Drift Matsuri Vehicle Safety Standards

Please review the following standards before arriving at the event. All cars will undergo scrutineering, so ensuring compliance will save you time on the day. These are considered mandatory unless explicitly stated otherwise.

CAR APPEARANCE

• Your car must genuinely resemble a standard vehicle
• All cars must start the day with a complete set of body panels, including:
• Front and rear guards
• Boot and bonnet > You can remove the bonnet if overheating occurs, understand that this is a temporary solution, and a more comprehensive cooling system upgrade is necessary for future track days.

Drift Matsuri want to portray a high quality event to all those in attendance, both drivers and spectators. This is to lift the image of drift motorsport as a whole in New Zealand. 

All participating vehicles are required to begin the event with all body panels, including front guards and the bonnet, installed. Any exceptions must be communicated in advance with the management.

 

FRONT FIRE WALL (All Vehicles)

Ensure that any openings between the engine firewall and the cockpit are adequately sealed. For substantial openings, employ sections of panel steel secured with urethane, while smaller holes can be covered with fire-resistant gold foil tape. As mentioned earlier, this precautionary measure aims to limit the potential entry of fire into the cabin in the event of an engine fire or fuel fitting failure.

Trust our experience; we've witnessed such incidents, and they unfold rapidly.

 

REAR FUEL FIREWALLS

Who needs it?

• Vehicles equipped with ANY aftermarket or external fuel system in the trunk/hatch area are required to install a rear fuel firewall. This firewall, constructed from either panel steel or polycarbonate, serves the dual purpose of shielding occupants from potential fuel exposure in case of a fitting failure and providing crucial time to manage a fire behind, allowing occupants to evacuate safely.
• Any openings larger than 15mm, including those in the parcel tray area, must be covered. Utilize fire-resistant gold/foil tape or apply panel steel with urethane to seal these openings effectively.

Coupes/Sedans

Address the firewall in the area typically behind the rear seats, where an opening separates the trunk from the car's interior. Install a piece of metal or lexan to close this opening during the vehicle's disassembly.

Hatchbacks 

Two options are available.

• Either use a drop box to contain all aftermarket fuel components, with a polycarbonate or aluminum lid that can be closed after refilling, or
• Install a vertical polycarbonate firewall in front of the fuel cell, ensuring it sits flush against the hatch glass. Feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries regarding this matter.

ELECTRICAL/BATTERY

• Ensure batteries are firmly secured and fastened using an appropriate battery clamp, without any exceptions.
• If batteries are relocated, they must be housed within a battery box; exposed dry cell batteries are acceptable.
• Adequate insulation covers or insulation tape must be applied to positive terminals.
• The ECU should be securely mounted, even a simple but firm cable tie to a stable component will suffice.
• Neatly cable tie all loose cables to prevent any potential short circuits.

 

ENGINE/CATCH CANS

When your oil system vents, it is mandatory to employ a minimum 500ml aluminum catch can.

Original equipment engines can either recirculate oil venting as per factory specifications or direct it solely to a catch can.

Ensure there are no leaks in the vicinity of the fuel/oil area.

Whenever feasible, apply fireproof fire sleeves around oil drain lines.

 

AFTERMARKET LINES (OIL / FUEL)

Unless compliant with MSNZ standards, it is required that fuel lines are routed beneath the vehicle. Questions can be directed to us via drive@driftmatsuri.co.nz or Drift Matsuri Facebook page.

Use suitable fuel lines and fittings, avoiding compromises on hose and fittings quality. Always choose a reputable brand/company to purchase from. We've encountered instances of subpar fuel line that swells up, corrodes the hose interior, and poses a significant fire risk. Thoroughly inspect all fuel and oil fittings/lines for potential leaks after installation.

Verify that your fuel tank seal is free from leaks, a common issue with factory tanks that have undergone modifications.

 

INTERIOR COMPONENTS

Fire Extinguisher

Install a minimum of one 1kg fire extinguisher securely bolted within reach of the driver, typically placed on the gearbox tunnel or beneath the driver's seat. Secure it with 2x M6 bolt/nut. Alternatively, a 5kg extinguisher, if fitted like a 1kg, provides sufficient containment until recovery assistance arrives.

Functional Interior Door Handles

Ensure functional interior door latches on both sides to facilitate quick exit in case of a fire.

Kill Switch

Have a functional kill switch within the driver's reach, usually positioned on the gearbox tunnel. Note that this requirement does not apply to standard cars with unmodified wiring or fuel systems, as the factory ignition system suffices.

Seat & Belt Regulations

Fully Caged Vehicles

Mandatory bucket seats & minimum of a 4pt Harness compulsory (same applies to passengers side should you wish to take passengers)

Standard/Non Roll Caged, Stripped Vehicles

Bucket seats and harnesses are always recommended as this helps you stay firmly in position while driving to counteract the forces of sideways movement in the vehicle. Harnesses to be free from tears or rips; expired FIA is acceptable.

Standard Seats and belts are okay for use in standard and non-roll caged vehicles. We understand that for some street cars this is unviable to remove the rear seats and interior to fit harnesses, in such case. It is your responsibility to ensure the seat belt fits correctly with a bucket seat and there are no obstructions from shoulder bolsters on the seat which may inhibit its function.

• Factory seats or reclining seats should use the factory seatbelt.
• Seats Securely mounted
• We check for all four bolts securing the seat to the rail/mount and rail/mount to body. Some play in aftermarket rails is acceptable.

 

CAR BODY/EXTERIOR

Front Bumper

While the front bumper is optional, it is highly recommended for advanced drivers. Are you worried you aren't good enough to stay on the track and keep it in one piece? 👀

Front & Rear Screens

The factory front screen must be in place, and screens that are heavily cracked or smashed will not be accepted. Please communicate any concerns with management at drive@driftmatsuri.co.nz

The rear screen must be fitted, Perspex rear screens are acceptable.

Functional Bonnet & Boot Latch/Boot System

Ensure that functional latches are present on the bonnet and boot; otherwise, use appropriate pins with the correct fixing. This is crucial for emergency/fire access to the relevant areas. We will ask you to open these at scrutineering.

Front & Rear Tow Hooks

Front and rear tow hooks must be easily identified and accessible and visibly labeled. If your vehicle has an extremely low profile, install aftermarket tow hooks or loops to extend from the front/rear or your bumper.

 

EXHAUST SYSTEMS & EXTERNAL WASTEGATES

Observe the 95db exhaust noise limit on specific tracks (Ruapuna/Hampton). To prevent track management interventions, install a resonator or muffler.

The exhaust exit point must be no sooner than behind the front door, unless it exits through the bonnet.

For exhausts exiting through the rear bumper, the extension beyond the exit point should not exceed 250mm. Excessively long exhausts will not be accepted.

Wastegates / Exhausts through bonnet

For exhausts and wastegate pipes exiting through the bonnet, the protrusion limit is 100mm, extending straight up to prevent excess fuel vapor from spraying the passenger.

Non-turbo cars

Non-turbo cars must have a muffler or resonator fitted to adhere to noise limits.

At Ruapuna Raceway, if feasible, connect screamer pipes to the exhaust to minimize excessive noise.

 

ROLL CAGES

NO ROLL CAGE

Non-Roll caged vehicles are able to attend events but please take note that these cars are limited to the Club Circuits at Hampton Downs & Taupo Motorsport Parks

WELD-IN ROLL CAGES

While a full 6-point or more roll cage is not mandatory, it becomes a requirement if you intend to carry passengers, especially with side intrusion protection.

Although homologation is not a prerequisite, the roll cage must be constructed to high standards by a qualified individual, adhering to either current or past homologation standards (e.g., acceptable use of old pipe sizes) with meticulous, clean welds.

Passengers in tandems are obligated to have side intrusion bars for enhanced safety.

 

BOLT-IN ROLL CAGES

Bolt-in roll cages are permissible, subject to specific requirements.

Please note: TMP/HD regs suggest, no passengers are possible in bolt in cages.

Ensure that bolt-in cages are securely mounted, with footings correctly anchored and accompanied by suitable sandwich plates on the underside of the body.

Utilize nyloc nuts for the entirety of the cage and body mounting points.

Passengers in tandems are obligated to have side intrusion bars for enhanced safety.

LIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS / COVERS:

• All cars must begin the day with functioning headlights or, at the very least, a cover in place to fill the gapAlternatives to the above include:

• Aftermarket bulb setup
• Fiberglass covers/shells in place of factory lights. Pro tip: Consider having a sign writer print a vinyl headlight sticker to give the appearance of factory headlights.

TAIL LIGHTS:

• Functional taillights / brake light are a must. At the very least, a light strip along the top of the roof is required. Modified or trailer-style lights are not accepted.

 HAZARD LIGHTS:

• If not already implemented, please wire in your hazard lights as an additional way to speed up your recovery in the event you go off the circuit or get stuck. This will enable race control and recovery to clearly see, in a more time efficient manner to get to you. 

ASPECTS EXCLUDED FROM SCRUTINEERING, YET YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INCLUDE:

Functionality of brakes & handbrake

Bleeding your brakes and checking handbrake functionality on axle stands can ensure you are ready to go at the event.

Wheel studs

Examine wheel studs, particularly those at the rear. Instances of rear wheels snapping off the disk due to frequent excessive tightening and loosening have been observed. Replace any compromised studs and ensure the appropriate number of wheel nuts are secured to the studs.

At event pre-session check

It is strongly advised and considered best practice to have a mental or physical routine checklist before each session to verify the proper fastening of your fuel cap, bonnet pins, and wheels between and prior to drift sessions. This precaution becomes especially important when multiple individuals are assisting you on the event day. Prioritize safety by confirming these elements; it's better to be safe than sorry!