Nissan Has Shattered The World Drifting Record With A 1380bhp GT-R

Japanese drift champion Masato Kawabata has just broken the world drifting record with an astonishing 190mph 30-degree slide, obliterating the previous record of 135mph set by Polish drifter Jakub Przygoński back in 2013. The Japanese driver had the support of Nismo specialists who, along with GReddy Trust, developed a purpose-built, rear-wheel drive 1380bhp R35.

The record was set during a special event at the Fujairah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, chosen for its 1.86-mile long runway. According to Nissan, the team wanted to perform a drift in excess of 300km/h from the outset. Therefore the car was developed and tested at Japan’s high-speed Fuji Speedway, allowing the team to set the car up for “stability and confidence-inspiring handling characteristics”.

We’re pretty certain that ‘stability’ and 190mph slides don’t go together, so hats off to Kawabata. Nissan has yet to release the full in-depth video, so for the time-being we’ll have to make do with these stunning images.