Mad Mike to Convert Historic Leyton House March 87P F1 Car into Drifter

New Zealand drifting legend Mike Whiddett is embarking on what he describes as his most ambitious project to date: converting a Leyton House March 87P Formula 1 car into a drift machine. After gaining global notoriety for his "MAD" series of builds, Whiddett is moving beyond GT cars to tackle the rigid engineering of a historic open-wheel racer.

Why it matters:

The conversion of an F1 chassis to a drift car is a fundamental engineering paradox. Formula 1 cars are designed for ultimate lateral grip and aerodynamic precision, whereas drifting requires the intentional breaking of traction and extreme steering angles. Successfully adapting a vintage race car for this purpose represents a significant technical challenge and a bold intersection of F1 heritage and extreme automotive culture.

The Details:

• The Chassis: The March 87P was Leyton House's first entry into F1 in 1987, featuring a hybrid design that merged a modified Formula 3000 chassis with a Ford DFZ Cosworth V8.
• A Rare Piece of History: The 87P famously never competed in a Grand Prix; an engine failure prevented it from starting the 1987 Brazilian Grand Prix, leading to its immediate replacement by the March 871.
• Scaling Up: Whiddett previously converted a McLaren 650S GT3 (MADMAC), but he notes that the 87P presents a far steeper learning curve due to its unique structural composition.
• Iterative Design: Because the 87P underwent various modifications during its development, the chassis possesses unique characteristics that make the conversion process unpredictable.

What's next:

Whiddett has begun documenting the transformation through a dedicated video series. The project's success will depend on how the team manages the suspension geometry and steering rack—two critical components for drifting that are diametrically opposed to original F1 specifications. If successful, this will be the most radical F1-based drift build to date.