Professional drifting's getting some more American ``horse power'' in 2005.
Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp. and Ford Racing Performance Parts are fielding a 2005 Mustang sporting a supercharged 4-valve, 4.6-liter V8 that will pump out approximately 500 horsepower. The Mustang will do battle in both Formula Drift and D1 Grand Prix professional drift series.
The white drift Mustang will be shod with 255/45R18 Toyo Proxes T1-S ultra-high performance radials in front, while 285/40R18 UHP tires will be in the chrome Cobra R wheels at the rear.
Joining Team Toyo Drift at the wheel of Ford's newest pony car will be 18-year-old Southern California drifting star Ken Gushi. He won a $10,000 drifting shootout during a Road & Track magazine sports car invitational and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today as well as tuner magazines and Web sites.
But Toyo won't be alone in the competition. Also announced during the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, Falken Tire Corp. said that Vaughn ``JR'' Gittin is going to drive a 2005 Mustang for the Falken drift team.