DAMON ENTERS TWIN TURBO FERRARI INTO DRIFT COMPETITION

The speaker is entering their first professional drift competition at LZ World Tour with a twin-turbo Ferrari F12. Despite the car being expensive and having little practice since November 18th of the previous year, they were "bullied" into competing by Adam LZ, TJ Hunt, and Nate Hamilton. A major concern is the car's lack of crash bars, meaning any frontal impact could damage the intercooler, and the stock bodywork in the rear is also vulnerable. Unlike other competitors who have full body replacements and bash bars, the Ferrari has none, making any contact potentially very costly. The car, weighing 2200 lbs with a full carbon Kevlar body replacement, is unique among the E36 drift cars present. The team has minimal support, with only one person, Brian, to help with tires and fuel, and no spare parts. This lack of spare parts is a significant risk, especially given the car's expensive OEM headlights. TJ Hunt, who drove the F12 on the track, described it as "insane" and a "handful," acknowledging the difficulty and expense of drifting such a vehicle. The prize for winning the competition is a skateboard, which adds a humorous contrast to the high stakes of risking a million-dollar car. Qualifying is set to begin in about three hours, giving the driver limited time for practice. A unique advantage for the Ferrari is an exemption to run wider 305/35/19 XCOM tires, which typically offer more grip and predictability compared to the standard tires other competitors are required to use. This could be a significant advantage, as confirmed by a tire expert. During practice, the car feels good but has a lot of grip, making it fast and challenging to control near the walls. The historical significance of building this car over five years, from its purchase to its completion, makes its entry into competition a major event. A critical issue arises when the alternator belt breaks. The team discovers they have no spare belts, as they were left at the shop in Florida. This necessitates a frantic 7-mile, 21-minute drive to a local auto parts store to find a replacement within the hour before qualifying ends. They manage to find only one belt, which means if it fails again, their competition run is effectively over. Despite the car issues, the driver is currently second to last in qualifying. The car requires a functioning alternator for electric power steering and fans, which draw significant amperage, making a working belt essential. Another belt is found, and the team races back to install it. Upon returning, they learn that qualifying is technically over, but Adam LZ, who owns the event, allows everyone a chance to compete. The driver expresses nerves about competing in front of a live audience against experienced professionals, wanting to perform well for himself rather than for external validation. During his first qualifying run, the driver executes a "big initiation" and manages to keep the car wide on the track, hitting the outer zones without dropping a wheel. The judges look for drivers to stay within specific outer and inner lines, drifting consistently throughout the course. Despite some minor wobbles in the final zone, his run is impressive for a first-timer. The commentator notes the rarity of seeing a twin-turbo Ferrari F12 in a professional drift competition, calling it a "winner." The driver scores a 55, which is exactly above average. However, the new belt shreds again after the first run, leaving the team in a desperate scramble to find another replacement. Brian finds another belt 30 minutes away, and the team rushes to retrieve it. They manage to get two belts this time. Despite the repeated belt issues and missing his second qualifying run, the driver is still allowed to compete, thanks to Adam LZ's flexible rules. The driver even jokingly attempts to "protest" his score with the judges, highlighting the fun and unconventional atmosphere of the event, especially with the "Ferrari guys." In his second attempt, the driver demonstrates significant improvement, executing a powerful and wide initiation. He continues to push the car, putting on a spectacular show with flames popping from the hood, despite possibly bending some rules by taking extra runs. The crowd and judges are impressed by his showmanship and dedication, with commentators noting that he's "writing his own rules" and has effectively taken over the event with his unique car and performance. The car's clutch might be "done" by the end of this, but the driver's focus is on putting on a show and having fun.