Pro-Sport Series drifter Kyle Jackways took an emotional victory at round one of the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship, defeating Bruce Tannock to take the first ever win under the roof of Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The win for Jackways was especially memorable, as both his grandfathers passed away just two weeks before the start of the 2016–’17 season.
“It’s pretty awesome to get the win here, given the last couple of weeks with my grandfathers passing away within 12-days of each other,” said Jackways,
“To come here and be able to nail one for them was pretty damn awesome. To take away the series lead as well is a pretty cool feeling.”
Jackways road to the top began by defeating Tyler Rennell in the top-16, before taking on Tully Puckey in the top-eight. The Kiwi drifting veteran, Jackways, shadowed Puckey in his chase run, but ultimately it was Jackways who came out on top.
Top qualifier Cody Pullen-Burry went on to finish just off the podium in fourth. His first run in the top-16 saw the Nissan Silvia S15 pilot go up against Guy Graham-Bagrie. The first run went the way of Pullen-Burry, as Graham-Bagrie straight lined his Mazda RX-7 on the second switch.
The second run saw the Mazda drifter lead the way, but again, a straight line cost Graham-Bagrie. With a wheel off the track in his second run, Graham-Bagrie was defeated by the top qualifier.
The top-eights began with pole sitter Pullen-Burry leading Taylor James, who put up a valiant fight in his pursuit of the leading Silvia. The pair switched, James leading Pullen-Burry. The pole sitter ran close behind James through the middle sector, which was enough to give him the win and into the top-four.
The second top-eight battle saw Pro-Sport and Pro competitor Bruce Tannock take the initial advantage as Jared Anderson spun through turn one. Tannock cruised around two car lengths off the back of Anderson through his chase run, and looked good to take the win.
However, the judges were left to decide whether Tannock straight lined the finish. Benefit of the doubt was given to Tannock, who moved through to the top-four battles.
Blair Gribble-Bowring and Jase Brown fought hard in their top-eight battle, but in the lead run by Brown, he dropped a wheel off and gave Gribble-Bowring the win.
Tannock and Pullen-Burry went toe-to-toe in the top-four semi-finals, with Pullen-Burry leading Tannock on the first run. A good chase by Tannock was countered by Pullen-Burry in the chase, but the top-qualifier was knocked out after dropping a wheel off late in the piece.
The second of the battles pegged Kyle Jackways up against Blair Gribble-Bowring, the latter leading the first lap. He pushed hard to hold a margin over Jackways, and was knocking on his door on his chase run.
A small mistake in the last sector threatened to take the battle to a one-more-time, and the judges went the way of another battle. The judges confirmed a shallow line throughout the chase run cost him more points, forcing the decision.
Jackaways chased first, and was consistently two car lengths off the back of Gribble-Bowring. Drama struck late in the piece as Gribble-Bowring dropped a wheel off and went on to tap the outside wall.
Gribble-Bowring drove his Silvia hard in the chase, but after the mistake in his lead run, Jackaways was handed the win.
With the top-four complete, the order was set to see the veteran drifters Bruce Tannock and Kyle Jackways go head to head in the final. With the two inseparable, the dynamic duo went for back-to-back one-more-time runs, which took them to sudden death.
Like their earlier battles, Tannock and Jackaways fought eachother hard. However, a wheel drop ultimately cost Tannock, which handed Jackaways the overall win.
With a win to his name after just the first round, Jackways said he’s looking forward to round two at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, where the series will make its annual pilgrimage over 8–9 January 2017.
“I’m over the moon, I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out. I’d like to do the whole season, not just the one round. I’ll be trying to put it at the pointy end the whole year.
“It’s awesome to get one here, and going back to the fullsize tracks I’ll be a bit more confident I think.”
The 2016–’17 Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship moves to Fielding’s Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon 8–9 January.
D1NZ, round one – Forsyth Barr Stadium Pro-Sport results:
1. Kyle Jackways
2. Bruce Tannock
3. Blair Gribble-Bowring
4. Cody Pullen-Barry
5. Jared Anderson
Pro-Sport points after D1NZ round one:
1. Kyle Jackways – 105
2. Bruce Tannock – 83
3. Blair Gribble-Bowring – 71
4. Cody Pullen-Barry – 64
5. Jared Anderson – 55
6. Tully Pucker – 54
7. Taylor James – 52
8. Jase Brown – 51
9. Michael Thorley – 36
10. John O’Gorman – 36
Comments