Back when the Ford Mustang first debuted, it was thought that the pony car would prove most popular with young women and secretary types. And that much was true…but adrenaline junkies found the Mustang’s optional V8 engine to be quite a big draw as well. It didn’t take long for Mustangs to end up in road racing and drag racing competitions, though it would be straight-line action the Mustang became the most famous for.

These days, when it comes to motorsports, the Ford Mustang has proven absolutely dominant in the newly-formed competition of professional drifting. In this next video, Ford’s two top drifters, Justin Pawlak and 2010 Formula D champion Vaughn Gittin Jr talk about how the Mustang has risen to become a top competitor in Formula Drift.

As you may already know, Ford has recently doubled down on its commitment to Formula Drift by becoming a top sponsor of the event. Yet even seven years ago, when the Mustang first showed up on the drifting scene, it wasn’t exactly welcomed by the import-oriented crowd. Formula Drift has origins in Japan, and most of the top drivers kept to their light-but-powerful import cars.

But the Mustang’s inherent advantages of big torque and immense aftermarket support have helped propel it to the forefront of the drifting community. Though Vaughn Gittin Jr. came in second this year, the Mustang remains a potent force to reckon with on the Formula Drift circuit. With the Blue Oval throwing its full weight behind the event, we fully expect to see the Mustang back on top come the next few years.