P1 & P3 in One Weekend! (LZ World Tour E-Town)

We headed down to Englishtown for the LZ World Tour. The plan was to shake down the car and get some solid seat time. 

Going into practice, we really wanted to just feel where the car was at. Usually, after a car sits, there’s always something small that shows up. Electronic gremlins, random issues… it’s never just “hop in and go.”

So we rolled out at about 80%, took it easy, and started feeling things out. Right away, the car felt solid. No major issues, no weird behavior, just a good, predictable setup. That’s about the best-case scenario for a first session.

Then, out of nowhere, we got hit with a quick downpour. It made things interesting for a bit, but honestly, it wasn’t a bad thing. With rain in the forecast for later in the weekend, getting even a little bit of wet seat time early on was actually pretty useful.

Saturday

By the time day two rolled around, the plan started to shift a bit.

The format for this event is a little different. 29 drivers total, with the top 13 from qualifying going straight into the main show. The remaining 16 drivers battle it out for the final three spots.

Normally, you’d push hard to qualify as high as possible. But with the weather looking rough for the main event, we made a bit of a call, focus on having fun, getting seat time, and not stress qualifying.

It might sound strange, but the idea was: more driving = more value out of the weekend.

So instead of chasing a perfect qualifying run, we focused on battles and chase runs in practice. Just getting comfortable, learning how the car reacts behind different drivers, and dialing in timing.

We had a couple close calls. Light contact, swapping a front wheel after a hit, checking over the front end to make sure nothing was bent, but overall the car kept taking it without issue. That’s always a good sign early in the season.

Last Chance 16

Since we didn’t push for a high qualifying position, we ended up exactly where we expected, in the Last Chance Top 16.

Battle after battle, the driving was consistent, aggressive, and clean. The transitions were on point, proximity was tight, and the car just kept doing its job. There were some intense moments. Close calls, near contacts, even taking a few bumpers off along the way.

By the end of it, Josiah drove it all the way through and took P1 in the Last Chance bracket. The only real downside? The car was starting to ask for a clutch after all that abuse. But honestly, that’s a pretty small price to pay for that many laps.

Sunday

Day three brought rain, cold conditions, and a super slick track.

The battery drained overnight because we forgot the kill switch. Quick jump, no big deal, and we were back at it. With the track staying wet and not really drying, it turned into a completely different driving challenge. Grip levels were inconsistent, transitions were sketchy, and certain sections of the track were especially unpredictable.

But this is where all that extra seat time paid off. Josiah adapted quickly, figuring out where he could stay in it and where he needed to be careful. In drifting, especially in competition, being able to drive in the rain isn’t optional; it’s something you have to be comfortable with.

Pushing Through the Bracket

We went up against some heavy hitters, including strong runs against drivers like Tommy and Chelsea. There were a few moments where it could’ve gone either way.

One of the standout battles of the day was easily one of the closest. Door-to-door, inches from the wall, the kind of run where you’re not totally sure how it didn’t end in contact.

The car took a bit of a beating along the way, but it kept going. No major failures, no major issues holding us back.

Final Result – P3 Overall

By the end of the day, we wrapped it up with a 3rd place overall finish.

Considering how the weekend started, with a full shakedown, changing conditions, and a focus on just getting seat time, it’s a result we’re more than happy with.

Even more importantly, the car proved itself. Aside from needing a clutch and some minor bodywork, it’s ready for the season.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this was exactly the kind of weekend you want early in the year.

• Tons of seat time

• Strong, consistent driving

• A win in the Last Chance bracket

• And a podium finish overall

Now it’s time for a full refresh!