Diego Saito has taken out the 2013 Achilles Formula Drift Australia event at the weekend, after facing off against local hero Tom Monkhouse in the Final Battle.
The Calder Park event formed the first round of this year’s Achilles Asian Drift Series, and was the 32-year-old Japanese driver’s first visit to the Melbourne circuit.
The defending Formula Drift Asia and USA champion’s Lexus IS 250C-based racer uses a 900kW 3.4 litre turbocharged and nitrous–assisted straight-six, tied to a Holinger sequential gearbox, with a carbon-fibre clad body.
"I had a fantastic time this weekend and am very happy with the result," Saito said. “It was a great battle with Tom and now I'm looking forward to the next round."
Saito will race again in the series’ second round in Kuala Lumpur on June 29.