Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium is set to host one of the biggest racing rosters in recent New Zealand motorsport history for round one of the 2016–’17 Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship.
With D1NZ competitors, NZ Silver Fern Rally racers, Stadium SuperMoto Cup riders, and the newest addition of KartSport Dunedin’s karting contingent, the December 2–3 event is set to be an adrenaline fuelled racing spectacle.
The D1NZ Pro-Sport Series reached capacity two weeks out from the first round at 40-drifters. The Pro Series is set to see at least 70 competitors total across the two drifting classes, as more entries roll in for the first round of the season.
D1NZ Category Manager Brendon White said the packed field for round one shows drifting in New Zealand is thriving across the board.
“We’re stoked the development class is full before we even start the season,” said White.
“Drifting is really taking off across the country, with more and more drifting events nationwide taking place every weekend. The sport’s future looks healthy and stable, which is a confidence booster as we look to take our championship to new places.”
In a Southern Hemisphere first; drifters, rally racers, motard riders, and karters will wage war on the temporary concrete surface under the Forsyth Barr Stadium roof.
45-rally cars from the Silver Fern Rally will race around the short sharp circuit in a bent-sprint style race, whilst the Stadium SuperMoto Cup riders will race inside and out of the stadium in an mixed-surface shootout-style race.
Beneath the concrete track lies the one million dollar grass grounds – which typically serves as a rugby pitch and concert venue – but will be transformed into a motorsport circuit in the week leading up.
With a record number of drifters from the South Island entering for the first round of competition, drifting in the south looks stronger than ever. Over the two classes, seven of the best South Island’s drifters will take on the first round.
Christchurch drifters Guy Graham-Bagrie, Mitch Gibbs, and Michael Sloan will all make the trip down to Dunedin for round one of the Pro-Sport series. They’ll look to defeat some of the best Pro-Sport drifters in the country, each behind the wheel of their fully drift specced car.
South Auckland based Team Jenkins Motorsport drifter, Ben Jenkins, will return in his bright orange Nissan Silvia S13. Fellow Aucklander Kieran Stewart is another returning face behind the wheel of his pintsized Mazda MX-5, which wowed crowds earlier this year.
In Pro competition, Christchurch drifters Phil Sutherland and Joel Counter will return for the 2016–’17 season, whilst Josh McMillan will make his annual South Island round appearances. Andrew McClenaghan, also known as ‘Drift-Bob’, is the sole Dunedin based competitor at round one.
The first round of the 2016–’17 Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium takes place over December 2–3. The event is supported by the Silver Fern Rally, Stadium Supermoto Cup, and Kartsport Dunedin.
Comments