Lauri Heinonen

Drift legend · Finland

Lauri Heinonen throwing his Nissan 180SX sideways under stadium lights

The NASCAR-V8 Nissan 180SX.

The 2024 Drift Masters champion, Finland's Heinonen took his first title in a dramatic Warsaw finale aboard one of the wildest cars on the grid.

Lauri Heinonen sealed his first-ever championship at the 2024 Drift Masters finale in Warsaw's PGE Narodowy, finishing on 437 points to Ireland's Duane McKeever's 412, a 25-point margin.

His weapon is unmistakable: a Nissan 180SX powered by a supercharged Dodge R5P7 NASCAR-derived V8, a build that pairs raw noise with title-winning consistency.

The season's decisive moment came when his engine let go just as he crossed the line in a knockout battle, enough to carry him to the crown, before he took the 180SX to New Zealand as a D1NZ wildcard in 2025.

At a glance

  • Role: Drift Masters champion
  • Region: Finland

Career highlights

  • 2024: Drift Masters champion. First title, clinched in Warsaw on 437 points, 25 clear of runner-up Duane McKeever (412).
  • 2025: D1NZ international wildcard. Took the NASCAR-V8 180SX to New Zealand as a guest entry in the D1NZ championship.

Source: Drifted