Saito is the King of Drift

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DAIGO Saito of Sparks Achilles Drift Team claimed the Achilles Formula Drift 2011 Malaysia title and clinched the overall drivers’ crown in style at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur recently.

It was the second year the Japanese emerged victorious in the Malaysian leg, and the 2011 series favourite proved too strong for the competition for another drift legend, compatriot Manabu Orido of Team RSR, who finished runner–up.

Saito took the lead in the first run, and Orido made an uncharacteristic spin going into the first clipping point.

Saito only had to make sure he turned in an error-free performance in the second run, and the Japanese did not disappoint, much to the pleasure of the enthusiastic crowd. The victory saw Saito sweep the 2011 Achilles Formula Drift Series after winning the Singapore and Indonesian leg earlier this year.

Best of them all: Winners of the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 (from left) Kiki Sak Nana, Saito, Orido and Nishida.

Kiki Sak Nana of Red Bull Drift Team Thailand rounded off the top three of Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011, after beating compatriot Chanatpon Kerdpiam in the classification third–fourth race.

However, it was the Malaysian drivers who drew the loudest hurrah with the local drivers making the most out of the home support. In the Round of 32, Malaysia’s Mervyn “Nakamura” Abdullah caused the biggest upset by defeating Thailand’s ace driver Non (Saranon Pornpatanarak), who was ranked second in the series coming into the competition. Mervyn reached the last eight before losing to Thailand’s Chanatpon in a close battle that went into a rematch.

Another local favourite, Ser Ming Hui, also made it to the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champion Saito.

Close fight: Mervyn (front) outshining veteran Saranon in the round of 32.

Out of the 13 Malaysians who participated in the Malaysian Drift, 10 advanced to the round of 32, with Lim Zee King, Tan Tat Wei joining Ming Hui and Mervyn in the top 16 — a clear indication of the quality of Malaysian drifters.

However, it was the Japanese contingent that once again demonstrated the difference with Saito’s near-flawless drifting. Orido, known for his stylish persona and cowboy hat, made his debut in Malaysia and the drifting legend surely gave the Malaysian crowd a real spectacle to behold.

The finale also saw Sparks Achilles winning the overall Team Champion for the 2011 season, bolstered by Saito’s sweep over the Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia legs.