Taupo’s Ricoh Motorsport Park hosts the fourth round of this season’s Cody’s D1NZ National Drifting Championship this weekend with high-profile Auckland-based international ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) leading the points standings but at least five other drivers still in contention for the 2013/14 Drift King title.

The Achilles Radial-backed round – the second of three which also carry points for the BP Ultimate Triple Crown – has again attracted a 60+ field across the two – D1 Pro and Pro-Am – classes, and with three different winners so far this season series organiser Brendon White says that an obvious Taupo favourite is hard to pick.

“Mike’s had a great season so far, but the strength of the series right now is that we’ve got any number of other drivers just as capable of winning a round. If Mike does win he’s going to be the title favourite for sure. If he doesn’t he’s still going to be in with a chance, but so will three or four other drivers.”

Andrew Redward (Achilles Radial Mazda RX7 V8) is one of those drivers and though shoulder surgery saw him miss the second series round battles at Whangarei in December he stormed back to win the third at Mount Maunganui in January and agrees it is too early to start talking about final series standings.

“You can’t give up. There is always a chance, even if someone is 100 points ahead of you. If Mike has any issues this weekend he could easily go out in the Top 32.”

Which is what happened to Redward at the 2012/13 series final at Taupo last year. Whiddett also had a day to forget that day, being beaten by fellow Aucklander Zak Pole (ClubAuto/Rollei Action Cameras Nissan Skyline R33) in the Top 16.

Despite that both drivers still rate the infield drift section at Ricoh Taupo Motorsport Park as one of the best in the country.

“It’s a fun section,” says Whiddett, “because it’s got elevation changes and though it’s a bit more open and the speeds are a lot faster than on the stadium courses it’s still quite technical.”

“Taupo’s definitely one of the fastest tracks we run on,” agrees Redward.” I like any track but the faster ones are always more exciting and at Taupo you stay pinned the whole section.”

Currently second in the series points standings after a win at the first round, runner-up spot at the second and early shower (after being forced to borrow a car when his own suffered mechanical problems) at the third round, is three-time former D1NZ champion Gary ‘Gaz’ Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14 V8), 77.5 points behind Whiddett.

Young gun Nico Reid (Luxury Sports Nissan S15) is a further 28 points back in third but then there are only half a point gaps to 2011/12 series champion Curt Whittaker (Autosure Warranties Nissan Skyline R34 2JZ) in fourth place and Redward in fifth before a one-and-a-half point break to defending title holder Daniel ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore V8) in sixth.

Dark horse status, meanwhile, is reserved for Gold Coast-based Kiwi V8 Supercar ace Shane Van Gisbergen who this season has been sharing the BOC Gases/Racestuff Ford Falcon V8 with Waiuku driver Shane Allen.

After a toe-in-the-water exercise last season Van Gisbergen committed to do all sx rounds of this season’s Cody’s series behind the wheel of the car nick-named ‘The Rattla’ and after his first podium (he finished third) at the opening round of this season’s Cody’s D1NZ series he is currently eighth in the series points standings.

It’s a ‘battle of the brothers,’ meanwhile, in the Pro-Am support class where 23-year-old Tom (ATJ International Nissan S13) and 20-year-old Joe (ATJ Nissan 180SX) Marshall from Waipapa in the Far North currently sit second and third respectively in the series standings, just two (Tom) and four (Joe) points behind leader Troy Jenkins (Juice Car Polishes Nissan S15) from Auckland.

Local interest will be provided by Taupo driver Rene Richmond (ILS Mazda RX7), currently 15th equal in the 32-strong Pro-Am field, and who will be found this weekend pitted next to fellow Rotary stalwart ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett over the weekend.

There will be action on track both days with D1 practice and Pro-Am practice, qualifying and the first round of battles on Saturday and final Pro-Am battles and D1 qualifying and battles on Sunday with adult general admission tickets only $15 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday. For ticket information and booking go to https://www.d1nz.com/d1nz/tickets and for more information check out the Cody’s D1NZ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/D1NZOFFICIAL.