There are those who regard drifting as a pointless pursuit- nothing more than showmanship, and hardly translatable to proper motorsports. But the Japanese, in their own ways, have been a great counterpoint to this mindset. Many of the great Super GT drivers also partake in drifting competitions and events, making them quite well rounded in their experience.
The touge is also an aspect of culture that confuses motorsports enthusiasts. In reality it’s not too far removed from a hillclimb type competition or a tarmac rally, which are set on these twisty trunk roads with tight corners and poor line of sight.
Here we see Nobuteru Taniguchi tearing it up with two great Nissans: an R35 GT-R and a R32 Skyline GT-R. Two iconic Japanese machines, both tuned by HKS to stratospheric power outputs. The theme here is the dichotomy between these two cars, in terms of how different they feel despite coming from the same company.
The R35 GT-R being a modern powerhouse is a more clinical machine, and it is believed that one drives it more with their head in terms of the calculated moves and actions necessary to pilot this machine. On the other hand, the R32 GT-R is a more visceral, involving machine: though it may not have the 1200 hp of the R35, it manages to be more nimble and a sharper drive on the whole. It is something you drive with heart.
But whichever is your weapon of choice, you can be sure it would be a riot to drive on the touge. The famous Gunsai touge has played host to numerous battles in the past, as part of the late Hot Version, but nothing quite as extreme as this has graced the tarmaca of the Gunsai cycling centre.
