For the first time, an Australian may compete in the D1GP Japan.
Despite having some extremely talented drivers; no Australian has ever competed in the Japanese drift championship D1GP Japan. In December 2011 Jake “Driftsquid” Jones took a holiday to Tokyo and ended up being invited to drive a Team Orange Drift School car around Ebisu. Soon after he returned to Australia he was offered a drive in the Team Orange Subaru WRX at Round 1 of the 2012 D1GP Japan event known as Tokyo Drift in Odaiba, Japan. So how the hell did this 22 year old from Adelaide score the drive? We’ll let Jake tell the story.
Wataru Furutani from Yokohama Japan’s Motorsport Dept. and Jake Jones in the secret Yokohama Design Centre.
So there I was, sitting in a meeting at the Design Centre in the headquarters of Yokohama Tyres Japan next to Kumakubo-San, the owner of Team Orange. I had no idea what they were all talking about. Then Kumakubo turns to me and says “You should come to Ebisu tomorrow”. I looked at Ian Baker, the CEO of World Time Attack and Hi Octane Racing, and he said “Yeah why not”. With no hesitation I said “Let’s do it. I would love to come and watch”. Kumakubo looks at me and laughed “Watch?” he said smiling, “You’re going to drive!”. Haha alright now this is insane!! I was in Lala Land for the rest of the afternoon. I wanted tomorrow to arrive sooner. Continue reading