Lewis Hamilton lives out real-life Tokyo Drift fantasy in Skyline GT-R
Published on Nov 28, 2022 at 9:45 PM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Nov 28, 2022 at 9:45 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
What does F1 star Lewis Hamilton like to do in his spare time?
Let loose ripping donuts in a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, apparently.
The seven-time F1 World Champion recently posted a video to his Instagram account in which he can be seen ripping donuts in the JDM icon.
As you might expect, the video has now gone viral, and it may have landed the British racing driver in a bit of hot water.
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For the vast majority of petrolheads, the opportunity to drive a Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R on the streets of Tokyo is a bucket list experience.
So, when Hamilton visited Tokyo for the Japan Grand Prix, he did what any sensible car enthusiast would do and got behind the wheel of the automotive icon.
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Although the video was only short, it gives us a fair idea of what went down.
It’s safe to say Hamilton had plenty of fun, taking what appears to be a stock white Skyline R34 GT-R on the Shuto Expressway and ripping a few donuts for good measure.
At the end of the day who wouldn’t, with the R34 packing a supposed 327 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque.
While the RB26 DETT engine showed plenty of life even after more than 20 years, the same can’t be said for the poor Skyline’s transmission.
Thanks to the onboard footage shot by a passenger, the gear shifter clearly starts smoking after Hamilton rips a series of donuts.
We’re used to seeing Hamilton in a variety of high-performance Mercedes models and exotics like the Pagani Huayra.
So, it was a pleasant change to see him behind the wheel of something a bit different, which he clearly enjoyed.
That enjoyment might come at a cost, though.
Who owns the Lewis Hamilton Skyline GT-R?
The alleged owners of the car, Japan’s Omoshiro Rent-A-Car, aren’t happy with Hamilton’s treatment of the JDM legend.
A Twitter account, which appears to be run by the company, posted a tweet saying: “This is a car from Omoshiro Rent-A-Car, but it was not taken with permission from our company. Such driving is strictly prohibited.”
Let that be a lesson learned, Lewis – never post your hoonage online.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
