A Champion’s Chariot:</br> James Deane’s 700hp 2JZ S14

It feels like an eternity since I first watched James Deane drifting his Ford Sierra estate in Rosegreen many years ago. Since then he’s made a bit of a name for himself. Three times Irish champion, three times European champion, an unbeaten streak in Ireland that stretches back over three years at this stage and even a couple of runs up the prestigious Goodwood Hill. Yet, for all his success it’s his polite and friendly demeanour that impresses the most. His personality outside the car is a complete contrast to his unforgiving driving style whilst behind the wheel. If you even think of making a mistake with James behind you, he will punish you for it.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-3

While this is just a simple spotlight to give you a quick look at his championship-winning S14, it’s one of those occasions where both man and machine are intrinsically linked. Where the car is an extension of a ferociously talented young driver.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-4

Fresh off the back of James’ recent win at the third round of the 2015 Extreme Drift Allstars series, I managed to grab a quick couple of shots of the Nissan in order to give you a little bit more insight into this S-body.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-16

Motorsport is the family business, so it’ll come as no surprise that James’ 2JZ-GTE was built by DeaneMsport. The bottom end features Wossner pistons and ZRP conrods, but it’s the ported and polished head that has attracted the most attention. 264-degree HKS cams, 1mm oversized Supertech valves and retainers, and 1,000cc injectors are all part of the package.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-15

The Owen Developments GT3788HT-Z M-Spec turbocharger and a custom WCP V-band exhaust manifold play their roles in allowing the Toyota motor to make a reliable and drivable 700hp with 650ft-lb to boot.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-6

Of course, there’s no point in having all that power and torque if you can’t deploy it effectively.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-2

With sticky Falken rubber, James uses Wisefab components front and rear with BC Racing coil-overs. The Wisefab extra lock kit offers around 65 degrees of steering lock with the rear setup providing a significant weight saving (around 10kg of unsprung weight) and improved strength, whilst delivering optimal kinematics for a lowered car.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-10

New for the 2015 season is a Winters Performance Quick Change rear end, allowing the replacement of final drive drop gears in about 15 minutes or so. This allows James to run the perfect final drive for each event. It’s just one part of a transmission setup that also features a Tex Racing T101A 4-speed dogbox and an ACT triple-plate clutch.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-17

Forge Motorsport products take care of the car’s cooling requirements, and that is indeed a plastic ‘clipping point’ sign that was hastily crafted at the previous event to drive more air into the rear-mounted radiator setup. I’m a big fan of track-side improvisation.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-13

Typical drift car office is, well, typical. Here you’ll find the Haltech ECU and Racepak digital meter, a flocked dash, Corbeau seats and Luke harnesses.

2015 DA Spotlight James Deane S14 PMcG-14

This is only a 30-second look at a car that has been dominating Europe for two seasons now. Despite James being at a horsepower disadvantage against some of his rivals, the reliability and predictability of the 2JZ setup has proved its worth time after time.

You can catch some of James’ highlights along with some killer ride-a-long footage in this season half-point review which dropped just before the Riga event. He also did pretty well at the fourth round of the Drift Allstars series over the past weekend, where he placed third.

Only two questions remain. When does James Deane tackle a full championship across the Atlantic in Formula D? And does he even need to?

Paddy McGrath
Instagram: pmcgphotos
Twitter: pmcgphotos
paddy@speedhunters.com

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1
KRACKEN Released

If you're gonna eff people's minds with horsepower numbers...the least you can do is wear protection.

driftin' duuuurtay

2
KRACKEN Released

If you're gonna eff people's minds with horsepower numbers...the least you can do is wear protection.

driftin' duuuurtay

3

I've said it a few times now but there needs to be some kind of international championship that feeds from all the top tier drift series around the world.

4

I've said it a few times now but there needs to be some kind of international championship that feeds from all the top tier drift series around the world.

5

I've said it a few times now but there needs to be some kind of international championship that feeds from all the top tier drift series around the world.

6

Well of course he doesnt need to do Formula Drift. I hope James will stay in Europe. Anyway, this car is way to cool for Mr. Vaughn JR to wreck just beacause he can, you know, being 'Merican and so on....

7

Well of course he doesnt need to do Formula Drift. I hope James will stay in Europe. Anyway, this car is way to cool for Mr. Vaughn JR to wreck just beacause he can, you know, being 'Merican and so on....

8

Well of course he doesnt need to do Formula Drift. I hope James will stay in Europe. Anyway, this car is way to cool for Mr. Vaughn JR to wreck just beacause he can, you know, being 'Merican and so on....

9

greenroadster He was sent back to Europe packing when he tried FD. Looked like a rookie.

10

D1RGE greenroadster Absolute nonsense. He drove a car that couldn't be aligned to within an inch front and rear and still managed a top eight at his first event in Long Beach. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't even 20 years old at the time...

11

D1RGE greenroadster Absolute nonsense. He drove a car that couldn't be aligned to within an inch front and rear and still managed a top eight at his first event in Long Beach. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't even 20 years old at the time...

12

D1RGE greenroadster Absolute nonsense. He drove a car that couldn't be aligned to within an inch front and rear and still managed a top eight at his first event in Long Beach. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't even 20 years old at the time...

13

Qu1N7 I think the Red Bull event in Long Beach all those years ago was the closest thing there's ever been. An annual invitational at a neutral venue would be incredible.

14

Paddy McGrath D1RGE greenroadster I think he's extremely good, one of the top two or three in Europe. But if he wants the top respect, he needs to come and win the top series. Who remembers the greatest player in minor league baseball? Same argument everyone's had with FD vs D1.
This means don't come to the party unprepared. look how Daigo came. He planned, he built, he conquered.

Sorry for the snappy reply Paddy. Ignorant comments like the OP tend to get reactions out of me. Please don't think I'm not a JD fan, i am. Just not a fanboi.

15

Paddy McGrath D1RGE greenroadster I think he's extremely good, one of the top two or three in Europe. But if he wants the top respect, he needs to come and win the top series. Who remembers the greatest player in minor league baseball? Same argument everyone's had with FD vs D1.
This means don't come to the party unprepared. look how Daigo came. He planned, he built, he conquered.

Sorry for the snappy reply Paddy. Ignorant comments like the OP tend to get reactions out of me. Please don't think I'm not a JD fan, i am. Just not a fanboi.

16

Paddy McGrath D1RGE greenroadster I think he's extremely good, one of the top two or three in Europe. But if he wants the top respect, he needs to come and win the top series. Who remembers the greatest player in minor league baseball? Same argument everyone's had with FD vs D1.
This means don't come to the party unprepared. look how Daigo came. He planned, he built, he conquered.

Sorry for the snappy reply Paddy. Ignorant comments like the OP tend to get reactions out of me. Please don't think I'm not a JD fan, i am. Just not a fanboi.

17

D1RGE EXE Paddy McGrath D1RGE greenroadster Not everyone has Daigo's funds or backing. Don't get me wrong, he's earned it and I love the guy but not everyone is in a similar financial position. 

Also, who decided FD was the top series? Did I miss that meeting? :)

18
90nissanS13@my350z

Any shots of the inlets to the radiator? Is it just the NACA ducts on the side?

19

The NACA ducts and the trunk lid is raised slightly with the improvised ducting.

20

The NACA ducts and the trunk lid is raised slightly with the improvised ducting.

21
90nissanS13@my350z

That's what I speculated. Thanks for the reply.

22
90nissanS13@my350z

That's what I speculated. Thanks for the reply.

23
90nissanS13@my350z

That's what I speculated. Thanks for the reply.

24

Paddy McGrath D1RGE EXE D1RGE greenroadster  In my opinion, it happened when some of the top Japanese drivers started importing to FD, instead of the FD guys wanting to go to D1. I think many would agree D1 still has the best drivers, but the series lost all its credibility when the founders couldn't take it anymore. Other than to go for a guest round, I have yet to see a D1 of FD driver go for the European series. Exposure also has to do with it.
Truly, the only way to know who was better was to have the top 8 from each region battling on an unfamiliar track to all. But the above reasons are why i would place FD at the top.

25

Paddy McGrath Qu1N7 A few months ago I suggested another Red Bull World Championship combined with a Shift Drifters event.....*swoon* holy cow that would be good.

26

D1RGE EXE Paddy McGrath I think FD is probably the best presented series at the moment, but DA last week really opened my eyes to the standard of driving in Europe. I'm generally quite pessimistic but damn was I impressed after Riga.

With an increase in competition between continents, it's a win-win for us.

27

3:50 in the video, turbo spool sounds like a police siren lol. Thanks for linking the vid. 

Yes he needs to come to FD not for test of skill but for all of us who want to see the battle!  Almost like mayweather vs picao, doesn't matter if he owns or loses, would still be a great show.  Rivalries make good entertainment in any sport. That said, not sure if FD-D1 is a rivalry yet...

28

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