Drift Tengoku — September 2004 · Page 301

…he has spent enormous sums on beauty, lightness and impact. Must it really be a Soarer? Many might think that someone who controls a heavy Soarer so freely would get results by switching cars. ‘That would defeat the point.

Before starting my company, I made my name in a Soarer. I owe where I am now to it. I couldn't abandon such an important partner.

I want to keep driving it for the people who support me,’ Ueno says shyly. This is his third D1 Soarer but seventh overall. Except for one written off in a crash, the other five remain in perfect condition in his garage.

A successful setup change: the cage comfortably meets regulations, with extra spot welds around doors and suspension mounts. Pillow-ball suspension parts…

…were combined with firm damper settings. The original aim was quick behavior to match a Silvia. Instead, that made last season difficult: the car became too quick, leaving a very narrow range of control.

Its unpredictable reactions made lifting the throttle during a drift frightening. Midway through last season, he reversed the setup direction, softening both damping and springs, using the dampers' stroke and allowing supple body roll. It worked: he reached the top eight at this year's Odaiba All-Star event.

Although the exhibition awarded no points, the result restored his confidence after a setup slump. Seventh place at Sugo, round two, then earned points and convinced him the Soarer still had potential. The refined 2002–03 model was reaching maturity, but work on a 2004–05 successor was already moving rapidly behind the scenes.

Why replace it just as he was getting comfortable? The reason was that to win in current D1 competition, it still lacked power and was still…

…too heavy. His fourth D1 Soarer, planned for the latter half of the season, would have its body built by GT-car specialist Okuyama, with a dry-sump 2JZ mounted in a front-midship position! ‘You need to use one gear higher to deliberately make more smoke, or drive at extreme angles, to stay near the top now. Sadly the current Soarer can't do that, and I also…’