Ryusei Akiba

Hailing from Yokohama, Japan, 31-year-old drifter Ryusei Akiba has been building his career in drifting since first competing in D1 Street Legal in 2015 behind the wheel of a Nissan 180SX.

The moment that pushed him toward competition came after watching Formula Drift live at Long Beach in 2015. Seeing professional drifting in person became the trigger that made him want to compete.

One of the biggest highlights of his career so far was his final battle against Duane McKeever at Irish Drift Series Round 1 at Mondello Park. The track was half wet which made the battle intense and exciting. Although he didn’t take the win, it remains a memorable moment and one he hopes to run back in the future.

Ryusei currently competes in a 2000 Nissan Silvia S15 running a 2JZ engine with a G-Force transmission and a full D1 style drift setup producing around 800 horsepower. His favourite part of the car is the livery, which helps it stand out on track.

Beyond the track, we love to learn a little more about the drivers themselves.

What is your favourite track or circuit to drive and why?

Ebisu Circuit Minami course. It’s scary, and that’s what makes it fun. Another favourite would be Bikernieki Circuit in Riga.

Any driving tips for beginners?

At the beginning, don’t spend too much money on the car. Focus on driving as much as possible with whatever you have.

What hobbies do you have outside of racing?

Street racing.

Dream street car?

Mazda RX-7 FD3S.