Just three points covered the trio at the top in qualifying for the Link ECU D1NZ National Drifting Championship Pro Series final.
Four-time drift king Gaz Whiter took pole position at Pukekohe Park in tough conditions that caught out some of the best in the field.
Rain throughout the day kept the South Auckland circuit damp coming into qualifying. The constant drizzle subsided, but parts of the circuit varied in wetness. That threw the drivers a curveball and kept the scores low.
“It pretty much stuffed everyone up I’d say,” Whiter said of the varied conditions.
“The entry was slippery and then as soon as you got a few metres around the sweeper it gripped up. It was a really challenging track to drive. I’m just happy to have the car in one piece.”
Whiter heads into Sunday’s D1NZ final ninth in the points. Qualifying has been a strong suit of the Dargaville drifter’s campaign, but mechanical issues have plagued his efforts.
Come Sunday, all Whiter wants is consistency in the conditions as he tries to upset the front runners and get his first win this year.
“Hopefully it rains or is dry – in between is terrible – but you can’t control the weather. You’ve just got to drive as best as you can.
“I’m going to battle hard. I don’t care if I lose because I hit someone. I’d rather put on a show for everyone than go half-arsed. It’s gonna be good!”
Whiter lamented a half spin in his second run that he believed could’ve eclipsed the 63-point run he initially set.
“I went for a fast run in the second run and took too much speed around the sweeper. I thought I’d made it, but I cooked it. I was too excited.”
Whiter wasn’t the only one who got caught out. Cryptopia-backed driver Jodie Donovan was first out and got the section underway cleanly, but spun into turn two.
The circuit was tough to tame. VID Drift Team pilot Joel Patterson followed suit and spun in almost identical fashion.
Series leader Darren Kelly lay down the benchmark for the field to beat with a 60-point run. However, main title rival Cole Armstrong quickly usurped Kelly with a 62-point score.
At 143kph Gaz Whiter slid into provisional pole position with a first score of 64 points.
After the first run through Whiter led Kelly, Armstrong, followed by underdogs Carl Thompson and Jaron Olivecrona.
‘Fanga’ Dan Woolhouse was one of nine who didn’t score in the first run through. Driving his Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D, Woolhouse overcooked his angle into turn two and looped out. Most spun but some didn’t get out on track with mechanical issues.
Kelly narrowly improved his margin in the second run to 63 points, but that didn’t get him into first ahead of Whiter.
Ultimately that was the way it stayed. Whiter led on 63 points, Kelly on 62 and Armstrong on 61. Thompson held onto fourth with a 59-point run and the last of the late brakers Vincent Langhorn slid into fifth with 58.5 points.
Of note was MCA Suspension pilot Shane van Gisbergen, who qualified 14th in the VK56-powered Nissan 370z. Woolhouse was one ahead in 13th only half a point ahead.
Toyotaz Galore drifter Tom Marshall was a surprise exit. He wasn’t the only exit, round four winner Adam Davies struggled in the tough conditions and failed to make the top-24.
The Link ECU D1NZ National Drifting Championship final takes place at Pukekohe Park over May 12-13. For more information visit D1NZ.com or NZXMS.co.nz. Tickets are available via iTicket.co.nz.
D1NZ Pro Series round five qualifying, top 10:
1. Gaz Whiter – 64.0
2. Darren Kelly – 63.0
3. Cole Armstrong – 62.0
4. Carl Thompson – 59.0
5. Vincent Langhorn – 58.5
6. Jaron Olivecrona – 57.5
7. Daynom Templeman – 57.0
8. Matty Hill (AUS) – 55.5
9. David Steedman – 55.0
10. Ben Wilkinson – 55.0
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