On a rain-soaked, treacherous backroad (touge for the Initial D geeks), anyone with any sense would wager a 350Z might struggle to match an R34 GT-R in raw pace. Sure, the tail-happy Z might be more entertaining to watch, but the clinical precision of a GT-R—especially a tuned one—matched with the torque of its RB engine should leave the Z flailing in the inclement weather.

However, there are a few drivers who can defy the odds, and one of them is Keiichi Tsuchiya. On loose surfaces and in close quarters, there are few men more capable. When sat inside the beautiful and pointy Amuse 350Z, he can drift the car in a way that simply has to be witnessed. His second-nature sliding is a skill honed from years of running at high  speeds on these sorts of sinuous mountain roads; his gusto closes the gap between the underdog Z and MCR’s R34 GT-R: a car with twice the power and four wheels to deploy it with.

Though traction isn’t the Z’s strong suit, it does weigh roughly 450 pounds less than the tech-heavy GT-R; slimmed by a stringent carbon fiber diet. With carbon doors and hood, as well as a titanium exhaust, the Z tips the scales at a meager 2,900 pounds. This plays a significant role as it allows Tsuchiya to place the car a little more precisely, and his comfort with “bending” the car into place only complements this eagerness to turn.

Tsuchiya—ever the showman—takes big risks, even with a comfortable gap.

That’s a fairly academic way of putting it—in actuality, the difference is made by Tsuchiya’s manhandling and sheer chutzpah. Thanks to the conditions suiting his aggressive style and a possible chip on his shoulder, he’s driving with the commitment and showmanship of a rally driver—and so he quickly, precisely, and spectacularly slides this bloodthirsty Z to victory.