Daigo Saito

Daigo Saito

Definition and Historical Standing
Daigo Saito, born on 7 March 1980 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, is the only driver in global drifting history to clinch the overall championship titles of both premier drift series: Japan’s D1 Grand Prix and the United States’ Formula Drift.He secured his maiden D1GP championship in 2008, took both the overall title and Rookie of the Year honours in his 2012 Formula Drift debut, bagged the D1GP crown once again in 2016, and has amassed a career total of 17 D1GP round victories.Saito is also the founder of the tuning house FAT FIVE RACING, renowned for personally building an extraordinarily diverse stable of drift machines—ranging from the Toyota Chaser to the Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari 599 GTB, and Corvette C6—making his race car fabrication skills just as central to his professional identity as his driving prowess.

From Motorbike Youth to D1GP Champion
Saito’s passion for motorsport was sparked by his father’s love for motorcycle racing. He earned his motorcycle licence at the age of 16, and during a ride to Karuizawa with friends, he spotted a white Mercedes saloon drifting along a mountain pass (touge), which ignited his passion for drifting.After obtaining his driving licence at 18, his father bought him a Mini Cooper; however, the front-wheel-drive car was ill-suited for drifting, and Saito crashed it shortly after. He then purchased a Nissan Silvia S13 without his parents’ knowledge, embarking on a non-stop 36-hour maiden practice session, stopping only to refuel and eat.In 2004, he made his D1GP debut behind the wheel of a Toyota Mark II JZX90, clinched the privateer championship in 2005, and captured his first overall D1GP series title in 2008 in a JZX100 Mark II.

The Only Dual Champion Across Two Major Drift Formats
What sets Saito’s career apart is his seamless adaptation to two vastly distinct judging criteria. D1GP prioritises "overwhelming speed, extreme angle, and rapid transitions" during solo runs, whereas Formula Drift places greater emphasis on chase proximity and consistency in tandem battles. In 2012, Saito entered the Formula Drift US championship in a Lexus SC430, catching American rivals off guard with his unorthodox driving style to secure both the overall title and Rookie of the Year in his debut season.That same year, he also won the Formula Drift Asia championship, becoming the first driver in drift history to simultaneously hold both D1GP and Formula Drift championship titles.In 2016, he returned to D1GP and set a record of five round wins in a single season (later tied), claiming his second D1GP overall championship.

The "Monster" of Custom-Built Drift Machines
Dubbed the "Monster" in the drifting world, this moniker reflects not only his aggressive driving style, but also his uncanny ability to hand-build radical, unconventional drift cars. In 2015, he completed the world's first drift-spec Lamborghini Murcielago, followed by a bespoke Ferrari 599 GTB drift car in the same year.In 2017, he converted a retired Super GT300-class Corvette C6 Z06-R GT3 into a drift car, powered by a Mast Motorsports forged LS3 naturally aspirated V8 producing around 800 hp, with kerb weight trimmed down to under 900 kg.In 2019, before the all-new GR Supra was even launched, Saito partnered with HKS to build the world’s first drift-spec GR Supra in just 42 days using a pre-production test car, replacing the factory BMW straight-six with Toyota's iconic 2JZ engine.Explaining his rationale, he stated: "The new car has a shorter wheelbase and is more compact than last year's Corvette, allowing for a sharper, more aggressive driving style."

Recent Competitive Form
Saito remains an active competitor on the global drift stage. In the 2024 season, he claimed victory at Round 8 of D1GP.In 2025, he competed in Formula Drift Japan, finishing tenth in the overall standings with 225 points.In January 2026, he confirmed his participation with TFA Motorsport for Rounds 2 and 3 of the Oman International Drift Championship, driving his self-built Corvette C6 Z06—a machine sporting a full Kevlar widebody kit, an 800+ hp naturally aspirated V8, and 65 degrees of steering angle lock.Daigo Saito’s career defines a drift driver archetype that seamlessly blends mechanical craftsmanship with high-calibre driving, securing him an irreplaceable and iconic standing in global drift culture.