Supra SIXTOL in Cheb: victory, rain and a battle with technical issues until the last run

The Cheb round of the drifting season delivered exactly what makes motorsport motorsport. Tension, rain, tough conditions, emotions and machinery pushed to the limits. For the SIXTOL team, however, this race had an even more pronounced story. The SIXTOL-colored Toyota Supra MK3 driven by Daniel Pelikán finished at the very top in the PRO category. And it was not an easy road.

From the start it was clear that Cheb would not be just about speed and power. Changeable weather, wet asphalt and a technical track at Fun Arena Cheb tested every driver. In addition, Daniel Pelikán was not sitting in a simple car. The SIXTOL Supra produces around 600 horsepower and weighs nearly 1,800 kilograms, which is significantly more than typical drift specials. Keeping such a heavy and powerful car on the wet surface meant a fight for every meter.

The biggest complication, however, wasn't just the weight or the slippery track. During the race the steering did not work as it should. For a driver that's a fundamental problem, because drifting requires quick reactions, precision and the ability to immediately correct a slide. Steering is precisely one of the things the pilot must be able to rely on one hundred percent on every run. So Daniel had to fight not only his rivals and the weather but also the car itself.

The Supra held together nonetheless. Even though every contact, every hard entry and every centimeter of battle was visible on it after the race, it managed to make it all the way to the final. A damaged front end, missing lights, an exposed intercooler, scuffs all over the car and a fatigued bodywork clearly showed it wasn't a conservative drive. This wasn't a show run. This was a hard race in which the car really took a beating.

Daniel Pelikán coped excellently with the demanding conditions. On the wet surface he had to work the throttle more delicately, read the surface more precisely and at the same time keep the heavy Supra under control during quick transitions. Six hundred horses combined with water on the track don't forgive mistakes. Any sharper movement could mean a loss of line, a spin or contact. Still, Daniel progressed further and further.

In the PRO category final he then confirmed that even with technical problems and a heavy car he can drive cleanly, aggressively and with a cool head. The SIXTOL Supra ultimately won the race in Cheb. The result is all the more significant because it wasn't down to perfect equipment or easy conditions, but to hard work at the wheel, feel for the car and the ability to handle pressure.

After the race it was hard to look at the Supra without respect. The car bore the marks of the whole day – from the front bumper across the sides to the rear. But every scar belonged to the story of the victory. The Supra showed that it is not just a show car in SIXTOL livery. It is a sharp race machine that can handle a tough drifting weekend, a wet track, technical problems and edge-of-the-seat battles.

For SIXTOL, Cheb was therefore not just another race in the calendar. It was proof that even when everything doesn't come together perfectly, the result can be fought for. Daniel Pelikán and the Toyota Supra MK3 SIXTOL managed one of the toughest scenarios: a heavy car, enormous power, a wet track and non-functioning steering. And yet it resulted in victory.

Quick recap

• Place: Fun Arena Cheb
• Race: SIXTOL Drift Corp League
• Category: PRO
• Driver: Daniel Pelikán
• Car: Toyota Supra MK3 SIXTOL
• Power: approximately 600 hp
• Vehicle weight: nearly 1,800 kg
• Conditions: rain, wet track, challenging grip
• Complication: steering problems
• Result: victory in the PRO category