Mad Mike gets into F1
Global drifting legend “Mad Mike” Whiddett has announced his most ambitious project yet.
He is transforming a Formula 1 chassis into a rotary-powered drift car and the process is being documented in a six-part YouTube series.
The New Zealander, known for pushing the limits of custom-built performance drift machines and his competitive career including winning the Formula Drift Japan Championship, has become one of the most innovative figures on the scene.
His latest project will see him convert a 1986 March 87P F1 chassis – originally developed for Formula 3000 and later used in F1 competition – into a world-first rotary powered drifter.
Whiddett says the project represents the most complex build he and his team have undertaken. “It’s quite scary, actually. We are building by far the most insane project Toni and I have ever tackled.” That’s Toni Cook, his partner and manager of Mad Mike Motorsport.
The build is taking place in his MADLAB workshop at Hampton Downs where fabrication and engineering work is under way. Whiddett’s dedicated team includes engine builder Alec Bell, and fabricator and engineer Brendon Thomas.
A lifelong fan of the 1980s and 1990s motocross, WRC and F1, Mad Mike draws inspiration from a period defined by world-class engineering and fearless drivers – a key factor in selecting the chassis for this project.
In the first episode of the YouTube series, Whiddett receives delivery of the 1986 F1 chassis and immediately faces a series of unique engineering challenges.
These include re-engineering the vehicle to integrate a rotary engine, a configuration that would be a first-of-its-kind in an F1 chassis. The car also presents challenges including the H-pattern gearbox and compact cockpit.
The March Engineering chassis’ life began in 1986 in Formula 3000 before being developed into a F1 entry for the 1987 season under the Leyton House team.
Powered by a Ford Cosworth DFZ V8 and driven by Italian driver Ivan Capelli, it achieved a best finish of sixth at the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s well-known for its fan-favourite teal livery and compact carbon-fibre monocoque design.
Whiddett’s latest project continues a career of unconventional custom drift builds and competitive success. After transitioning from motocross, he established himself in drifting with the Red Bull-backed 515bhp MADBUL Mazda RX-7 and rotary-engined BADBUL RX-8 that he won the 2009 NZ Drift Championship in its debut year.
He later made a 1,200bhp RADBUL Mazda MX-5 and converted a Lamborghini Huracan called NIMBUL into a drifter for the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Whiddett’s most recent major build, the MADMAC McLaren P1 drift hypercar, also rotary-engine swapped, was documented in a globally successful YouTube series. Now he’s set to complete and later reveal the build of his F1 drift machine called FORMIDABUL.
He says: “The part I’m looking forward to most with this project is the inspiration I hope rubs off on anyone who sees it and learns my story.
“Growing up with my solo mum on a limited budget, I spent my time building, breaking and learning to modify old radio-controlled cars, and I never let anything stand in the way of chasing my dreams full throttle.
“That journey has now led me to engineering my dream F1 car to showcase and entertain the world. If I can do it, so can you.”
The project will be documented across six episodes covering the full tear-down engine build, engine management, cooling systems, fabrication, steering development, chassis development and shakedown testing through to final reveal.
Viewers can follow the transformation from concept into a fully built, track-ready F1 drift car on Mad Mike's YouTube channel.
Click here to watch the opening episode on YouTube. To find more Mad Mike and drifting content, click here.
