I must admit, the fact that Keiichi Tsuchiya continues to modify his AE86 and stage it against modern racing machines is one of the more compelling things I’ve seen in racing. Even when his cohosts mock his old steed, Tsuchiya stands by the car which helped him rise to fame. Of course, a car nearing its thirty-second birthday can’t really hope to keep up with a modern car, especially one built specifically for rallying. Or can it?

It’s not the first time the Drift King has raced a street-based car against a rally car on the Gunsai touge. But this time, the power disparity is much greater, and the tires are far more similar. The All-Japan Rally Championship Gazoo GT86 sports a set of Direzza 03G, 225-section tires mounted to Volk Racing CE28 wheels, a stripped interior and some of the coolest Recaro buckets in existence.

The largely unmolested engine makes only 200 horsepower, which is wonderful. Unlike the previous comparison between an RX-7 and a WRC Lancer, this duel is on very comparable standings. The FR-GT86 isn’t a wildly-modified machine, but uses rigidity and a neutral handling balance to its advantage.

While the GT86 is the better balanced car, Tsuchiya is capable of making magic in the aging AE86.

Similarly, Tsuchiya’s AE86 is no powerhouse. Tuning house Tec-Art provided the 7AG engine, which is the synthesis of a 20-valve, 4AG head and the bottom end of the 1.8-liter Toyota Carina motor. Custom rods and pistons, a MOTEC M4 ECU, and 264-degree cams provide the fireworks for 200 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm! Not bad for an aging Corolla!

Katsuta and Tsuchiya refine their own cars to dial out some excessive sliding, and once the sector times are comparable, the two head off to the mountain road to battle. It’s evident that the GT86 has some added poise, but once the red mist descends upon Tsuchiya, he’s capable of doing unbelievable things with a car. Sideways, spectacular, and occasionally frightening, Tsuchiya gives his competitor a demonstration in how to properly throw caution to the wind and drive on instinct.