Japfest 2025 – Select Cars, Sideways Action & Serious Vibes

Japfest at Silverstone. The date every JDM fan has circled on the calendar. The spiritual home of Japanese car culture in the UK. And once again, Auto Finesse rolled in deep.

From dawn till dusk, Japfest 2025 delivered exactly what it promises every year – non-stop action, immaculate builds, raw drift energy, and a buzzing crowd of true car lovers. This year felt bigger, louder, and more connected than ever. For us, it wasn’t just about turning up, it was about bringing the full force of the Auto Finesse culture with the help of the wider TeamAF team – and we made sure we left our mark.

AF SELECT: CURATED JAPANESE PERFECTION

Let’s start with the AF Select area – our curated space, built to showcase 50 of the finest JDM cars in the UK.

Each build was handpicked to represent the diversity and depth of the UK’s Japanese car scene. We’re talking about timeless icons and future legends, all lined up with care, passion, and an obsessive attention to detail. Whether it was the perfectly stanced S-chassis builds, wide-arched Evos, race-inspired Civics, or ultra-clean RX7 with a chirping rotary – every car had a story, and every story was worth stopping for.

The energy around the Select Area all day was unreal. Crowds packed in from the moment the gates opened, cameras out, phones up, conversations flowing. It wasn’t just about the cars – it was about the community. Owners chatting, sharing build journeys, trading tips. Visitors soaking up inspiration and ideas. This is exactly why we keep coming back to Japfest with our AF Select section – not just to show off some cool cars, but to celebrate the lifestyle that surrounds them.

ENTER THE DRIFT ARENA

Of course, no Japfest would be complete without a little bit of chaos – and we brought plenty.

In the Drift Kings demo sessions, we hit the tarmac in true AF style. First up was Archie Harmer, our very own pro team driver at just 18 years old, taking our Datsun GX1200 out for a wild run. It’s always a crowd pleaser – raw, analogue, and completely unhinged when it’s sideways. Archie’s been dialling this car in over the past few months and it’s safe to say the team have it hooked up. The commitment, the consistency, the smoke – every pass had the crowd excited.

But Archie wasn’t the only one causing a stir.

Auto Finesse founder and CEO James Batty took to the track in our latest project: the JZX100 Chaser – AKA the Drift Limo. This was its first proper shakedown on a fast track and it did not disappoint. With its big-body presence, aggressive setup, and a soundtrack that rattled the grandstands, the JZX ripped around the track, until it ripped through the clutch, back to the drawing board on that one, but for the runs it did get accross 2 session James threw it around like he’s been driving it for years – a perfect balance of finesse and aggression.

It’s not every day you see the guy who built the brand also building the line into a corner at full lock. That’s what Auto Finesse is all about – hands-on, boots on the ground, fully immersed in the culture we love.

THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR (SO FAR)

We’ve been to a fair few events this season already – but none of them have touched the scale of Japfest or yet felt as complete and rounded as it did this year.

This was easily the busiest, most high-energy show of the year for us. The venue was packed from early on, the paddocks overflowing, the queue to see the cars Drift Arena five deep all day. The weather held up right until the end, spirits were high, and the sense of community was front and centre.

One thing that really stood out this year was just how huge the drift pits were. Bigger than we’ve seen in years. With names like Baggsy throwing down runs, the level of talent was high. But it wasn’t just the big names – the pits were full of up-and-coming talent too, It’s events like this that remind us why the UK drift scene is still alive and kicking.

REFLECTING ON WHAT WE DO IT FOR

For us, Japfest is more than a show – it’s a yearly reminder of why we started in the first place. From our humble beginnings in mobile detailing, to building one of the most recognisable brands in the scene – everything we do comes back to days like this.

It’s about the smell of tyres, the quick detailer on the paintwork, the clatter of modified engines echoing through the pits. It’s about seeing a kid stare wide-eyed at a car you’ve spent years building. It’s about late-night drives, early-morning setups, the graft behind the scenes, and those moments when everything just clicks.

It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself – and giving it everything you’ve got.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…

Massive thanks to everyone who stopped by the AF Select area, cheered us on in the drift sessions, snapped a photo, bought some gear, or simply came over for a chat. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’ll be back before you know it.

If you were at Japfest and grabbed any pics or videos of our cars or the AF Select lineup – make sure you tag us @autofinesse. We love seeing the event through your lens.

Next stop? Germany for Tuning World Bodensee

Stay tuned. Stay stylish. And as always – Stay Finesse.