Drifting Legends Collide: A Look at the 2025 Garrett International Drifting Cup Line Up!
- alain949
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
The Garrett International Drifting Cup is back in 2025, promising a star-studded lineup and the non-stop, door-to-door action of its famous pool format. With 20 drivers who collectively hold over 20 national championship titles from around the globe, this truly is the pinnacle of drifting in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere.
OG's vs. Young Guns
This year's competition features an epic generational showdown. According to WTAC's Drift Operations Manager Dan Mackie, the theme is "OG's v the Young Guns," and the battle to see who still has what it takes is sure to be thrilling.
The field is packed with Australian drifting legends who dominated the sport in the early 2000s. Drivers like Luke Fink, Rob Whyte, Scott Schembri, Alex Sciaccia, and Fernando Wiehrl are back and not holding anything back. Wiehrl, whose kids will be watching from Cellarbrations Drift Hill, summed up his motivation: “I just want an opportunity to show my kids what their Dad can do before I am too old!”
But the old guard won't have it easy. A new crop of hard-charging drivers is primed and ready to take them down. Commentator Warren Sare points to a group of "top dogs" that includes Saxon Moyes, Jason Ferron, Matty Hill, Matt Harvey, and Brodie Maher. Maher didn't mince words, calling some of the older drivers "has beens." This sets the stage for an intense battle: will the young guns cruise to the podium, or will the OG's remind them why they're still considered elite?
The All-Star Lineup
The star power isn't limited to the drivers. The judging panel boasts decades of experience. Leading the team is Japanese legend Robbie Nishida, joined by New Zealand's own OG, Brendan Duncker. Filling the final seat is one of drifting's true gentlemen, Australia's Danny Probert.
In the commentary box, the voice of Formula Drift, Jarod DeAnda, returns and will be joined by another OG and International Drifting Cup regular, Warren Sare. And on the ground, asking the tough questions, will be Melbourne's own Tony Bishop.
Literally hundreds of drivers apply each year, hoping to be selected to take on the best of the best. Dan Mackie and his team have the difficult task of narrowing it down, and this year's selection has created one of the most anticipated matchups in the event's history.
Check out the full list of drivers below, and catch all the action trackside this September! Get your tickets now at www.worldtimeattack.com/tickets
Naoki Nakamura
Age: 42
Hometown: Japan
Career Highlights: 3-time D1 Street Legal Champion and 2-time D1GP Champion (2012, 2024).
Car: S13
Engine: LS V8
Specs: 1000whp, Samsonas sequential gearbox, Wisefab suspension, and Valino wheels.
Jaron Olivecrona
Age: 34
Hometown: Wellington, New Zealand
Car: Lexus RCF
Engine: 1GZ-V12 NA
Specs: 1000hp, 1200kg, Link G5 ECU, and Kiwi-built TTI 5-speed gearbox.
Masashi Yokoi
Age: 42
Hometown: Japan
Career Highlights: 3-time D1GP Champion (2018, 2019, 2022) and D1 Street Legal champion.
Car: 1996 Nissan S14 Silvia
Engine: BC 3.4L 2JZ
Specs: 950hp, 1220kg, E85 fuel, D-MAX body kit, and MCR Factory angle kit.
Mad Mike Whiddett
Age: 44
Hometown: New Zealand
Career Highlights: Formula Drift Japan Champion, World Record for Fastest Mazda & Rotary at Pikes Peak.
Car: 1976 Mazda RX3 808 Estate Wagon
Engine: 26B Quad Rotor
Specs: 596hp at the wheels, Full FD Spec body dropped, MadLab x TCP Magic built.
Michael Thorley
Age: 37
Hometown: New Zealand
Career Highlights: Pro sport Champion and multiple podiums in D1NZ.
Car: 1990 Nissan 180SX
Engine: RB30DET
Specs: 800hp, TTI 5-speed sequential gearbox and Winters diff.
Alex Sciacca
Age: 38
Hometown: NSW, Australia
Career Highlights: 2024 Superdrift Champion and EDC winner.
Car: 1998 Nissan S14 200sx
Engine: Barra with a Gforce 101a gearbox
Specs: 800hp, 1150kg, E85 fuel, built by the driver.
Brendon O'Grady
Age: 44
Hometown: VIC, Australia
Career Highlights: 2019 Hi-Tech Pro-Am Champion and Keep it Reet Battle Royal Pro Champion.
Car: 1987 Nissan 180SX
Engine: BSC 427 LS turbo
Specs: 1300hp, 1250kg, E85 fuel, BSC Performance, Cage Kits Aus, and Shockworks.
Saxon Moyes
Age: 22
Hometown: QLD, Australia
Career Highlights: Youngest winner of International Drifting Cup (WTAC) in 2024.
Car: 2015 Toyota GT86
Engine: 2JZ
Specs: 1000hp, 1100kg, E85 fuel, Samsonas sequential, Winters quick change, and MCA suspension.
Scott Schembri
Age: 40
Hometown: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Career Highlights: 2-time Australian Champion with multiple podium finishes.
Car: 2010 Nissan S14
Engine: 6.2L LS
Specs: 700hp, 1050kg, E85 fuel, G-force gearbox, Wisefab front and rear.
Aaron Dewar
Age: 34
Hometown: VIC, Australia
Career Highlights: Competed in Hi-Tech oils championship and WTAC.
Car: 1999 Nissan S14 S1
Engine: RB26
Specs: 800hp, 10000rpm, E85 fuel, Jericho gearbox, Ross dry sump system, and Emtron ECU.
Brodie Maher
Age: 31
Hometown: TAS, Australia
Career Highlights: 2nd Place at WTAC 2024 and 2-time Hi-Tec Pro Series podium finisher.
Car: 1998 Mazda R7 FD3S "Toretto"
Engine: 3.4L 2JZ-GTE VVTI
Specs: 1100hp, 1150kg, MoTeC M150 ECU.
Matt Harvey
Age: 29
Hometown: TAS, Australia
Career Highlights: 2020 Hi-Tec National Series winner and multiple WTAC podiums.
Car: 1991 Nissan Silvia S13
Engine: 2JZ-GTE
Specs: 900hp, 1150kg, Powerplus E85 fuel, Holinger 6-speed sequential gearbox and Winters diff.
Fernando Wiehrl
Age: 48
Hometown: NSW, Australia
Career Highlights: Back-to-back Drift Australia Series wins in 2007 and a Top 10 spot in the D1 World Series.
Car: BMW M3
Engine: V8
Specs: 1000HP
Luke Fink
Age: 42
Hometown: QLD, Australia
Career Highlights: D1NZ Drift King, FT Australia Champion, and Drift Allstars European Champion.
Car: 2024 Nissan Proto Z
Engine: 6.0L V8 LS with Magnuson supercharger
Specs: The car still has a stereo.
Nick Owen
Age: 32
Hometown: From NZ, lives in Perth, WA
Career Highlights: Multiple WA state championship podiums, including 3rd place in 2024.
Car: 1996 Nissan Silvia S14.5
Engine: 6.0L LS with LSA supercharger
Specs: 700hp, 1280kg, E85 fuel.
Warwick Hill
Age: 44
Hometown: NSW, Australia
Career Highlights: 2024 Eastern Drift Championship series champion.
Car: 1998 BMW E46
Engine: 2JZ with nitrous
Specs: 800hp, 1300kg, E85 fuel, and TTI sequential gearbox.
Matty Hill
Age: 35
Hometown: NSW, Australia
Career Highlights: D1NZ Best Battle and Personality, awarded 1st place in MSC Formula Drift Challenge Japan.
Car: 2022 Toyota GR Supra MK5
Engine: 3.0L 2JZ-GTE VVTI
Specs: 800hp, 1250kg, United E85 fuel, Samsonas sequential, Winters quick change, and Haltech Nexus R5 ECU.
Jason Ferron
Age: 35
Hometown: VIC, Australia
Career Highlights: Aims to compete in FD Prospec in 2026.
Car: 1990 Nissan R31 Skyline "Barrawagz"
Engine: 2JZ with a Quaife 6-speed sequential gearbox
Specs: 1000hp, 1350kg, E85 with NOS.
Rob Whyte
Age: 41
Hometown: QLD, Australia
Career Highlights: 2-time Australian Drift Champion and 2nd place at WTAC.
Car: 370Z
Engine: Nascar
Specs: 850hp.
Sam Tabbouch
Age: 42
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Career Highlights: Founder of the Australian Drift Club and a Team Driftmob leader.
Car: Nissan Skyline R34
Engine: RB26 NEO
Specs: 720hp, E85 fuel, Samsonas sequential gearbox, Winters rear end, and Wisefab suspension.
Derek Newsome
Age: 36
Hometown: Wicklow, Ireland (Lives Sydney, Australia)
Career Highlights: Won a round of Global Wars in Ireland and had multiple podiums.
Car: 1991 Nissan Silvia S13
Engine: 6.0L LS
Specs: 570 wheel horsepower, 1300kg, nitrous, big NASCAR filter and nitrous purge.
Ben Meir
Age: 35
Hometown: Newcastle, Australia
Career Highlights: Rerun against Daigo Saito in Japan, and had results in G1GP in Japan.
Car: 1997 Nissan Silvia
Engine: 6.0L supercharged LS2
Specs: 700hp, 1300kg, E85 fuel, Acostal and Shockworks parts.
Jordan Sanderson
Age: 34
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Career Highlights: 3rd place at LZ World Tour 2023.
Car: 2025 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5 FD
Engine: 5.2L Predator V8 with a 2.65L Eaton supercharger
Specs: 1100hp, 1200kg, E85 fuel, RTR billet lock kit and Shockworks suspension.
Ready to feel the rumble and smell the rubber? Secure your tickets today and experience the Garrett International Drifting Cup live both nights of the Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge!
