MANILA, Philippines - After creating a big buzz as spectacle of being the world’s first diesel-powered, current model production pickup modified for drifting, the Mazda BT50 -Tuason Racing School Drift Team made big strides on its first official outing in the Drifting Challenge held at the Alabang Town Center.
The one-month old drifting team, composed of JP Tuason, race engineer Pacho Blanco, James Deakin, John Tyrell Esguerra and Mike Tuason, unveiled impressive finishes for novice drifters, making it to the Top Four among 40 competitors with the big support from Mazda Philippines, Goodyear, Speedlab, Aguila Auto Glass, Unichip, OMP, Dupont, Starbright Body Kits, Rota Wheels, Fremuff, H&R, K&N, Philippine Auto Club, C! Magazine, Orange Electronics, Pocari Sweat and AutoCraft.
Both JP Tuason and Francisco Blanco qualified for the top 16 but Tuason, on his very first attempt, gained entry up to the top 4, outclassing heavily modified vehicles with more than 350 horsepower engines.
“We were very impressed by the team and the vehicle performance. We understand the magnitude of what we were trying to accomplish here by bringing in a vehicle that was never manufactured in drift racing in mind. We couldn’t believe that we would finish at the top only in our first official competition,” said Prudz Castillo of Mazda Philippines.
“This is really a testament to the passion of the team and the performance of the Mazda BT50. We believe in the succeeding races we would be able to discover more and more on the power and play of the truck,” said JP Tuason, president of the Tuason Racing School and first time drifter.
Tuason impressed the crowd with consistent and very precise runs that would normally be thought impossible especially in a diesel pickup truck.
At the tandem runs, the Mazda BT50 was pitted against a Sylvia s15, one of the most established drift car of choice, on the second run. Tuason held ground to score a thumbs up from the crowd and judges.
Information: www.tuasonracing.com