Photos by Jeremy Alan Glover
Interview by Jason Tam
At the recent Drift Mania final round, we got a chance to sit down with Fred Girrard, pilot of the Hankook Rockstar Skyline R32. Despite language barriers, we were able to sit down with the would-be 2007 series champion before qualifying and get to know him a little better. This is the first of several interviews you will see here on EverythingDrift.com with the top drivers of Drift Mania. Enjoy!
ED: How did you get into drifting?
FG: I got into drifting with a small group of friends. I used to e-brake my corolla during winter just to get sideways. I also watched videos on the internet as well as videos from Japan about drifting.
ED: What is their favorite track to drive?
FG: My favorite track has to be Montmagny, its an oval track with a 12 degree bend. Its a good set up for a lot of smoke.
FG: My favorite track has to be Montmagny, its an oval track with a 12 degree bend. Its a good set up for a lot of smoke.
ED: Who is their favorite / least favorite person to drive against?
FG: My favorite person to compete against has to be Tyler Hall. He is a personal friend of mine and its exciting for me to race against him just to see whos the better drifter.
FG: My favorite person to compete against has to be Tyler Hall. He is a personal friend of mine and its exciting for me to race against him just to see whos the better drifter.
ED: Why did you pick the Skyline R32 for your competition car?
FG: I chose the R32 because i think its the best style car to drift and to drive on a regular basis. I compete with the car and drive it daily to work.
FG: I chose the R32 because i think its the best style car to drift and to drive on a regular basis. I compete with the car and drive it daily to work.
ED: If you could build the perfect drift car, what car would you use? FG: I have thew best drift car in my opinion, the R32
ED: If you could have any 1 company sponsor them, who would it be and why?
FG: I have the best sponsors right now, they support me in all my events and i can’t be any more happier with them.
FG: I have the best sponsors right now, they support me in all my events and i can’t be any more happier with them.
ED: What are they most looking forward to this season?
FG: I’m looking forward to being #1 they don’t call me “Steady” Freddy for nothing you know!!!!
FG: I’m looking forward to being #1 they don’t call me “Steady” Freddy for nothing you know!!!!
ED: What changes did you make between last season and this season?
FG: The changes i made would be my entrance speed to the first corner. I feel with the right amout of speed you can get sideways a little more and creat more smoke to please the crowd.
ED: What are your goals with drifting?
FG: I want to compete in the U.S.A I feel that they are way ahead of the Canadian scene, with a lot of competitive drivers to race against. I want to show them what Canadian drifters can do.
FG: I want to compete in the U.S.A I feel that they are way ahead of the Canadian scene, with a lot of competitive drivers to race against. I want to show them what Canadian drifters can do.
ED: Any shout outs you would like to mention?
FG: I like to shout out to my girlfriend Mary, Pascal, my sponsors and last but not least to my mechanics for their endless efforts to fix my car and help it running properly.
FG: I like to shout out to my girlfriend Mary, Pascal, my sponsors and last but not least to my mechanics for their endless efforts to fix my car and help it running properly.
