Ian's 2013 Subaru BRZ with Apex ARC-8 Wheels

APEX: Tell us some details about yourself & your car.

Ian Barton: My name is Ian Barton (Car #86) and I am from Atlanta, GA. I drive a 2013 Subaru BRZ – Crystal Black Silica. My hobby is driving – wrenching on anything with an engine! My sponsors include JDL Auto Design, Racecomp Engineering, Velox Motorsports and Whiteline.

APEX: What is your track day wheel setup?

Ian Barton: I run a set of 17×9” +42 APEX ARC-8 wheels with 255/40-17 Maxxis Victra VR-1 tires.

APEX: Why did you choose APEX Wheels over the rest?

Ian Barton: I loved the classic motorsport design and the quality, fitment, and brake clearance speaks for itself!

APEX: How did you get into track racing & for how long?

Ian Barton: I started doing HPDE’s when I was 15 whenever I could get seat time in my Dad’s ’89 Porsche 944 S2 Club Racer. 10 years later I became a nationally certified instructor through the Porsche club, and soon after I bought the BRZ new off of a pre-order and then things really got serious! For two years now I’ve been a driving coach at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta and I can’t get enough seat time in my BRZ!

APEX: How many events do you participate in each year, care to share any track results?

Ian Barton: I try to make it out to as many events as I can, usually 4-5 a year but recently my BRZ build has been getting serious with the addition of a turbo kit from JDL Auto Design, so getting that built to order, customized, and installed with all the supporting mods and tuning ironed out has kept the car off track for almost a year. My personal best in the BRZ at Road Atlanta, my home track, is a 1:46.1. That’s naturally aspirated with about 205hp at the wheels, on 245 section width street tires.

APEX: If you could give one tip to a new racer, what would your tip be?

Ian Barton: Listen to your instructor!

APEX: Where can we follow you on Social Media?

Ian Barton: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/86senpai/ Build thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13157

APEX: Do you have any clubs, shops or racing buddies you want to give a shout out to?

Ian Barton: 86Atlanta: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1420589918206460/ JDL Auto Design: https://www.facebook.com/JDLAutoDesign/ Racecomp Engineering: https://www.facebook.com/RacecompGTworx/ Velox Motorsports: https://www.facebook.com/veloxmotorsports/

Matt became the JDM Product Expert at APEX Wheels in 2022. Prior to joining APEX, he worked extensively in automotive sales. As an enthusiast he made the shift from street driving to track driving in order to fully experience his cars at the limit without putting the public at risk. Matt has owned six Hondas (‘94 Integra LS, ‘95 Integra RS, ‘96 Integra GS-R, ‘06 RSX Type-S, ‘95 Civic VX, ‘17 Civic EX-T), two Subarus (‘15 Impreza, ‘22 BRZ), and is likely shopping for the next addition to his stable. When he’s not helping JDM owners figure out the best wheel setups for their cars, he enjoys playing racing video games and indulging his interest in automotive photography. Fun fact: Matt knows every quotable line in The Fast and the Furious by heart.

Have questions about wheels for your JDM vehicle? Use our contact form and ask for Matt.