Whangarei driver Daniel ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore) will be looking to consolidate his early season points lead at the fourth round of the Cody’s D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Hampton Downs next week (Fri/Sat March 01/02).

Having won two of the three rounds so far held the former D1NZ title holder has 312 points, 75 more than current runner-up Andrew Redward (Achilles Mazda RX7 V8) and 82 more than defending Cody’s D1NZ champion Curt Whittaker (Autosure 2JZ Nissan R34.).

Whittaker won a close-fought battle with Woolhouse for victory at the opening 2012/13 Cody’s series round at Manfeild in October last year but since then Woolhouse has been unbeatable, claiming a popular home victory at the second round in Whangarei in December then backing that up with a second temporary course victory at the Baypark Stadium in the Bay of Plenty in January this year.

With Whittaker plagued by drive belt issues at Whangarei (where he finished fourth) then eliminated early at Baypark, series young gun Nico Reid (Luxury Sports Nissan S15) and fellow Aucklander Andrew Redward have stepped into the breach, bracketing Whittaker in the overall series points standings after seconds (for Reid) and Whangarei and Redward (Baypark).

Crowd favourite ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) has been impressive in qualifying at all three rounds but after finishing third at the first one has been eliminated in the battles at both Whangarei and Baypark and currently lies sixth in the series points standings.

Three-time former D1NZ champion Gary ‘Gaz’ Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14 V8) has also been in the wars, clashing with Curt Whittaker at Whangarei then hitting the wall hard at Baypark.

The two-day (Friday/Saturday) meeting has again attracted a 60-strong entry across the D1NZ and Pro-Am classes and as well as all the top local drivers sees the appearance of Queenslander Rob Whyte (Achilles/Motul Nissan 350Z), the reigning Just Car Insurance Australian Drifting GP series champion.

The round will also see a number of well-known V8 circuit racers, Angus Fogg, Dean Perkins, Clark Proctor and Shane Wigston, take on their drift counterparts in a Legends’ battle.

Action at Hampton Downs begins early on Friday morning with practice for both D1NZ and Pro-Am groups with qualifying and the first Pro-Am (Top 16) battles later in the day.

Wellingtonian Matt Lauder (Shred Motorsport Nissan 180SX) still leads the series points standings in Pro-Am but after beating Lauder to the top spot of the podium at the two subsequent rounds Aucklander Darren Kelly (DKM Fabrication Nissan R32) has closed the gap to 21 points with former motorcycle racer Sam Smith (Franklin Cams Nissan S15) third and the country’s top female drifter, Tauranga’s Jodie Verhulst (Mag & Turbo Tauranga/Elf Toyota Supra), fourth.

Saturday brings final practice for the D1NZ drivers in the morning before the Pro-Am Top 8, then D1NZ qualifying and Top 32  battles.

The Hampton Downs round is the fourth of six for the 2012/13 Cody’s D1NZ championship series with the fifth in Christchurch at the end of March and the sixth and final at Pukekohe Park Raceway in April.