Formula Drift’s Team Garrett: The “V8 Hunters”

Formula Drift Round 2 hitting Road Atlanta May 11th and 12th. Utilizing turns 10A and 10B, I’m curious as to what Team Garrett has in store for us. Known as the “V8 Hunters” these 4 and 6 cylinder cars sponsored by Garrett are looking to hunt down those big boy V8’s. With big power LS1s to LSX Motors being run in Nissan Silvias and Ford Mustangs, these Torque monsters have dominated the playing field. “No replacement for displacement” Right???

Well, Garrett has stepped up to the challenge, sponsoring 12 competitors in the 2012 Formula Drift Series. These shots were of Formula Drift Round 1 Streets of Long Beach. Where Daigo Saito, a rookie to the Series, placed 3rd in his SC430 powered by at 2JZ-GTE motor and GTX4294R Turbo. This weekend Formula Drift will be in Atlanta this weekend. Let’s see what the Team Garrett drivers can do!

Team Garrett putting down the power. Daigo Saito and Rhys Millen:

Joon Maeng (Mazda Trix 3 Rotary GTX3071R) vs. Tyler McQuarrie (GM LS7):

Vaughn Gittin Jr. (Roush Yates built 6.7L V8) vs. Chelsea DeNofa (2.9L S50, Garrett GTX3582r):

Dennis Mertzanis (Chevy LS3) vs. Daigo Saito (2JZ-GTE GTX4294R):

Justin Pawlak (Roush Yates engine ) vs. Daigo Saito (2JZ-GTE GTX4294R):

Daigo Saito (2JZ-GTE GTX4294R) vs. Daijiro Yoshihara (6.7 litre Aluminum V8):

Taka Aono (Hasselgren Toyota 2AZFX GTX3576R) vs. Matt Powers (LS7):

Dennis Mertzanis (Chevy LS3) vs. Daigo Saito (2JZ-GTE GTX4294R):

Robbie Nishida’s unfortunate run in with the wall, Conrad Grunwald’s V8 won this round:

Meet the Rest of the Team:
Rhys Millen: Hyundai Turbocharged V6 GTX3582R
Cyrus Martinez: 2.1 G-Dimension Engine GTX3076R
Mike Essa
Jeff Abbot: 1.8L GTX2867R
Mauricio Ornelas: GTX3576R
Jeff Jones: 1JZ-GTE GTX3576R

e.gearhart

My two favorite hobbies cars and cameras has melded into a passion for automotive photography. Starting off photographing Rally in the Pacific Northwest has led me to many other styles of racing: mud bog, tough trucks, Redline Time Attack, AutoX and more. Anything with a motor and at speed is where I enjoy being.