The team behind the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship are no strangers to getting their hands dirty building cars; think back to the D1 FC RX-7 and more recently the four-seater 1JZ-powered Hilux. All previous builds were focused around taking passengers for hotlaps, but this time around things have stepped up a notch for the D1 team — they are building a Toyota 86 capable of going door-to-door with the best in the series, and inviting some of the world’s best to come down and pedal it.
We stopped into DKM Fabrication to run over the build known as the D1NZ Toyotaz Galore GT86. The team have been burning the midnight oil to transform the once-crashed shell from Toyotaz Galore into a competition ready machine.
When we visited, the 86 was progressing nicely, with nearly all the fabrication complete, and it was clear to see this build was serious. “When we built the FC and ute, it was all about the consumer having a great experience, where as this has been all about the driver. We have had to build it to be competitive with the top cars in the series, something that is not easy to achieve,” explained Brendon White from D1NZ.
The TIGed and clear-coated roll cage features extended door bars, which will have the job of keeping some of the world’s best-known drifters safe. First international to get a drive spot will be American Ryan Tuerck.
NZKW have come on board to supply plenty of components for the build, including their FIA-spec seats. The hydraulic handbrake is from Pro Sport driver Blair Gribbel, and will clamp down a set of separate Nissan two-pot calipers.
When going up against the best, you’re going to need some serious fire power. Toyotaz Galore have also supplied a 2JZ-GTE and R154 five-speed. The plan is for the donk to make power in the mid-400kW range. Brendon continues; “Everyone we spoke to said we should get what we need from a stock internal 2JZ-GTE, and that they are pretty bulletproof.”
The turbo is a Holest HRC40RS from MSE Turbos sitting on a DKM manifold. Boost control is taken care of by Turbosmart and the ECU is the latest from Link ECU.
As mentioned earlier, the engine will remain stock internally, although this may change if it’s found that the car needs more power. When you’re inviting some of the world’s best to compete here, the last thing you want is for them to be left for dead in the drag race off the start. If they do decide to forge the block, everything external is ready for it, including a comprehensive fuel system.
The DKM boys have been putting in some hard graft to get everything sorted in such a small time frame, with the goal of having the car running at round one at Manfeild Raceway on November 27–28. Here you can see some of the new front crash structure, which is replacing the crash damage.
With the fabrication side of the build finished in the days after our visit, it’s now off getting wired, before a tune at DDT.
The suspension is a mix of Hakon coilovers and adjustable arms, and Wisefab front and rear hubs and angle kit. The wheels are from The Bling Company, and will be wrapped in Zestino semi-slicks. A full Rocket Bunny–replica kit has also found its way onto the chassis. In the coming weeks the car will be wrapped in front of a live crowd.
Having Ryan Tuerck as the first international to drive the All Stars 86, a man who is no stranger to the chassis, should mean that he can fine-tune it to get up to speed, fast. This will pay dividends for other yet-to-be-announced drivers to come down and bang doors with our best. Bring it on!
