The Drift Meeting Special Round 2019, the culmination of the 2019 RC drift scene, was held at Yatabe Arena. The event annually attracts many participants from overseas, and this year, 23 drivers from eight countries traveled to Japan to compete and enjoy the camaraderie. With 370 total attendees over the three-day event, it was a massive affair.
The judging panel featured a star-studded lineup: "Oni Gunso" (Demon Sergeant) Hisashi Kamimoto, a familiar face from the full-scale D1 Grand Prix; Takahiro Ueno, who is the most knowledgeable about RC drifting among all real-car drivers; and Kuniaki Takahashi, a top-tier judge who also hosts his own full-scale events. The intensity was already high during the pre-event judging criteria meeting, where every detail was fine-tuned, from the racing line to speed and angle.
Manabu Suzuki, a familiar face who has become synonymous with the Drift Meeting, took the mic as the MC. He delivered a masterful performance, keeping the energy high as he presided over the microphone from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony throughout the three-day event.
The Yokomo Ladies added glamour to the venue, with Aya Yuhino attending on Day 2, Seika Serizawa on Day 3, and Erika Chiba present for both days.
This year saw an increase in the number of exhibiting manufacturers, resulting in a lively pit area. There were displays and sales of new products, and it was refreshing to see the crossover atmosphere as company representatives also participated in the competition as drivers.
TOPLINE highlighted their 7075 hard-coated pinion gears, which are also legal for use in the Drift Meeting! They were also offering them for trial use.
Just released, the new Futaba 7PXR model features a lighter design and was highly recommended for drift users. Drivers from overseas were quick to get their hands on one.
RC ART, known for releasing a variety of drift-related parts including conversions for the YD-2, was also in attendance. Representative Mr. Sugiura participated as a driver, enjoying the event alongside the users.
Radio manufacturer Sanwa showcased their well-rounded lineup of drift-related items. They exhibited their latest gyros and speed controllers for drifting and provided comprehensive support.
The judging section featured a layout inspired by the Ebisu South Course. Drivers were instructed to gain traction and accelerate from the left side of the course, pass in front of the driver's stand, and then dive into the area in front of the judging stands on the right outer perimeter with minimal loss of speed, all while attacking the outer boundary of the track. The YDS (Yokomo Drift Scoring System) was, of course, used to assist in the judging. The scoring was distributed as follows: 10 points for the initial "dive" speed, 30 points each for the areas in front of the driver's stand and the judging stands, and 10 points for each of the three judges.
While in previous years there was a special qualification bracket for overseas drivers in the World Class finals, this year it was an international competition with no handicaps. However, with the growing enthusiasm for the sport in Asia and Europe leading to more events, four overseas drivers advanced to the Best 16 of the World Class finals, demonstrating that driving skills have become borderless. Notably, Indonesian driver Ko Jack reached the Final 4, going toe-to-toe with the top drivers with his high-level performance.
The World Class tournament final was contested by Hoshi Hikaru, one of the most promising young drivers, and Masaki Atsuta, a veteran who also competes in the All-Japan Championships. It was an incredible display of skill with extremely close-quarters driving right from the initial dive in front of the driver's stand, leading to a tense sudden-death match that had the gallery holding its breath. Ultimately, the match was decided by a narrow point difference in the second re-match; while Hoshi-san showed overwhelming acceleration, Atsuta-san's machine had a slight deviation in his line as he dove in with a shallow inner-cut, crowning Hoshi-san the 2019 champion.
The event schedule for 2020 will be announced soon. We are planning for the event to be held in essentially the same manner as in 2019, but details will be announced on our website at a later date.