Ahmed Alamri, UAE national drift champion

AutoMiddleEast.com met up with UAE national drift champion Ahmed Alamri and spoke to him about the new Toyota Emirates Drifting team, the Toyota 86 and his future as the best drifter in the Middle East.

Q. Congratulations on the formation of Toyota Emirates Drifting Team. Can you tell us more about the Toyota 86 you are working on?
A. Thank you so much! I’m really excited about the new team and I’m really looking forward to driving the 86 on professional circuits. The 86 is a great car and since the moment I drove the car at the launch I have been itching to give it a go on a pro-drift circuit. The car we are working on will have a lot of aftermarket parts that we are ordering from America and Japan. We are going in for engine modifications and other performance accessories that will enhance the performance of the Toyota 86. We are also building our own custom part here in the UAE which is a totally unique part and I believe that will give us the edge over the competition.

Q. How does it feel to be a part of a factory sponsored team and how supportive has Toyota been so far?
A. I’m delighted to be associated with one of the finest automotive companies in the world and ever since the start the technical team from Emirates Drifting team has been in close contact with the technical team at Toyota regarding the aftermarket and performance parts for our car. Toyota has also been very supportive regarding our ideas and we have complete access to their technical facilities.

Q. Can you give us more details on the technical modifications done to your car?
A. Toyota Emirates Drifting Team is making a winning drifting machine, there is no doubt about that! We have ordered a lot of parts to tune the engine and the suspension to boost the cars performance. We are also making a custom suspension part here in the UAE. Even though we are using a lot of aftermarket parts the core components are essentially Toyota. The transmission is a Toyota box with some aftermarket touches. We have ordered a lot of aftermarket strengthening parts for the engine because we are looking at a final output of around 500 – 550bhp at the rear wheels.

Q. How do expect to fare against other factory sponsored teams in the Middle East?
A. I started my drifting career with Toyota and now I have an amazing car with the best wheelbase. We don’t only have a good platform to start with but we also have a tremendous scope to alter the car for drifting thanks to the immense popularity of this car around the world. I can guarantee that Toyota Emirates drifting team will try their best to be on every podium. I’m not so concerned about other factory teams because we have a solid platform and I believe we are much better in terms of technical competence.

Q. Are there any plans for a class specific drifting competitions for the Toyota 86?
A. This is exactly what we are hoping for. In the next two years we are planning to start a drifting series for Toyota 86 owners. We will organise drift competitions and supervise the events to ensure a safe and enjoyable conditions for all participants. We are very keen on increasing the popularity of the sport in the Middle East and we are also accessible for any queries or questions that anyone might have regarding drifting in the UAE. Our followers can ask us questions via our Facebook page and we promise to reply within 24-48 hours. We will also be posting updates on our progress on our Facebook page for those who want to see the modifications in detail.

Q. Do you have a favorite drifter or is there someone you idolise?
A. I do follow a lot of international drifters but I don’t idolise anyone. I'm my own inspiration.