FULL LOCK TO THE TOP

Written by NZ Performance Car Magazine, Images McIndoe Media.

NZ Performance Car Magazine caught up with Pro Series newcomer Dan Edwards to get the lowdown on his 2JZ-powered 180SX, and how he landed on the podium in his very first round at Gizzy.

“Hey Dan, congrats on stepping up to Pro Series this year. What car are you running, and what’s your setup?

Cheers, I really appreciate it. I’m running a 2JZ-powered Nissan Silvia 180SX, which is a purpose-built drift car. The main goal with our setup is keeping the car reliable and predictable, so we can drive it hard every lap without worrying about it.

The suspension and steering setup is a big focus for us, because drifting is all about how the car behaves when it is sideways at speed. We run Wisefab V2 front and rear steering components, paired with BC Racing suspension — this keeps the car stable but still able to transition quickly between corners. The aim is to have a car that feels planted and predictable, so you can fully commit when you’re out there battling.

It’s a shorter season for you this year, what’s the reason for that?

It’s a big jump up to Pro level, and I wanted to make that change properly. Get some experience on semi-slick tyres, learn from the competition, get some seat time, and then take all that into next season and fully commit. It’s been great to have time to work on raising my profile too, and head into events without the pressure of points — just to go in, shake things up, and make an impact.

Well, it seems to be working for you. First the Hard Charger Award at Mad Mike’s and then podium at your first Round in Gisborne. How are you feeling about that success?

Honestly, I am feeling incredibly humbled. The Hard Charger Award is cool, as it’s not really about points — it’s about who is out there pushing hard and putting on a good show for the crowd. You have to stay committed even when things get a bit sketchy and not leave anything on the table.

And as for Gisborne, well, I’m still coming to grips with that! Coming out first in qualifying, without as much seat time as the other drivers, I knew I had to give it everything. Thankfully, that was a magic run and got me automatically through to the Top Sixteen. From there, I battled hard against each driver — many of them people I have followed and looked up to for years. It was a dream come true to get through to the final, only to drop the clutch on that first corner going in! I’m super thrilled to take out second place, as my goal was to make Top Eight. I never thought I’d be standing there alongside my heroes in my first round of Pro.

H Blackbee Park in Gisborne is a brand-new track, and the first time ever a drifting event has been held there. How did you find it?

The track was amazing — very technical, which I love. Baypark has always been my favourite for that reason too, but I think Gizzy is top for me now. And the crowd there was fantastic — so much energy and good vibes everywhere — and that really encouraged me to put on a good show.

Suspension is obviously key for keeping the car under control at high angles. What’s your current setup, and why do the right components make such a difference on track?

Yeah, suspension is massive in drifting. When the car’s sideways at speed, there’s a lot going on with weight transfer and grip, so the suspension has a huge job controlling all that.

The goal with the setup is having good rear grip, but still allowing the car to rotate and transition quickly. When everything’s working properly, the car just feels balanced and easy to drive at big angles. If the car reacts the same way every time you throw it into a corner, it gives you the confidence to push harder and get closer to the other driver in battles.

How important has the support from ShockPro Workshops been for you, and what role do they play in keeping your car performing at its best?

ShockPro have been awesome supporters. Their workshops specialise in steering, suspension, and wheel alignments, which play a huge role in drifting.

Wheel alignments are something every normal road car needs to keep driving properly, and it’s the same for a drift car — just pushed to the extreme. When a road car has good alignment, it feels more stable, gives more support to the tyres, and provides true, precise direction. Because it’s important to know where you’re going, right?

For drifting, the alignment angles make a massive difference to how the car holds steering angle and how stable it feels when it’s sideways. Getting those settings right helps the car stay predictable, so I can drive it harder and stay committed in runs.

ShockPro’s support, along with all my team behind the scenes, keeps me aligned and helps point me in the right direction.

Cheers for the yarn Dan! Solid start to your Pro Series run, we’ll be keeping an eye on what’s next!”

Watch the full video of Dan Edwards’ incredible story at Round 4 in Gisborne here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh2oZPKgTR0