After two years away from D1 Grand Prix, the 2001 D1GP Champion Taniguti Akira Makoto (Nobuteru Taniguchi) returns drifting the HKS sponsored Toyota Altezzas.  Nobuteru Taniguchi is a Japanese fan favorite well known for his accomplishments in SuperGT and other forms of professional motosports. Nobuteru Taniguchi maintains his popularity within the drifting community with appearances in popular drift videos like Video Option, Hot Version, Drift Tengoku, Best Motoring, and Rev Speed Videos and by performing drifting exhibitions at popular drifting events worldwide.