, carrying phenomenal speed through that left sweeper.
Once the competition proper got underway, all the drivers better understood what was required of them and their machine, and had risen to the challenge of Drift Gonzo. The top guys put in some amazing runs that afternoon, their finesse and delicate car control on display for the 2,000-strong crowd that had turned up to witness the drifters doing their dance. No one drift run was the same between any one driver, such was the difference in skill, setup, and driving style.
Street category was won by Muhd Zaiham aka Bullzai, an international level drifter and whom represented Malaysia at the first ever FIA Intercontinental Drift Challenge 2 months ago, at the wheel of a Nissan Cefiro V8. Bullzai made great use of the big engine’s torque to stomp through the course in 43 seconds and a perfect run, also making the Top Score of the Day with 64,000 points. Second was Johari Mat Salleh, in his beautiful diamond red and high-revving, orgasmic-sounding Nissan Cefiro RB26 Turbo. Johari put in clean, fast runs but was unable to completely tie it all together in the way Bullzai did. Rounding off the podium was Lim Zee King, one of the Fathers of Malaysian drifting: Zee represented Malaysia back in the 2005 D1GP World Finals together with Tengku Djan. “I’m just here to have a good time, as this event sounded different and really interesting,” said Zee earlier in the day. Zee showed off his trademark smooth drifting style, making an almost perfect run, only let down by his time of 46 seconds as his Toyota Chaser is a True Street machine.
The Super 1600 category was won by Fattah in his Toyota Corolla TE71. Do not take this lightly, as the Super 1600 category cars will always face a power and torque deficit compared to the turbocharged or large capacity machines, and requires a very distinct and committed driving style to MSF Drift Gonzo Preview round course. Fattah was extremely flamboyant in his little machine, flinging it from clipping point to clipping point at full throttle, keeping the revs up and keeping the power flowing. Very entertaining!
The Pro-Comp category saw the hardcore, full competition drift beasts spectacularly smoke up the Sepang paddock with lurid, high-speed entries and max throttle slides. Champion of the first ever MSF Drift Gonzo Pro-Comp category was Ivan Choo with his turbocharged Nissan 350Z. Ivan’s first turn entry had to be seen to be believed, as he threw the car completely sideways on the locks at over 120 km/h. You could tell from the way that that Nissan moved that Ivan was giving it his maximum, scrabbling for grip and gunning it from point to point; it was an amazing display of raw speed and attack-style drifting, and when Ivan cut the timing beam in 41 seconds the spectators lost it. Such an incredible run, no mistakes, and so fast! Second in Pro-Comp was Lawrence Lee, who piloted his Nissan Silvia S15 as if it was a cruise missile, Lawrence was quick, attacking all the way, and flamboyant in style. Lee Mun Hong scored well to take 3rd place, visually a very fast and smooth drifter in his Nissan Silvia S14, making it look effortless. Mun Hong also takes the unofficial award for Best Buddy of The Day, loaning his car to Wilson Chang to play when Wilson’s own 180SX hit technical problems halfway around noon.
With the success of the Preview Round of MSF Drift Gonzo, it is confirmed that it will run 3 – 4 rounds next year as a Championship, together with the double-day weekends of Malaysia Speed Festival. The dates are 11 February, 7 April, 1 September, and 1 December 2018. Certainly not to be missed!
