Adam LZ’s E36 Totaled In Dramatic FD Crash

Adam LZ’s Formula DRIFT journey took a dramatic turn in St. Louis when a huge crash totaled his iconic 2JZ E36, prematurely ending his 2024 season.

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Round 5 of the 2024 Formula DRIFT series in St. Louis, Missouri, ended in heartbreak for popular YouTuber and professional drifter Adam LZ when his iconic E36 BMW was totaled during a crucial one-more-time (OMT) battle in the Great 8.

The crash, which occurred during LZ’s chase run against 14-year-old Japanese drifting prodigy Hiroya Minowa, saw LZ’s aggressive entry result in contact with Minowa’s rear wheel, sending the iconic 2JZ-powered E36 flying (quite literally) into the wall.

What Happened In Adam LZ’s E36 Crash?

As LZ chased Minowa into the first turn, he initiated aggressively, aiming to close the gap. However, his front wheel made contact with the rear wheel of Minowa’s GT86, with the seemingly minor touch having catastrophic consequences.

LZ’s E36 suddenly climbed Minowa’s rear tire, launching the car onto the track’s concrete safety barrier.

With sparks flying, the E36 slid along the barrier before spinning and crashing back onto the track.

Unsurprisingly, the violent impact caused significant damage to the underside of the chassis and compromised the structural integrity, one of the worst things that can happen to a drift car.

Sadly, this, alongside further structural damage, would result in the chassis being totaled, concluding LZ’s 2024 Formula DRIFT season.

The crash came after a day filled with technical challenges, including power steering issues and alignment problems, which LZ and his team had battled throughout practice and earlier rounds.

It marks the end of a promising season for LZ and his team after occupying 7th in the overall series rankings at the time of the incident.

The Immediate Aftermath

Despite the severity of the crash, LZ emerged from the wreckage largely unscathed. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd, indicating he was okay, much to the relief of spectators and fans tuned in on the livestream.

In a post-crash interview with the wrecked E36 behind him, he declared, “This is the end of FD for me this year.”

He commented on the effectiveness of his safety equipment, particularly praising his halo seat: “The halo seat saved me big time. I smacked my head up against it when I hit the wall.”

Visibly disappointed, LZ stated, “The saddest realization was getting out of the car and [knowing] that this is the end of FD for me this year.”

Damage Assessment

The shot above shows just how clean the E36 looked before it went out for its final run.

The impact of the crash resulted in extensive damage to the E36 BMW. Initial assessments revealed severe chassis damage, with LZ noting that the strut tower was nearly touching the turbo, indicating significant structural compromise.

He said, “We don’t really have time or quite frankly funds to build another chassis right now,” he also stated that it would be the first time he’d ever written off a chassis completely.

Despite the initial signs, the team plans to conduct a thorough evaluation once they return to Florida by putting it on a lift and doing a full damage assessment, comparing measurements to an undamaged chassis.

LZ remains open to exploring options for the E36’s future. He mentioned the possibility of the car having “a life with something else,” indicating that while it may not return to Formula DRIFT, there could be potential for use in other events.

Is This The Last We’ll See Of Adam LZ In 2024?

The crash marks a significant turning point in his most successful Formula DRIFT season to date. After the incident, LZ occupies 7th place overall in the 2024 FD PRO Championship standings with 238 points, his best result by a considerable margin.

As a result of this early exit, he will miss the upcoming rounds in Utah and Seattle, likely resulting in a significant drop in his final position.

In an interview, LZ mentioned that if he reached the podium at this event, he would have intended to compete in the remaining FD rounds of the season. He then indicated that he was leaning towards continuing even without a podium, much to the disappointment of his fans.

Despite the FD setback, LZ’s competitive drifting calendar is far from empty, with the focus now shifting to the remaining rounds of the Drift Masters European Championship, where he’s been making waves with his “European” BMW E36, which hasn’t exactly been plain sailing, either!

The upcoming rounds are set to take place in Latvia, Hungary, and Warsaw, Poland, with the season finale taking place in a sold-out stadium with over 55,000 spectators. These remaining Drift Masters events allow LZ to refocus his efforts and potentially salvage his rollercoaster year in competitive drifting.

Outside of competition, we know he’ll have plenty more plans for 2024, and we can’t wait to see what they bring!

Photography credits

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Written by Joe Terrell

Joe is an avid writer and car enthusiast. When he's not cruising the streets alongside his friends in his Nissan Silvia S15, he's drifting on his VR racing simulator.

Joe's passion for cars is always on display. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the automotive industry, he hopes his writing conveys his excitement and knowledge of cars and games.

Joe's work has been featured on many platforms including drivetribe.com, 180sx.club, carthrottle.com, smartdrivinggames.com, smartbikegames.com, databox.com and ceoblognation.com.

When he's not behind the wheel or at his keyboard, he's likely daydreaming of his ultimate ride - the legendary Lexus LFA.

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