Kyle Mohan has been in the Formula Drift circuit for 2 years now. Stepping up his game since he first came out 2 seasons ago, and still maintaining himself as a privateer. As he enters his 3rd season as a Professional Formula Drift driver. Kyle is changing platforms and moving into a Mazda RX-8 from his previous years of being in FC. We caught up with Kyle as we head into the beginning of the season, and ask him about the new platform, his outlook on the upcoming season and the budget crisis.
EverythingDrift: Congrats on a great 2008 season. You really started the season off strong with your best finish in Long Beach. What did you do in the off-season last year to be so competitive from the start?
Kyle Mohan:We worked really hard on developing the car. Part of it was getting used to some of the tracks. This will be our 3rd season of competition. It’s definitely an advantage to have knowledge of the tracks. The year before las was our first year in Long Beach so we had a lot more setup information. Came back last year with idea on how to setup the car, how to drive the track. I think were only going to improve upon that. So basically the off-season is preparing the car as best we can, look over all the notes from the season. Then go out and try to kick some ass. It’s a mental game, Go out swinging!
ED: When running tandem, did you ever feel you were “favored” to win? Or do you always feel like you are an “underdog”? How does that affect how you drive?
KM: I definitely feel like I am an underdog, you know. I think we have been working our way up. We’re getting a lot of fan support, crowd support. Being an underdog makes me feel like I need to be very aggressive with my driving. I’m always pushing; push the limits of the car and my driving. To get the impact and to get the judges to be excited and the crowd to be excited, as a privateer I think it takes almost a little more effort. But, you know, that’s what we’re there to do, to keep everyone excited. It’s an exciting sport.
ED: Many readers know you are building a brand new rx8 for ’09. What knowledge will you be able to carry over from your FC into the RX8?
KM: It gave us a good platform to start with on the drive train, reliability and what kind of horse power numbers we needed to have. Torque numbers and reliability from components we needed to have. So were taking that drive line combination and putting the basic parameters and idea that we had developed in the FC into the RX-8. So were starting off with basically a package that we know is reliable. That is the main advantage, we have worked with this motor; we know we needed to upgrade the transmission so we got a Jericho. We’re beefing up the drive shaft and the axles, and those are all the parts that we had problems we had last year. So this year I don’t think we will have any reliability issues – at least out of the drive line.
ED: Nearly every driver who finished in the top 10 last year will be in a new car for 09. Do you feel you are at an advantage because they will be shaking down bugs? Or disadvantage because you are in a new car too?
KM:Well, I think a new car can definitely be a disadvantage. But in our case we are using a lot of the information that we gained from running the FC. I also work around rotaries and Mazda’s for a living at Mazdatrix. So we already have a pretty good knowledge of the RX8 and the RX8 chassis. I have driven them before, so I feel like I have a good idea of what to expect out of this package. For me I think its going to be a step up in the car and the motor and in the potential of what I can do with the car. I think for me its going to be an advantage, but you’re always going to have teething of a new car.
ED: You ran on a very small privateer budget the last 2 years, while the top drivers are getting huge corporate backing. Do you feel that a privateer can still be competitive in FD?
KM: Yeah, but it is very tough. I mean, just getting sponsors is difficult with the economy the way it is. I think that’s definitely affecting privateers as well as the bigger teams. I’m just thankful that we’ve got some good support this upcoming season while were going to be out there. I know there are a lot of other teams out there struggling. The economy is playing a part, and being a privateer it just means you don’t have the support of that one big sponsor. In my case, I own the car, I work on the car, my friends and family help me. It would be nice if we had a budget to work with. We do it because we love racing and we love drifting.
ED: What tricks does Kyle Mohan have for 09? Should other drivers view you as a top-10 threat?
KM: Absolutely, we got our new car; we got more horsepower and a whole bunch of secrets I can’t tell you about. You will all have to wait until long beach.
ED: Finally – pick the podium – who do you think will be on the podium in long beach?
KM:Me (Laughs)! I would say it’s going to be an all Mazda podium. Me, then the Bergenholtz car and then JT Whareau, that’s what its going to be. Three Mazda’s. No, but really, I’m going to be on the podium, that’s my plan. 2nd place, I got to do better then last year. My dad told Tanner “We’re coming after you”. I was like, ‘Thanks, dad.’
Kyle is the most genuine person I’ve ever met. He’s always been respectful to his sponsors, supporters, and fans. I only wish him the best and I’ll be cheering for him in 2009 (I’ve been cheering for him at every event… even though I’ve never competed directly against him).
Good luck Kyle! See you soon!
hell yea!!!!!!!!!!!! about damn time that kyle gets the recognition that he deserves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I second Yukios comment, Kyle is a great driver and all around great person. Great luck in ’09!
Kyle is a great, down-to-earth guy. I know we are all pulling for him (when he isn’t up against us, of course)and wish him the best of luck this year and beyond!
That last Dead Pirate Promo is what I watch when needing to kick ass like Kyle. You go boy! Stay hungry, you animal!
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Kyle’s dad is SUPER COOL !! he was sooo nice to me & now I will forever be a supporter!!
Hey! do you guys know if kyle mohan has a son?
o.o