I am and always have been a big motorsport fan and even take part in a few competitive events myself, but drifting is something that I’ve never really taken seriously. Until recently I’ve been of the (ill informed and uneducated) opinion that its all about chopped springs, exhausts you can fit your head up, wearing tracksuit pants and going sideways in cloud of tyre smoke and noise whilst bouncing off the rev limiter, in other words, not proper motorsport.  

While i was browsing Speedhunters the other day i came across an article on the 'Madbull' Mazda RX7. The car immediately caught my eye, you have to admit this thing looks pretty awesome with its low, wide stance, snow camo graphics and the two massive K&N air filters sticking purposefully out through the bonnet.

It was the spec of the car that really grabbed my attention. It’s got a 4 rotor Wankel rotary engine, not the standard 3 rotor job in the road going RX7 and it's putting out a hefty 650Bhp. (which sounds amazing, just like the Mazda 787 Le Mans racer) 

The front and rear ends have been cut back to the suspension turrets and space framed to save weight, The doors, bonnet and boot are all Carbon Fibre, it has custom made suspension and steering and the geometry is changed to achieve greater steering angles, it has massive racing brakes, there's a HKS sequential gearbox, trick fuel, ignition and engine management systems and Aeoquip hoses everywhere you look. In short, all proper motorsport stuff.

So what's the net result of all these mods? Well the driver 'Mad' Mike Whiddett can actually get this car so sideways entering a corner that it is actually going backwards! Check out the video to see what i mean: I for one will be looking at the whole sport in a bit of a different light from now on!