Kazama

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kazama was originally a mechanic and sponsor driver for "Kei-Office" until 31 August 2005, when he left the company to start up his own shop called Rodextyle but he continued to support Tsuchiya's company as the sponsor driver for his new company DG-5 until 2007 which he eventually retired from competition drifting to focus on Rodextyle. Kazama was formerly known as Spin Benz Dokan due to an incident that happened after the 2001 D1GP season finals in Nikko, when Sunpros had filmed a 'Team Drift' segment for the Drift Heaven series and involved hitting a then-D1 Driver Toru Maruyama's daily Mercedes Benz. He was later known as Waku Waku Kun or Rodeo Clown due to his reputation as a clown within the series and being well known for his Rodeo Drift, a form of doughnutting by sitting on the driver's door of the car which he first practiced at the Big-X events, then later at D1GP pre-tsuisou rounds warm-ups in 2005 when he changed the side windows of his car to make it possible to perform the trick. Kazama is also known in the United Kingdom for his only mainstream TV appearance outside Japan in the BBC2 show Top Gear, in which he teaches Richard Hammond drifting in a Nissan 350Z.

In Their Own Story

Kazama made a name for himself in drifting contests throughout the 90s, driving a Nissan Silvia S13, Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32, Toyota Mark II JZX90, and a Nissan Silvia S14. In 1994, he placed 3rd overall for Young Version's STCC event. In 1996, Kazama won the STCC event of that year, which would also be the series's final event (23 December 1996). In 1997, he won the Chubu Ikaten which took place at Rally Kids INA (INA Circuit) along with his team "Kazama Juku" winning the team class. In 1998, he won the one-make S14 drift champion contest hosted by Manabu Orido and Video Option which took place at Sportsland Sugo's Kart course. He also had placed 3rd in the 5th All-Japan Ikaten competition at Suzuka Circuit's South course that year. In 2000, he won the 2nd Ikaten Superstar Drift Battle held at Ebisu Circuit's South course which was held on 26 April 2000. He became one of the first drivers to use an S15 for drifting but was heavily in debt until his patience paid off when he was sponsored by Tsuchiya to be the driver for Kei-Office, whom he also worked for as a mechanic. In 2005, Kazama managed to win the season opener held at Irwindale once again. He also earned more victories at Sugo and Ebisu rounds to rack up his position as the series point leader. At the championship finale, he was crowned as the 2005 D1GP champion and earned the championship title by beating Masao Suenaga only by one point.

Reader's Guide

In the D1 Grand Prix, Yasuyuki Kazama is known for his consistent success at Irwindale Speedway, winning the season opener there in 2004, 2005, and 2006, earning him the nickname 'Irwindale Meister'. His career is marked by key vehicle transitions: he ran his personal S15 until Kei-Office debuted a blue S15 at the Final Round in Nikko in 2001, which was used through 2003. In 2003, the team debuted a new track-spec S15 at the fourth round in Fuji Speedway wearing the company's signature jade green, Prodrive GC-06D rims and a new 2003-spec original brand body kit (now under Rodextyle). In 2004, Kei-Office debuted another S15 which was previously the company's 2002 season car, with Driftmaster rims, an HKS 2.2L stroker kit setup by Auto Produce Boss, Speed Glass lightweight windows, and a Holinger sequential transmission. In 2006, Kazama switched teams from Kei-Office to DG-5 with the 2005 championship car having cosmetic changes, specifically with the Kei-Office aero being removed for GP Sports' G-Sonic 'D1' kit. The S15 remained green until it was later repainted to blue after DG-5 collaborated with Avex's M.O.V.E, starting in Round 2 onwards.

Did You Know?

• Kazama escaped death when his car slid down underneath a guardrail and fell approximately 20 meters (about 65 feet) down a mountain.
• He earned the nickname 'Spin Benz Dokan' after an incident involving hitting Toru Maruyama's daily Mercedes Benz.
• He performed the 'Rodeo Drift' by sitting on the driver's door of his car, made possible by changing the side windows in 2005.
• Kazama won the D1GP championship in 2004, not 2005.
• He is the only Japanese drifter to appear on BBC2's Top Gear, teaching Richard Hammond to drift in a Nissan 350Z.