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Formula Drift Driver Ken Gushi Takes The Lexus IS 350 F-Sport for a Donut Test

Modern-day vehicles are built with safety in mind, and that means more and more driver aids are being added to these vehicles. That somewhat detracts from the fun factor we used to experience, say thirty years ago. But, given a controlled environment, a proper set of skills and hitting a few switches can ultimately put a smile on your face.
Lexus IS350 F-Sport Drift 11 photos
Photo: Ken Gushi
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Kenshiro Gushi made a name for himself as a prodigy child in Formula Drift, competing in his first such event back in 2004 when he was only 18 years old. Gushi has been trained by his father since the age of 13 behind the wheel of a Toyota AE86, a car well known for its sideways going capabilities.

Over the years, he has driven multiple pro drift cars, but it seems that every time he managed to find his way back to a Toyota. For the 2020 season, he has been campaigning the new MKV Supra, finishing in 18th place overall out of a total of 30 registered drivers.

The Lexus IS has been sold in North America for two decades now, and it has proven to be quite a popular choice in the compact executive segment. The MSRP for the entry-level version is $39,000, and it includes a turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine that puts out 241 horsepower.

If you're going to get something with a bit more punch, you're definitely looking at the IS 350 F Sport version, which comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that has 311 horsepower from the get-go. Although AWD is available, the RWD option is clearly the most exciting one, and the one that Ken Gushi is about to test in this video.

With the traction control being switched off, Ken goes through the driving modes to see how the car performs, and rear tire smoke makes its presence right away. We miss the throaty sound of the IS-F's V8, but this V6 doesn't sound all that bad either. For a bone stock car, we can conclude that the donut test was pretty successful.


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About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
Dragos Chitulescu profile photo

The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
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