It’s anyone’s game as the country’s top drifters gear up for round four of the Demon Energy D1NZ Championship Series at Hampton Downs this weekend.
Whangarei’s Daniel Woolhouse (Fanga Dan) currently leads the series standings in his 800hp Century Batteries Holden Commodore V8, but the hunt for the title has taken a dramatic turn after Round 3 in Taupo with only 4 points separating the top three drivers.
“Winning the opening round definitely gave us the best kick-start to the season, but it’s anyone’s game now – three of us are in the running with a few more outside the top five that could cause an upset.” Said Woolhouse, who is looking to clock up a third championship to his name.
Just three points behind however is Tauranga’s Cole Armstrong in the V Energy 250gt Nissan Skyline, the best of the Turbo pilots, with V8 driver and former champion Curt Whittaker just another point behind in the Autosure Skyline.
Current defending champion Darren Kelly in the turbocharged HiTec Oils R34 Nissan has had a mixed bag so far this season sitting down the order in 9th overall, something he wants to rectify at Hampton Downs.
“We came second last year so it’s a track I’m confident with, pretty keen to put the car back on the podium and climb back up the points ladder.” Said Kelly
Next weekend will potentially mark the last time the T2 Drift Section at Hampton Downs is used by the D1NZ Series, with a new Club Circuit nearing completion as part of the wider motorsport complex. D1NZ Series Director Brendon White is impressed with the changes at the venue since its acquisition by businessman and motorsport icon Tony Quinn, and is looking forward to bringing the series back for years to come.
“The venue is undergoing an huge transformation and to see such amazing attributes being put into a race circuit in New Zealand is really a breath of fresh air.” Said White. “While the new circuit is not fully completed you can see the vision the team at Hampton Downs have and it spells only good things to come for Motorsport fans in the future.”
Round 4 of the new Pro-Sport Series will also be on show this weekend as Taranaki’s Chad Mckenzie (Waitara Tyres R32 Skyline) leads the restricted class over Tauranga’s Vincent Hopkins (Nissan R32 Skyline) and Calvin Clark’s Prime Avocados C33 Laurel.
Action kicks off over the 27th and 28th February with gates opening at 9.30am each day. Practice & Qualifying on Saturday, main event competitions for both classes on the Sunday. For full event information including tickets and access to the free Link ECU backed Live-Stream broadcast visit D1NZ.com
