Some of the elite Japan drivers made their way to participate in USA’s first ever east coast appearance of the D1 Grand Prix USA Series. Round 1 of the new D1 Grand Prix USA drifting competition was held May 4th and 5th at New Jersey’s Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Japanese driver and 2006 D1 Grand Prix Japan Champion, Nobushige Kumakubo, took First Place in Round 1 of the inaugural D1 Grand Prix USA Series driving his Team Orange sponsored Subaru Impreza GDB. Nobushige Kumakubo is the man to beat this year because Kumakubo is also currently sitting in First Place in the D1 Grand Prix Japan Series!

2007 D1 Grand Prix USA Round 1 Top 8 Drivers

• (Winner) Nobushige Kumakubo – Team Orange sponsored Subaru Impreza GDB

• Toshiki Yoshioka – Droo-P sponsored Toyota AE86

• Ken Nomura – Blitz sponsored Nissan Skyline ER34

• Takahiro Ueno – T&E sponsored Toyota Soarer JZZ30

• Robbie Nishida – Team Falken / Peak Performance sponsored Nissan 240sx

• Yoichi Imamura – Top Secret sponsored Nissan Fairlady Z (350Z)

• Ross Petty – Team Falken / BOSO sponsored Nissan 240sx

• Andrew Hateley – Modiride / Retax sponsored Nissan 350Z

On Friday May 4th, 23 local drifters came out to compete in the first ever D1 Grand Prix USA Ikaten, or “Driver Search,” for a chance to earn a 2007 D1 Grand Prix drivers license. Here are the 6 drivers that earned their D1 Grand Prix license Friday. Notice how 5 of 6 drivers are driving the Nissan 240sx or the American version of the Nissan Silvia. Looks to me like the Nissan 240sx may currently be the most popular drift car in the US.

• Jayitr Sritongkham - Nissan 240sx

• Brain Wilkerson - Nissan 240sx

• James Evans - Nissan 240sx

• Chanin Prapopyuenyong - Nissan 240sx

• Nathan Brasz - Nissan 240sx

• Chelsie DeNofa - Mazda Miata