This year is set to be one of the most hotly contested championships to date, with last year’s back to back champion ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse coming in hot after winning Mad Mike’s Summer Bash two weeks ago, he will be the one to watch.
For the Australian fans there is plenty on offer with the 2022 Hi Tech Drifting Champion (also 2023 Runner-Up) Brodie Maher set to compete at the first round he will want to make his mark, the second Australian driver has already won a round of D1NZ in a borrowed car from local lads Team DSR, at Manfeild in 2021.
Luke Fink returns with the JDM Earthmoving team who will be looking for that top spot and has set the intention to be the first Aussie to hold the NZ Drift King title.
“I’m looking forward most to being back with the amazing JDM racing crew,” said Fink.
“We just have such a good time the racing almost comes second to our crew ‘it’s all about the tour’.
“Competition will no doubt be fierce and we are making all the moves to make sure the main cars are ready to rip, and some hard work has been put into the crowd favourite backup car, ‘the barn find’ R32 sedan waiting for its chance if any of our main cars decide to play hard to get!”
Local lad Taylor James is also expected to look sharp at Round 1, coming off his recent trip over the ditch where he competed at two major events World Time Attack at Sydney Motorsport Park and Adam LZ’s World Tour at Calder Park in Melbourne.
James has been hunting for that top rung the past few seasons, narrowly missing out in 2023.
Having his own car overseas and competing with people that he never thought he would drive with was just massive for his driving. Taupo Motorsport park is where he started drifting and that it can be anyone’s game on the day at this track.
James has three-time NZ Champion Darren Kelly in the background helping him with technical setup and spotting for him during his runs.
The first event commences December 15, with both the Pro Competition as well as a full field of Pro-Sport drivers.
Fans can join us from 10am on Friday at the Taupo International Motorsport Park, tickets are available from D1NZ.com if you cannot make it to the venue we are offering a FREE livestream via our Social Network, which will also be played out directly over the Repco New Zealand Facebook page, Friday is Qualifying and Saturday will be the Pro Sport Competition.
For the Pro Competition the broadcast is from 2pm Saturday on Sky Sport 5 or Fox Sports and Kayo for Australian viewers.