Lexus wins Asian Drift Series opener

Malcolm Flynn

Editor

1 min read

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.

Back when all cars burned fuel and couldn't drive themselves, Mal was curing boredom by scanning every car his parents' VB Commodore drove past. His childhood appreciation for the car world exploded during a three-year stint in the US, and serious questions were asked when he spent a good chunk of his uni career perfecting lap times at Wakefield Park. Mal got his big break scooping the VE II Commodore, before a stint at Overlander magazine and kicking off his online career with The Motor Report in its heyday. These days he's exactly the same height as Michael Schumacher and uses his powers for good at the helm of CarsGuide's editorial team. Mal proudly shuns brand allegiance and counts three young kids, an EH Holden, NA MX-5, KE20 Corolla, W116 Mercedes-Benz and the world's most versatile Toyota Echo among his personal stable. He also craves a Subaru Vortex, so get in touch if you know where to find one.  
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