18 Facts About Yasuyuki Kazama

Yasuyuki Kazama is a drifting driver from Japan, formerly competing in D1 Grand Prix, well known for using the Nissan Silvia S15.

Yasuyuki Kazama is known as Waku Waku and Spin Benz Dokan.

Yasuyuki Kazama was originally a mechanic and sponsor driver for "Kei-Office" until 31 August 2005, when he left the company to start up his own shop called Rodextyle but he continued to support Tsuchiya's company as the sponsor driver for his new company DG-5 until 2007 which he eventually retired from competition drifting to focus on Rodextyle.

Yasuyuki Kazama was formerly known as Spin Benz Dokan due to an incident that happened after the 2001 D1GP season finals in Nikko, when Sunpros had filmed a 'Team Drift' segment for the Drift Heaven series and involved hitting a then-D1 Driver Toru Maruyama's daily Mercedes Benz.

Yasuyuki Kazama was later known as Waku Waku Kun or Rodeo Clown due to his reputation as a clown within the series and being well known for his Rodeo Drift, a form of doughnutting by sitting on the driver's door of the car which he first practiced at the Big-X events, then later at D1GP pre-tsuisou rounds warm-ups in 2005 when he changed the side windows of his car to make it possible to perform the trick.

Yasuyuki Kazama is known in the United Kingdom for his only mainstream TV appearance outside Japan in the BBC2 show Top Gear, in which he teaches Richard Hammond drifting in a stock Vauxhall Monaro VX-R.

Yasuyuki Kazama made a name for himself in drifting contests throughout the 90s, driving a Nissan Silvia S13, Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32, Toyota Mark II JZX90, and a Nissan Silvia S14.

In 1996, Yasuyuki Kazama won the STCC event of that year, which would be the series's final event.

In 1997, he won the Chubu Ikaten which took place at Rally Kids INA along with his team "Yasuyuki Kazama Juku" winning the team class.

Yasuyuki Kazama had placed 3rd in the 5th All-Japan Ikaten competition at Suzuka Circuit's South course that year.

Yasuyuki Kazama became one of the first drivers to use an S15 for drifting but was heavily in debt until his patience paid off when he was sponsored by Tsuchiya to be the driver for Kei-Office, whom he worked for as a mechanic.

Yasuyuki Kazama ran his personal S15 until Kei-Office debuted a blue S15 at the Final Round in Nikko, which the car was being worked on throughout the 2001 season and was continued to be used for the 2002 and 2003 season.

Yasuyuki Kazama still had moderate success especially taking the runner-up spot at Round 5 in Ebisu.

Yasuyuki Kazama had a very steady season and was able to keep a seeded position.

Yasuyuki Kazama earned more victories at Sugo and Ebisu rounds to rack up his position as the series point leader.

Yasuyuki Kazama manages to win the season opener in Irwindale, earning him a nickname that some would say, the 'Irwindale Meister'.

Yasuyuki Kazama had a steady season earning a second win at the third round in Fuji and ranked 3rd overall it would be the last season that he would compete in the D1 Grand Prix.

Yasuyuki Kazama earned a victory for the UK exhibition match in Silverstone Circuit with a T-car S15, later used by Hideo Hiraoka the following year along with other D1 drivers from 2008 on-wards.