check it out. - Drift Safari Formula D R32

With the release of the redesigned site and homepage, we are also releasing a new feature, the "check it out." series. We will be covering our team members' cars, showing pictures and sharing a bit of the details, to allow you to see some of the intimate details of each car. We think you will enjoy this new feature.

Sometimes cool comes with 4 doors. Well in the case of drift cars, it has become a sub culture, coming from the VIP scene, where 4 door rear wheel drive japanese cars are just plain cool. With a different body line and stance then a 2 door, even of the same model, the car has a different, even enhanced look. In this case we are talking about Ian Fournier's Nissan Skyline R32 - 4 Door, a car that has been built and changed into the beast it is today.

From the aggressive width and low stance, this car is one of the coolest, competing in the Formula Drift Pro series this year.

When you think of pro competition cars in the drifting world, there are a few that stand out, Ian's Skyline is definitely one of them. This 4 door can even act like a 4 door, using the back seat access to load some spare wheels into the back for the long tow ride from Vancouver, BC area, to where ever the drifting world takes it. Access to the back area was one of the features that Ian really wanted to keep. 

The Skyline is one of those cars that anyone that is not in the know assumes has 1000hp with the flick of a switch. Well maybe not 1000hp, but 490hp at the rear wheels is getting close. The power is made with a few select ingredients, the recipe includes a few cups of R33 RB25 engine, a dash of Holset, HX35 turbo...

and a sprinkling of Vipec ECU for extra tuning goodness. Cooking with some spark and fuel provided in the form of Splitfire coilpacks, and 550cc injectors.  The mixture is then put to the drive shaft with an Tomei flywheel, ACT clutch and Z33 300ZX transmission. All the way back is the Cusco limited slip differential.

As for the driver compartment, it is pretty simple, Momo steering wheel, a few gauges, a bubble shift knob and a JDM CD player. Both driver and passenger are fixed in the car by OMP TRS seats and 6 point OMP harnesses.

This car may be pretty, but that does not stop Ian from tagging walls at almost every event, just showing that he can throw this car, a family car for some people, around like it is made of feathers.

These over fenders, which are actually designed for a 2door.  have been modified and pushed out really wide, to tuck his 18x10-9 Work wheels with Toyo 245/40-18 R1R tires. This is the most grip that has ever been on this car, and makes the car super controllable, and very predictable.

The thing that makes a car cool is the bond between Car and Driver. Ian Fournier does all his own work on the car, from installing parts, to welding his custom exhaust. This ensures the only person in charge of the car, is the person that will be relying on it on the track, with a wall or another driver just inches away.

Ian is not just a driver, he is a car builder, mechanic, tester, and friend to his car, and you can tell on how the car is today, Beautiful.

All photos by Zack Geng. Thanks.