EVENT: JDM Allstars Round 4 : Bienvenue en France

The JDM Allstars is one of the best known drift series Europe. Many highly skilled drivers, a lot of spectators, and big action are the reasons for their success. The second race outside the UK brought the drivers to France; in the Alsace, a beautiful region in eastern France close to the German and Swiss border. The racetrack “Anneau du Rhin” was built in 1996 by a winegrower. It’s a 3km long racetrack which is mainly used for training and Bike races. For several years the Motor Show Organisation hosts the annual Driftcup there, this year together with the JDM Allstars. The Driftcup is only one small part of the big “Festival Auto Moto”, a three weekend long car and bike event on the track, with historic cars, formula cars, bike races and many other events. In the morning and noon there were bike races on the track, and from 5 o’clock to midnight, the drifters seized the track.

The tracklayout is a fast S-corner on the entry which leads into a 180° corner in front of the crowd. For most of the drivers it was very uncommon to drift at speeds over 100 mp/h, so in the Friday training the marshals had to tow many cars out of the gravel pit. The weather was dry on both day, so many spectators came, and on the big eight battle over 4000 people were standing on the tribune.

A clean booth – dented cars: This must be Team Speedindustries from Switzerland

Friday 5 o’clock: the first cars are queuing for practice. The BMW compact belongs to Laurent Prudent from France

After the technical inspection, the drifting could begin. This S14 with bosozoku exhaust is driven by Alain Thomet. As inspiration for the cars design he used the coat of arms from his hometown zürich.

The french drifter Frédérique Ferreira had no problems with producing smoke, his M5 has a supercharger and delivers over 650hp to the rear wheels.

Organiser Nicolas Koenig had a very exhausting weekend but was happy with the event.

Sebastien Namur, graffiti artist, painted Cerdan Nicolas’s S13 with a big, green skull.

Brad McQueen lost his rear bumper. He didn’t drive in the Top-16s, due to technical problems.

Patrick Ritzmann eliminated all the problems he had with his E46 2JZ.

Others had big problems in getting the car into over steer; this Mustang had a fly-off and everything but it just didn’t want to drift.

Benjamin Boulbes is the champion of the French Drift Series 2010, he’s really a skilled driver.

The trickiest part was the transition from the “S” into the big corner, this S13 from Jesper Strunge did it well.

Brandnew build up by team D-Famous, a S13.5 with 2JZ.

The graphics are by the French/Japanese artist Sha_Do, the only thing to improve the look is to install Kouki taillights.

Jerome Bucamp also had technical problems with his 2JZ S14, he fixed it but it was already too late for the qualification.

Winner of my personal most-angle-award: S13 1JZ with a very aggressive entry style.

Tony Jouin had to resign after serious engine problems…

He has one of the most beautiful cars in the pit, but still searches for sponsors.

Laurent Goupil shows us how to do the transition without turning wheels.

Fillipo Pirini improved his skills since the last Round, love the MX-5.

Laurent Cousin in his E46 also qualified in the Top-16.

After getting used to the fast track, Nigel Colfer performed some great training rounds…

… but after a landing in the gravel-pit he had to fix his S13.5.

Lil´ Bastard on the run.

Kocked out in the Top-Eights: Anthony “Scotty” Scott pleased the crowd.

crazy project: this former S13 now has a BMW engine, a Celica front and a Acura RSX rear.

A hard landing in the gravel… except for some dust and stones in the engine bay, everything was alright.

Jacob Hansen won the second place.

Emmanuelle Festival (I) bought a former Team Orange Subaru and performed quite well in it.

Nigel Colfer showed really good drifting, but couldnt compete after this ride into the gravel.

Saturday evening the drivers got ready for the battles.

The photographers locked and loaded their weapons.

As usual at the Driftcup, the tribunes were crowded.

Even the kitten in the tire rack was watching (I informed the marshals, they told me that the cat family has lived there for months).

Ready to go!

Anthony “Scotty” Scott ended up in the Top-16.

Scotty saying Good-bye to the audience.

Patrick Ritzmann did very good battles, but he made a fault and ended up in the gravel pit – still a Top-Eight position.

An all E36 battle: Paul Vlasbloom battling with Benno Frieden

On the second battle of them, Paul left the track, shooted over a small gap and went airborne…

Paul had really fun in flying around in his car, “like a kangaroo”. After the shock, the crowd took Pauls leave with a big applause.

The whole event was like one big party

Walton Smith knocked Frank Lagalice and his M5 out.

In the Top Eight Battles, Philippe Guillod knocked out Walton Smith, both with a massive dirtdrop.

On the second run, when Walton was chaser, he took a ride through the green and lost his complete body kit.

In the next battle Frédérique Ferreira competed against Jacob Hansen and lost.

The media crowd in the infield waited for the final.

Philippe Guillod (280hp) leading in front of LBD´s James Deane.

Third place battle: Ferreira against Guillod, both in the green but Philippe had the better line, even with a 1/3 the power the M5 has.

In the first final run, Jacob Hansen tried to hard and smashed into the tires.

The car wasn’t very damaged but this was the win for Low Brain Drifter James Deane.

James celebrated his win with a one-handed encore…

And missed the corner – big smile.

After the finals, a big white cloud ascended at the track, produced by dozens of drifters.

Team Speed Industries mastermind Tobias Welti brought his brake discs to glow.

As he stopped, the inside of his wheels was already on fire.

Philippe Guillod celebrated his third place like a win, he told me, getting within the Top-16 was already the win for him.

After the champaign shower, James Deane gave his first interviews.

Congratulations James Deane, the Low-Brain Drifters and “Lil´Bastard”

Results of Round4:

1. James Deane (IRL) Team LBD/Rockstar Energy Nissan PS13
2. Jacob Hansen (DK) Jocks Blimport Nissan S15
3. Philippe Guillod (CH) Swiss Drifteam Nissan S14

Standings after Round 4:

1.James Deane – 390 Points

2.Nigel Colfer – 347 Points

3.Anthony Scott – 253 points

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