![]() ![]() However, its unique production as being one of the last rear-wheel drive cars in the Toyota Corolla lineup made it an ideal vehicle for racing enthusiasts. Also branded as a Toyota Corolla Levin, the affordable, light, and reliable car was meant to be an entry-level vehicle that was sold both domestically and overseas. The Toyota AE86 produced between 1983-1987 never set out to be a vehicle that is still sought after today as a modern classic. As Tsuchiya’s popularity increased, so did his car of choice, the Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno. His story would go on to inspire a widely-known manga series with the title “Initial-D” that showcased a young, unassuming character who perfects his driving skill on the mountains as a Tofu delivery boy. Instead of damaging his reputation, it made his fanbase grow even stronger as they could now identify with Tsuchiya as a regular guy who made it to the big leagues. However, his inevitable thirst for pushing his car to its limits got the best of him as he was caught street racing, suspending his racing license. As Tsuchiya’s racing career continued to take him to the global stage, his experience in the 24 Hour events such as LeMans and NASACAR (Suzuka Thunder 100), gained him the necessary experience and pedigree to make his title as a racer unquestionable. It was easy to see that the practice he had done outside of the circuit only complimented his aptitude for professional racing. It was not until 1977, that he got off the streets and onto the track, with his debut in the Fuji Freshman series which showcased rising talent. Most interestingly, Tsuchiya honed his career off the track in illegal street racing through the cities and mountains of Japan. His perfect balance of driving skills and crowd pleasing character continues to place him as one of the best racers of all time, and a keystone to the popularity of motorsport in Japan. When it comes to drifting, Keiichi Tsuchiya is a household name. However, it was a different racer inspired by Takahashi’s racing flair that would be crowned as the “King of Drift.” Although it can be easily criticized as not being the fastest, or most efficient way around a bend, there was no doubt that the display of brute force and tire smoke was an immediate hit with racing fans. As more than just a showman, Takahashi’s precise and aggressive racing technique utilized the practice of occasionally purposefully over-steering to power through corners. As with most modern-day competitive racing, the spin-off from the circuit was born out of a unique style of racing with its roots in Japan.īack in the 1970’s, ex-motorcycle racer Kunimitsu Takahashi began his career on four-wheels bringing his thrill of speed and crowd-pleasing performance to the track. ![]() ![]() Even before the “Fast and Furious” franchise, the underground racing sport categorized as “drifting” was quickly becoming one of the most exciting extreme sports in Japan. ![]()
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