Fueling the Drift: FuelTech Powering Formula Drift Drivers

FuelTech, a leader in high performance engine management systems, stands at the forefront of automotive technology, fueling some of the sport's most formidable competitors. Drivers like Diego Higa, Taylor Hull, Frederico Sceriffo, and Joao Barion have all harnessed FuelTech's cutting-edge technology to maximize their performance on the drifting circuit.

Diego Higa is new to Formula Drift, entering his 2nd season in the highly competitive series. His standing as one of the world's top drivers is clear with more than 38 trophies, the prestigious Golden Helmet award from the Brazilian Automobile Confederation, and the title of Champion from the Netflix reality competition series "Hyperdrive." For Higa, drifting is in his blood. His father, Neto Higa, is a former drift driver with a garage in Brazil that is popular with drift drivers seeking performance upgrades. Neto has fostered his son's natural talent, sponsoring young Higa's path to becoming a professional drift driver. Higa uses FuelTech's engine management systems to provide the power and control necessary to match his aggressive driving style, allowing him to adjust to track conditions in real-time, giving him the edge needed to execute precise drifts under pressure.

• FT600 ECU with touchscreen digital dash display
• FT PRO 6 Point Camlock SFI Racing Harness
• NanoPRO 3-in-1 Wideband O2 Sensor Controller with touchscreen display and virtual switch panel
• EGT-8 8-channel K-type thermocouple controller
• SwitchPanel-8 Mini customizable 8 button racing switch panel with multicolor LED backlight

Diego Higa checking his tune before hitting the track!

Check out Diego's Netflix Hyperdrive and Formula Drift cars. 

Taylor Hull joined Formula Drift Pro Spec in 2015 and despite only competing part-time, he rose to the Elite Pro series in only 2 years, but his rise has not been smooth sailing. A major crash put his S-14 out of commission, ending his 2016 season and leading him to sit out the first half of the 2017 season as he struggled to get the Nissan back on the track. Hull made waves in 2018 with the first purpose built Cadillac ATS-V drift car, bucking the norm of using import vehicles in drifting. Despite struggling to overcome new car gremlins, the risk paid off drawing sponsorships that allowed him to continue to pursue his drift dream. In 2022 Hull unveiled his newly built 2013 C7 Corvette, sponsered by COMP Cams, complete with a first-ever front-mounted transmission. Hull cites ease of installation, user-friendly software, and reliability in choosing a FuelTech ECU. The versatility of FuelTech's engine management systems is the perfect complement to Hull's unconventional builds.  

• FT550 ECU with touchscreen digital dash display
• 2 x WB-O2 Nano Wideband O2 Sensor Controller with Display
• 2 x EGT-4 4-channel K-type thermocouple controller
• LS550V8 Complete Harness

Taylor Hull's 2013 C7 Corvette 

Check out Hull's famous Cadallac ATS-V

Widely regarded as one of the most talented and experienced drift drivers in the world, Frederico Sceriffo brings an artistic flair to drifting. Discovering drifting at age 13, there was no turning back for young Sceriffo. Two years later he was competing in Italy's first drift event in a borrowed yellow Subaru, finishing 2nd (yellow is still his trademark color). In the years since, Sceriffo has spent time competing across Europe, Japan where he trained under drifting pioneer and Team Orange Founder Nobushige Kumakubo, China, and Russia before coming to the United States in 2018 to realize his dream of becoming a Formula Drift driver. Unfortunately, a crash in Round 1 of his first Formula Drift event resulted in his beloved V12 Ferrari 599 GTB, which he calls "Fiorella," engulfed in flames. While he has struggled to find the podium since joining Formula Drift, he has started the 2024 season strong, finishing 5th in Long Beach, CA.

• FT600 ECU with touchscreen digital dash display
• WB-O2 Nano Wideband O2 Sensor Controller with Display
• SwitchPanel-5 Mini customizable 5 button racing switch panel with multicolor LED backlight
• FT Dual Power Driver

Inside "Fiorella," Sceriffo's Ferrari 599 GTB

Federico Sceriffo with FuelTech Founder Anderson Dick

Joao Barion, better known as Sheriff Barion, is known for his fearless speed and dynamic maneuvers, began his racing career in karting at age 9. Seven years later he made the jump to South America Formula Three racing and later European Formula 3000 before making the jump to drifting in 2017. Sheriff Barion competed in the Netflix reality competition show "Hyperdrive." He made it all the way to the finals where he faced fellow Brazilian and drifter Diego Higa. Unfortunately, a radiator leak in his custom 1965 Ford Mustang forced him to surrender the victory to Higa. Sheriff Barion holds the Official Drift Brazilian Champion, but is focused on making his mark on drifting in the United States.

On the track Sheriff Barion pushes his Corvette C7 Z06 / LS to the limit and off the track, he has gained a new sponsorship from Extreme Sim Racing, providing fans the opportunity to view Barion's pit which is conveniently located next to Extreme Sim Racing's immersive drift simulators.

• FT600 ECU with touchscreen digital dash display
• 2 x WB-O2 Nano Wideband O2 Sensor Controller with Display
• SwitchPanel-8 Mini customizable 8 button racing switch panel with multicolor LED backlight
• 2 x EGT-4 4-channel K-type thermocouple controller

Joao Barion getting ready to hit the track in Atlanta, GA.

Barion's Corvette features an FT600ECU.