![]() Race cars rarely get over 100 mph in Formula Drift, so this 4-speed box offers just the right gear ratios without the excess weight of a 5th or 6th gear holding it back. The transmission is a 4-speed dogbox that connects up to a Winters quick-change rear end. The engine is controlled by a MoTeC M800 ECU which allows for fine tuning of the camshaft timing and drive by wire throttle among other things. It is a 6.7-liter Sprint car V8 with an all-aluminum block, tuned by ASD to put out 790 hp and 719 lb-ft of torque. Although it began its life from Chevrolet, this is no “LS” series swap. Under the hood sits what can only be described as a Frankenstein-like monster of an engine. However, when the driver is already yanking hard on the hand brake, applying the foot brake does not unsettle the car because each act independently. When only one of the two is engaged, to the driver, there is no difference from a single caliper setup. Having a large rear rotor adds additional brake force in the rear, and the second caliper separates the hand brake from the foot brake. In the rear, two sets of 4-piston calipers are mounted over equally sized rotors. Up front, large 6-piston calipers sit over drilled rotors. D-Mac’s car has a textbook set of brakes provided by Wilwood. In any drift car, you don’t just need good tires, you also need good brakes to add friction and pull away the rear end. The white spokes with polished lip look totally killer on the blue and green Falken paint scheme. Team Falken used to run SSR wheels on the Saturn Sky, but for 2011 they switched over to HRE wheels for all of the ASD-built factory cars. HRE Competition Series C90 wheels are used to keep all four corners light, providing plenty of strength under load. The Falken Azenis RT-615K rubber is staggered with 255mm tires up front, and 275mm tires in the rear. It all adds up to one wicked machine that is unmistakable out on the track. Also, on the rear deck lid, a flush-mounted spoiler has been attached for even more aerodynamic stability at high speed. On the rear bumper, a triangular deflector sits behind the wheel arches for some additional downforce when the car is getting sideways. The front splitter is made specially by APR for this application. Other panels such as the hood, fenders, front and rear bumpers are made out of dry carbon fiber to keep the overall weight down. ![]() Saturn never offered the Sky with a metal roof from the factory, so the sloping rear line that the team has chosen bears close resemblance to the sister Pontiac Solstice Coupe that sold briefly as a 2009 model. In 2010, the Sky was one of the few roadsters on the Formula Drift grid, but ASD has switched it over to a hard top coupe for 2011. Although the car is factory sponsored by Falken, the build was handled by Autosport Dynamics (ASD). Today, he drives this beast they call a Saturn Sky, and also co-runs the McNSport aftermarket parts label back in Ireland.ĭ-Mac’s Saturn Sky has been revamped this year with an all-new chassis and aerodynamic package. The native of Cork, Ireland won the 2006 Irish Prodrift series championship before Team Falken Tire gave him a full-time seat here in the USA driving his personally built Toyota AE86 Corolla with Nissan SR20 motor. Darren “D-Mac” McNamara has been competing professionally in the Formula Drift series since 2007.
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