Ken Nomura's ER34 Skyline: D1 Drift Icon

Ken "Nomuken" Nomura drove the most recognizable D1 Grand Prix drift car of the mid-2000s: a factory-backed Blitz-sponsored ER34 Skyline Sedan in orange and black livery. The car became the face of D1GP during the championship's breakout years and cemented Nomuken's reputation as one of Japan's top drift drivers.

The Driver

Nomuken started drifting in the late 1990s on mountain passes before D1GP existed. When the championship launched in 2001, he was an early competitor and podium finisher. By the mid-2000s, he was one of the top three drivers in the series alongside Youichi Imamura and Kazuhiro Tanaka.

The Chassis

Base: Nissan Skyline ER34 Sedan (4-door R34 chassis, not GT-R)

Choosing the 4-door ER34 was unusual — most D1 competitors ran S-chassis Silvias or 180SXs because they were lighter and cheaper. Nomuken's ER34 was heavier (~1,400 kg) but had advantages in wheelbase stability and chassis rigidity at high angle.

The Build

The Blitz Nomura ER34 evolved year-over-year:

Engine:

• RB25DET (later swapped to RB26DETT spec)
• Single large turbo (replaced the stock sequential twin setup)
• Greddy/Trust fuel system
• Output: 550-650 hp during the car's peak competition years

Suspension:

• Blitz ZZ-R coilovers (full custom drift-tuned dampers)
• Massive steering angle kit for high-angle drifts
• Hydraulic handbrake for transitions
• Custom arms and adjustable suspension points

Aero:

• Blitz body kit (front bumper, side skirts, rear spoiler)
• Carbon hood with vents
• Orange and black livery that became instantly recognizable
• Wide rear fenders for 295-section rear tires

The D1 GP Performances

Nomuken's D1 results in the ER34:

• Multiple podium finishes (2003-2006 peak years)
• Champion driver nominations in every season
• Highlight reel runs at Ebisu, Bihoku, and Fuji Speedway
• Iconic Tanso-Tsuiso twin battles against Imamura's S15

Nomuken's driving style was angle-focused: he held extreme drift angles longer than most competitors and transitioned mid-corner with precision. The style suited the longer ER34 wheelbase.

The Cultural Impact

Outside D1GP itself, the Blitz Nomura ER34 appeared in:

• Option Magazine covers throughout the 2000s
• Video game appearances (Tokyo Xtreme Racer, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo)
• International drift event exhibitions in the US, Australia, and Europe
• D1 Grand Prix promotional material

The orange-and-black ER34 became shorthand for "professional D1 drift" in the global drift community. Every amateur drift driver in 2005 wanted a similar paint scheme.

Nomuken Today

Ken Nomura continues to compete in drift events and is still a sponsored driver in Japan. He has retired the original ER34 but continues to develop new drift cars for competition. The ER34 itself is preserved as a historic demo car.

Why the Nomuken ER34 Matters

The Blitz Nomura ER34 proved that D1GP drift was a serious professional sport. Before this car, drift was still seen as a grassroots mountain pass hobby. With Nomuken at the wheel of a clearly factory-backed, clearly professional build, drift became a championship-level discipline with manufacturer sponsorships, big tire contracts, and televised coverage. Every professional drift driver today competes in a sport Nomuken helped elevate.