Originating from Japanese mountain passes in the 1980s, drifting has finally gained FIA approval. Earlier this year, the FIA set unified world regulations for drifting, and at the fifth FIA Sport Conference in Geneva this week, announced the discipline’s first international competition – the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup – on 30 September – 1 October, to be held in Daiba, Tokyo, Japan.
The FIA opened the tender process to find a promoter for the Intercontinental Drifting Cup in July 2016, and based on criteria including the commitment to the event, the competition management and the future development of the sport, it nominated SUNPROS as the promoter. SUNPROS has been hosting the D1 Grand Prix since 2001, and is confident that the drift culture born in Japan will be sent around the world with the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup.
“This is the beginning of a very important category for the FIA,” stated FIA president, Jean Todt. “As we continue to develop motor sport around the world, drifting has a great appeal to young people and has a passionate core following which is only going to get bigger.
“With the creation of the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup, we are building the framework for a standard format which will help the sport continue to grow from grass roots level to more professional competitions globally. We are setting the standard for what I’m sure will be a hugely successful form of motor sport.”
Following the FIA’s appointment of Sunpros, president of Sunpros and founder of D1, Isao Saita, said, “We are proud to be able to hold a world competition in Japan with a form of motor sport that originated here. At the same time, I want to contribute to the expansion of drifting competition all over the world – this is an exciting time for this discipline.”
