Champion drifter Daigo Saito has the first 2JZ-swapped GR Supra

Wondering who will be the first to actually put a 2JZ-GTE into the all-new Toyota GR Supra? Well, it looks like Daigo Saito has already beaten everyone to the punch. The 39-year old Formula D and D1 Grand Prix champion recently posted photos of his new A90 Supra drift car with the hood up, showing off its freshly built 2JZ engine and a large turbo.

Saito built the car in his personal shop, Fat Five Racing, in partnership with Japanese tuner HKS. According to a press release, the 2JZ fitted onto the GR Supra is built to produce around 800 horsepower, enough to make it competitive in the D1 Grand Prix. Aside from the engine, the Supra’s chassis and underpinnings have also been heavily modified in order to make it competition ready.

The biggest change to GR Supra's body would be the tube frame front and rear. Massive brakes were also fitted together with new suspension parts, a full roll cage, plus a carbon fiber roof. The radiator has also been moved to the rear likely for better airflow and in line with regulations. 

For the now, the car is still missing the complete Pandem widebody kit together with its matching Monster Energy drink, HKS, and GR Racing liveries, which is why the wheels poke out of the fenders a lot. However, they did provide renders giving us an idea as to how the finished car will look. 

Should Saito’s name sound familiar, it's because he previously competed in the country during the Philippine leg of King of Nations drifting event. He’s also known for having a diverse line up of drift cars including a Lamborghini Murcielago and a carbon-kevlar bodied C6 Corvette.

Daigo Saito’s new drift machine is set to make its debut at the upcoming D1G All Star Shoot-out in Tokyo later this March. He will also be driving the 2JZ GR Supra throughout the 2019 D1 Grand Prix season which starts in June.