Watch WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä drift Mount Iwaki with legendary cars, including the R34 Skyline, AE86, and Ferrari F40, in a thrilling Initial D-inspired challenge.
WRC superstar Kalle Rovanperä takes on the legendary Mount Iwaki in an adrenaline-fueled drift challenge inspired by the iconic manga Initial D. Behind the wheel of his GR Corolla, Rovanperä faces off against a fleet of classic 1990s Japanese cars, including the Nissan R34 Skyline, Toyota 180SX, and the iconic Ferrari F40, as he drifts through the mountain’s winding 69 corners.
Rovanperä, who grew up influenced by Initial D, has long dreamed of replicating the manga’s famous mountain pass drift battles. As a two-time World Rally Champion, he’s no stranger to drifting, but this project takes things to a new level. Alongside his own skills, Rovanperä competes against some of Japan’s top drift legends, such as Yoshitatsu Kaneda in the R34, Manabu Orido in a GR86, and even a digital Takumi Fujiwara in an AE86, all bringing their unique flair to the mountain roads.
The project, created by Red Bull and Initial D, blends thrilling drifting action with jaw-dropping Japanese landscapes and a nod to the roots of street racing culture. Rovanperä expressed his excitement, saying, “Drifting on a mountain road like this has been a dream of mine.” Watch the full video to see how he tackles the challenge and experience the high-speed thrill of drifting up Mount Iwaki with these legendary cars.
