Here’s something we never expected to see but we’re glad we did: Toyota Gazoo Racing collaborated with McDonald’s in Japan to create a bizarre commercial involving drifting, giant Big Macs, and the Toyota Supra. Why does such a partnership make any sense? We’re just as confused as you are, but the world is a strange place right now so let’s just go with it.
The clip stars pro drifter Daigo Saito and multiple Super GT champ Nobuteru Taniguchi (yes, of Best Motoring fame). At a hair over two minutes long, the video follows the pair in their drift-prepped Toyota Supras—one in Monster Energy livery and the other sporting the iconic HKS colors—as they slide their way gymkhana-style through a course of giant-size fast food and other McDonald’s-inspired obstacles. At one point, the two Supras perform tandem donuts around a rolling box of Chicken McNuggets—and no, that wasn’t a sentence I was prepared to write today. Also worthy of note is the drift-and-grab manauver Saito pulls to snag some fries. The course concludes with a stop at a McDonald’s drive-thru, because of course, to grab a Happy Meal. Side note: We know it makes sense given the Japanese drive on the right side, but it’s weird seeing the Supras approach the window from the opposite direction.
Unusual subject matter aside, the video is well-produced with cool stunts that would make even Ken Block envious. Whether legit or assisted by CG, the Supras rendering the unmistakable Golden Arches logo in tire smoke is a neat effect. As an added bonus of this unlikely partnership, kids in Japan can now get a Toyota Supra toy car by Tomica with their Happy Meals. (Any chance I can exchange an Elsa from Frozen 2 for one?)
So what did we learn from this? That marketing collaborations have no bounds, for one, and also that I really want a Big Mac.
