MATT FIELD’S MANUAL C8 DRIFT CAR — THE WORLD’S FIRST

Images by Louis McConnell

Matt Field rolled into Long Beach ready to throw down for the 2025 Formula Drift season—but not behind the wheel of his newest creation just yet. While he competed in his tried-and-true C6 Corvette, fans got their first in-person look at something truly wild: the world’s first manual C8 drift car. Sitting at his booth all weekend, the car drew serious attention—not just for its aggressive styling and wild presence, but because of what it represents for the future of drifting.

This isn’t some concept or trailer queen—it’s a full-on, ground-up drift build with one huge twist. The C8 Corvette was never supposed to have a manual transmission. Chevy didn’t make it that way. But Matt and his crew decided to break the mold. With a lot of brainpower and custom fabrication, they managed to pull off something no one else has: a mid-engine C8 with a stick, purpose-built for tire-slaying.

Still, Matt’s not rushing it. The C8 isn’t ready for comp just yet, and he's not about to throw it into the fire until it’s fully dialed. He plans to keep testing and developing it throughout the year—and if it performs like he knows it can, we could see this beast hit the burnout box and then some in Formula Drift 2026.

In the meantime, he’s still a serious contender this season. His C6 is proven, battle-hardened, and backed by one of the most dependable crews in the game. These are the same guys who’ve pulled off miracle repairs in the heat of competition, getting Matt back on track with seconds to spare. They're built for chaos—and they thrive in it.

This C8 is more than a passion project. It's a statement. It’s pushing boundaries, rewriting what’s possible, and giving us all a glimpse at the future of drifting—one gear at a time.