Livestreaming is the latest innovation for New Zealand’s internationally-acclaimed and now Demon Energy-sponsored D1NZ National Drifting Championship.
The move comes as the series – which starts at Feilding’s Manfeild circuit in early October and is set to finish at a gala grand final meeting in Auckland in May next year – enters its 12th season.
Marketing Manager Kenny Ruddell says the new live platform is the next big step for the series and has fair, affordable pricing in mind.
“The demand for live content really peaked last season and now we are giving fans the opportunity to watch the sport live from wherever they are in New Zealand or around the world, on their own widescreen TVs at home or on their mobile devices while they are out and about.
All six rounds of this seasons series will be livestreamed with professionally-produced coverage of the Pro-Am Development Series Top 8 and full coverage of the Pro Top 32 qualifying sessions provided free then coverage of the Top32 battles (plus associated entertainment at each round) available for just $10 on a pay-per-view basis.
“The aim for this season is to provide the best showcase of New Zealand Drifting to our fans world-wide, says series Managing Director Brendon White. With many live cameras, live commentary, pyrotechnics and an FMX show we really do think fans will get their moneys worth.”
The livestream will be followed by the extended multi-camera full production free-to-air content, with TV3’s CRC Motorsport again hosting the D1NZ TV series throughout the summer months, and YouTube broadcasters Oversteer TV running delayed on-demand highlights packages.
Freeview channel Sommet Sports will also host shows of the D1NZ TV Series here on Sky and Freeview while MAV TV and the Speed Channel will showcase the series in the United States and Australia respectively.
Defending and now four-time DINZ champion Gaz Whiter North will again head the driver line-up, though at the first round at Manfeild next month the Dargaville ace will be behind the wheel of friend Shaun Yearburys Nissan Laurel, a much lower horsepower car than the current top cars of the field as his own Tectaloy-backed Nissan S14 V8 will be in transit to Sydney for the Formula Drift Asia round a fortnight later.
Also in a new car – but this time for the full season – will be crowd-favourite and two-time former D1NZ series champion Fanga Dan Woolhouse, the Whangarei driver moving up from his familiar LS2 V8 Chev-powered Holden Commodore VZ to a more contemporary VE-model (also Chev LS2-powered) for the new season.
Other top-line drivers set to take the battle to Whiter and Woolhouse are one of the other former series champions still competing, Curt Whittaker from Auckland (Autosure 2JZ Nissan Skyline R34), last years Mt Smart round winner Daynom Templeman from Auckland ( NAC Insurance 2JZ Toyota-powered Mazda RX7), former round winner and last seasons fourth place-getter, Andrew Redward (Achilles Tyre Chev V8-engined Mazda RX7), and former Pro-AM series title holder Darren Kelly (Nissan Skyline R34).
Several of last seasons top Pro-Am drivers are also stepping up to the Pro class this season, including Vincent Langhorn and Gareth Grove from Auckland, and the Marshall brothers, Tom and Joe from Waipapa in the Far North.
The Pro-AM class has attracted an even split of returnees and first-timers, including last years first round winner Troy Jenkins and fellow Aucklanders Joel Hedges and Michael Thorley, Taurangas Adam Davies, Bex Bennett from Hamilton, Stuart Baker from New Plymouth, Rene Richmond from Taupo and Ricky Lee from Wanganui.
Joining them for their debut seasons meanwhile, are several fresh faces, including grass roots event favourite Pernell Callaghan from Auckland, and Jaron Olivecrona from Feilding.
The first round of the Demon Energy D1NZ National Championship Series kicks off on Friday October 3 for Pro-AM and Practice followed by the main competition on Saturday October 4 at Manfield Raceway in Feilding with tickets available at the gate or online at iticket.co.nz from.
