Van Gisbergen First to Sign up for Cody's D1nz Legends

CODY'S D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Press release
For immediate release

* 2012/13 CODY'S D1NZ National Drifting Championship Series
Legends Challenge
Hampton Downs
March 01/02
2013

SERIES PREVIEW # 2

22-09-12

Van Gisbergen First to Sign up for Cody's D1nz Legends Challenge

Hot on the heels of the news that he will be swapping from Ford to AMG next season, Kiwi young gun Shane van Gisbergen is the first V8 Supercar star to sign up for the Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship Series' Legends Challenge.

The challenge, which will take place at the fourth round of this season's Cody's D1NZ Championship Series at Hampton Downs in March next year, will pit the top drivers from the Cody's D1NZ Championship against their Kiwi counterparts from Australia's V8 Supercar and New Zealand's V8 SuperTourer series.

SP Tools-backed, Stone Brothers Racing driver van Gisbergen, who will be supported in his efforts by two of his Australian sponsors, SP Tools and Monster Energy, is a keen follower of the Cody's D1NZ series and jumped at the chance to sign up for the Drift Challenge.

"I've always been a fan of anything that goes sideways starting from watching my Dad rallying to when I first started racing Speedway but I have never had a go at 'proper' drifting so it's going to be pretty awesome to get the opportunity to do so with D1NZ," he said this week.

Each V8 'legend' will pair with a local drifter and get to learn the ropes in their car before the Challenge meeting. In van Gisbergen's case that partner is Shane Allen who drives the Rattla Motorsport Ford Falcon V8, meanwhile overseeing development of all drivers will be NZ number 1 Curt Whittaker in the Whittaker Motorsport R34.

"I've seen photos and video of the Rattla Motorsport Ford Falcon and I can't wait to get behind the wheel and have a go myself," says van Gisbergen. "It will be quite challenging to pick up but I'm sure with a few laps I think I'll be able to get the hang of it."

The Legends Challenge is the first of a number of promotional initiatives D1NZ CEO Brendon White will roll out this year.

Another announcement is welcoming a new alignment with BP Ultimate 98 for the BP Ultimate Triple Crown - three Trophy Rounds which will give drivers an extra incentive to contest the penultimate round of the Cody's D1NZ Championship at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park in Christchurch.

"We are thrilled to be involved with the series," says Debi Boffa General Manager BP Fuels. "BP Ultimate 98 represents power, performance and high octane action which we see as the perfect fit with the Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship.

The 2012/13 D1NZ series kicks off at Manfeild in late October before heading to a new venue in Whangarei in December, a high-summer meeting at Tauranga in January, Hampton Downs and Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in March, then a grand final at Pukekohe Park Raceway in April/May.

Entries already confirmed include those of 2011/12 Cody's D1NZ series champion Curt Whittaker (Nissan Skyline R34), high-profile Auckland-based international 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) and former title-holders Gary 'Gaz' Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14) from Dargaville and Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore).

2011/12 Pro-Am category champion Cam Vernon (Skinny/Gull Nissan Skyline R32) is also one of a number of drivers from the feeder category stepping up to the D1NZ Pro ranks this season.

Included, meanwhile, in an influx of new drivers into the Pro-Am category are not one but two female entrants, Tauranga's Jodie Verhulst (Toyota Supra) and Hamilton’s Bex Bennett (Nissan Skyline).

Ends

2012/13 CODY'S D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Calendar
Rnd 1: Oct 26-27 2012 Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 2: Dec 01-02 2012 Whangarei
Rnd 3: Jan 19-20 2013 Tauranga
Rnd 4: March 01-02 2013 Hampton Downs incl. Legends Challenge
Rnd 5 March 30-31 2013 Powerbuilt Tools Raceway @ Ruapuna Park Christchurch
Rnd 6: April-May 2013 Grand Final Pukekohe Park Raceway

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