Like any motorsport, drifting continues to evolve. While some drift cars are purpose-built from day one, others, like the sport they champion, progress through trial and error, broken parts, and stubborn determination. Officially billed as a Formula Drift PRO Toyota 86, this Scion FR-S is a poster child for the growth of both driver and machine. What started as an ordinary, 100K-mile Florida commuter has transformed into a full-spec, 800 horsepower pavement scorcher that’s powered by 440 cubic inches of Dart LS. More importantly, though, the car tells the story of how persistence and constant development can slowly turn a grassroots effort into a professional-level contender.
The Roots Of It All
Nate Chen has been a part of the drifting world for close to two decades, attending his first Formula Drift event at the young age of 13. After spending a few years covering the sport as Media, he decided to jump in on the fun. In no time flat, he was rolling down the road from Virginia to Florida to pick up a well-used Scion FR-S that he could start sliding in. The Scion started building its story immediately when, on the drive home, it was tagged in the rear bumper thanks to a multi-car pileup. Fortunately, the damage was minor, and the car could serve as a fun daily-driver for a few months before heading to a shop in Delaware to begin its first major evolution.
The coupe’s original build debuted in 2019 with an iron 6.0-liter LS, which failed a few months later–something that’s not the least bit surprising, given the abuse this sport puts on engines. Stage two involved a hotter, 6.2-liter L92 block that utilized cathedral port heads to send a solid 480 horsepower to the Scion’s rear wheels. Unfortunately and fortunately, the car was completed shortly after COVID-19 set in. Unfortunate because the pandemic seriously quelled competition for the 2020 season. Fortunate because it also allowed Nate and his team to do a lot of testing at nearby Englishtown Raceway Park.
The Roots Of A Pro
That period became critical to sorting out the unavoidable issues that go hand-in-hand with building a custom race setup from scratch. Suspension tuning, cooling issues, steering geometry, driveline reliability, and power delivery all had to be refined through seat time. With a solid, fully-sorted ride and ample practice, payoff was inevitable. In October of 2020, Nate claimed victory in the US Drift Battle On The Bay Shootout, which allowed him to gain a Formula Drift PROSPEC license.
For those of you who don’t know much about Formula Drift, there are two classes: Formula Drift PROSPEC and Formula Drift PRO. For 2021, Nate’s rookie year in Formula Drift PROSPEC, the Scion would continue to evolve. The naturally aspirated L92 would be replaced by 408 cubic inches of stoker LS that stacked a big Magnuson 2650 supercharger on top of a sturdy iron block. According to Nate, this setup was initially a nightmare, with the car suffering massive overheating issues.
Overheating is a common issue in drift competition, as drift engines are subjected to brutal thermal conditions. In addition to spinning at high RPM, the engines are bolted into cars that spend long periods of time sideways. There is limited direct airflow across radiators and heat exchangers, and forced-induction adds a whole new layer to that. While the team persevered and eventually made the setup functional, it never fully delivered the consistency they wanted.
In motorsports, as the driver gets better, the car needs to get better. So, in round two of PROSPEC 2025, the team yanked the supercharged stroker and installed a naturally aspirated Dart LS Next2 that included a 200-shot of nitrous. The Dart LS Next2 block, stroked to 440 cubic inches, was paired with Wiseco pistons and Dart PRO1 cylinder heads that were built with PAC Racing valve springs. NGK plugs sparked Ignite Red racing fuel, which was supplied by a Fuelab Quick Service Surge Tank and dual Fuelab 500 LPH pumps.
The results were immediate. The Scion landed on the podium at Englishtown almost instantly, which carried extra emotional significance for Nate. In addition to being the place where he’d worked so hard to tune his car, Englishtown was the first venue where Nate received media credentials to cover a professional drifting event. He had even filmed there for Prayoonto Racing back when the drag strip still existed.
That podium finish became the beginning of a breakout season. Shortly afterward, the car secured a victory in St. Louis, and eventually carried the team to second place in the Formula Drift PROSPEC championship standings. More importantly, that performance earned Nate his Formula Drift PRO license.
The Formula Drift Pro
With a setup that’s already creating 800+ horsepower and 700 lb./ft. of torque, stepping up to Formula Drift PRO wasn’t a question of power, it was a question of grip. One significant difference between PROSPEC and PRO cars is the width of their tires. By switching to RAYS GramLIGHTS 57CR wheels and 305/35R18 Kenda Vezda UHP Max+ tires, the team gained substantially more rear grip and stability without coordinating massive mechanical changes. The car’s suspension is mostly Wisefab, with the company’s V2 angle kit complementing its E9X steering rack and Feal 442 two-way, long-stroke coilovers. Behind the engine, a Clutch Masters FX850 twin-disc clutch kicks a G-Force GSR dogbox 4-speed that’s paired with a Winters IRS quick-change rearend.
All About The Details
Over the years, Nate’s performance and approachability has developed a few long-standing partnerships. One of those is with Moroso Performance, a family-owned supplier and manufacturer of more than 4,000 automotive products. Moroso is currently in its fourth season with Nate Chen Racing. Naturally, the Drift PRO Toyota 86 features an extensive collection of proven Moroso performance parts.
Everything from the car’s oil pump, front-sump oil pan, windage tray, and accumulator to its valve covers, oil filters, plug wires, and catch can is supplied by Moroso. The Toyota even features Moroso hood pins, Moroso flywheel bolts, and a Moroso dip stick. When a car spends entire laps bouncing off rev limiters at full lock while swallowing massive G-forces and heat, every single component matters. Companies like Moroso aren’t just slapping stickers on quarter panels; they’re proving that their components can survive one of the most severe forms of racing ever created.
We have loved working with Nate over the last three years. Nate’s progression in the sport is clear and we’re excited to see him transition to the pinnacle series in drifting. – Penelope Moroso of Moroso Performance.
The sport of drifting has always rewarded drivers and builders who are willing to adapt, and the people who truly succeed in Formula Drift are usually the teams who never stop learning and evolving. More than anything, though, Nate’s story is proof that professional drifting is still one of the few forms of motorsport where grassroots determination can genuinely carry someone to the top. This wasn’t some factory-backed effort that appeared fully formed. It started with a high-mileage commuter car, a long drive home from Florida, a few variations of the legendary LS engine, and a guy who loved drifting enough to chase it all the way to Formula Drift PRO.
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