Local 'drift Kings' to Face Off In Whangarei This Weekend

CODY'S D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Media information
For immediate release

* 2013/14 CODY'S D1NZ National Drifting Championship Series
Rnd 2 
The Toll Concrete Jungle Raceway
Rewa Rewa Rd
Whangarei
Sat-Sun    
Dec 14-15
2013

ROUND 2  PREVIEW

11-12-13

Local 'drift Kings' to Face Off In Whangarei This Weekend.

Local 'Drift Kings' Gary 'Gaz Whiter and Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse will face off at the second round of the 2013/14 Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship in Whangarei this weekend (Dec 14/15).

Two-time D1NZ champion Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore V8) from Kamo just north of the city is the defending Cody's D1NZ champion and won the Whangarei round last year.

But after what he describes as 'a lean two years' struggling with engine issues, three-time D1NZ series champion Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14 V8) from nearby Dargaville stormed back into contention at the opening round of this season's Cody's D1NZ series at Hampton Downs last month, top-scoring in qualifying before battling his way to the top step of the podium and early lead in the 2013/14 series points standings.

"The last two years have certainly been hard - I think between the four cylinders and the V8s we went through seven engines - but what I did there (at Hampton Downs) proves that if the car holds together I can get the results," Whiter said this week. 

After a successful debut event last year, this year's Whangarei round will again be held on a temporary drift course marked out on transport operator Toll's Rewa Rewa Rd marshaling yard.

Despite being dubbed 'The Concrete Jungle' (thanks to the 85 concrete barriers each weighing four tonnes which line the drift area) the short reverse S course was one of the most popular with drivers and spectators alike.

For good reason, says inaugural event winner 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse.

"It's not that fast - we might be only getting up to 100-120 km.h - but because it is in such a confined space you have to be quite aggressive just getting up to that speed so it makes it look faster. It's also awesome for the fans because they can see everything. It's all right in front of you"

Woolhouse was the toast of local drift community when he won last year and this year he is repaying some of that support by unveiling a much anticipated new car at Rynoz Bar & Grille on Cameron Street on Friday evening. 

He will use his existing car for the actual event but swap to the new car (which he says 'looks more like a V8  Supercar' once it has been properly tested.

This weekend's second 2013/14 Cody's D1NZ series round has again attracted capacity fields with 31 drivers from throughout New Zealand and one, Michael Prosenik, from Australia, in D1 Pro and 28 in Pro-Am.

In D1 Pro locals Whiter and Woolhouse face competition from 2011 Ruakaka round winner 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) who was second at Hampton Downs last month, and V8 Supercar and SuperTourer ace Shane van Gisbergen (Racestuff Ford Falcon V8) who - after a toe-in-the-water exercise in which he contested three rounds of the Cody's D1NZ series last year - has committed to doing all six rounds this season in 'The Rattla,' a 700hp Ford Falcon he shares with regular driver Shane Allen from Waiuku.

The 24-year-old claimed his first Cody's D1NZ podium (finishing third) at Hampton Downs and heads home on a high after a win in the final V8 Supercar race of the season in Sydney on Sunday.

Meanwhile, with last season's champion Darren Kelly (Thirsty Liquor Nissan Skyline R34) and the country's top female driver, Jodie Verhulst (Milwaukee Tools Toyota Supra), both moving up to the D1 Pro class this season, the way has been cleared for another batch of talented newcomers tp make their mark in the Pro-Am support class.

Aucklander Troy Jenkins (Juice Polishes Nissan S15) claimed the Pro-Am class win from Wellingtonian Shayne Giles (Shred Industries Nissan S15) at Hampton Downs but arguably the biggest impression was made by brothers Tom and Joe Marshall from Waipapa, near Kerikeri in the Far North.

In their first ever drift meeting Tom claimed the top qualifying spot in his ATJ International (the family earthmoving equipment importing business) sponsored Nissan Laurel and Joe went on to finish third in his Nissan 180 SX.

There will be action at Toll's Rewa Rewa Rd facility on both days with Pro-Am qualifying and battles and D1 Pro practice on Saturday from9.00am and D1 Pro practice, qualifying and battles from 9.00am on Sunday with the main battles starting at 11.00am.

Drifting is an all-weather sport with the action on both days held rain, hail or shine.

The Whangarei round is the second of six this season with subsequent ones in the New Year at Tauranga, Taupo, Christchurch and Pukekohe.

For more information go to www.d1nz.co.nz or check out the Cody's D1NZ Facebook page.

ENDS

© Scoop Media