Auckland’s Andrew Redward (Achilles Radial Mazda RX7 V8) is the latest Cody’s D1NZ National Drifting Championship round winner after a thrilling final battle with second round winner and now runaway series points leader ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7) at the ASB Baypark Arena stadium in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

With a win and two seconds from the first three rounds of this season’s Cody’s D1NZ series Whiddett now has a 77.5 point lead over three-time former D1NZ champion Gary ‘Gaz’ Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S13 V8) but after being forced to sit out the second round after shoulder surgery Redward – who finished seventh at the first 2013/14 season round – is now fifth, just half a point behind fourth placed 2011/12 Cody’s D1NZ champ Curt Whittaker (Autosure Warranties 2JZ Nissan Skyline R34) and one behind third placed series young gun Nico Reid (Luxury Sports Nissan S15).

With mechanical issues of one sort or anyone seeing local hero Cole Armstrong (V Energy Nissan Skyline R34) fail to qualify, Gaz Whiter and top Auckland driver Zak Pole (Clubauto Insurance/Rollei Acton Cameras Nissan Skyline R33) forced to borrow cars to qualify and battle with after gearbox or engine issues with their own, and both V8 Supercar ace Shane Van Gisbergen (BOC Gases/Racestuff Ford Falcon V8) and Sky Zhoa (2 Degrees/CRC Nissan 700Z) left stranded by broken clutches, several drivers – Andrew Redward amongst them – had byes in the first (Top 32) run of battles.

Redward then battled and bested top local driver Drew Donovan (Milwaukee Tools Nissan S15 V8) in the Top 16, Australian driver Michael Prosenik (Viva Garage Nissan S13 V8) in the Top 8 and young gun Nico Reid (n the Top 4) for a spot alongside top qualifier ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett in the Top 2.

A year ago – to the day – Redward had been in a similar position, going into the final battle with Whangarei’s ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore V8) only to spin out, gifting the round win to Woolhouse.

But that was never going to happen this year.

“Definitely not,” said Redward afterwards. “I made some silly mistakes last year because I got too keen. This year I applied a much more measured approach and it was great to actually put it all together and get the result I missed out on last time we were here.”

The tight confines and concrete barriers which line the drift section of the temporary course in the car park behind the ASB Baypark stadium again exacted a heavy toll with a number of cars – yet others were left without a scratch.

Some drivers also stepped up, amongst them Andrew Redward’s teammate, Hamilton driver Bruce Tannock (Achilles Radial Nissan S13), and local tyre shop proprietor Aden Omnet (Adens’ Tyres 2JZ Toyota Altezza).

Though he didn’t qualify particularly well (22nd) Tannock was a revelation in his battles, dispatching top South Island drifter (and acknowledged stadium expert Troy Forsythe) in the Top 32, then 2011/12 Cody’s D1NZ champion Curt Whittaker in the Top 16 before forcing Nico Reid to go OMT (One More Time) before the judges could decide in their Top 8 encounter.

“After hitting the wall last year here I was a bit hesitant – and looking back a bit too soft – in practice this weekend but once I got into the battles, when there was another car in front of me, “Tannock said, “my mindset changed and it was make or break.”

Best of the local drivers, meanwhile, was Omnet, who – after qualifying eighth – beat fellow ‘Bay identity Jodie Verhulst (Milwaukee Tools Toyota Supra) in the Top 32 and Aucklander Adam Hedges (C’s Garage Nissan S13) in the Top 16 before finally going down to ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett (but not before a good close fight) in the Top 8, leaving him sixth equal overall for the round.

Otherd drivers to enjoy strong showings between the walls were Wellington’s Matt Lauder (The Bling Company Nissan S13) who qualified fifth and finished the round fifth after grazing the wall in his Top 8 nattle with ‘Fanga Dan’ Woolhouse, and visiting Australian driver Michael Prosenik, finally in own V8-powered Nissan S13 after borrowing an SR20 4-cylinder powered Nissan S14 for the first two rounds.

Not scared to get up close and personal with the concrete barriers Prosenik qualified sixth and finsihed the weekend sixth equal with Aden Omnet.

In the Nissan S15 he borrowed from Troy Jenkins, meanwhile, Gaz Whiter qualified 18th but lost out on his first Top 32 battled against Drew Donovan, a result which netted him enough points to maintain second in the series points standings.

It was a real family affair, meanwhile, in the Pro-Am ranks with Far North brothers Tom and Joe Marshall (ATJ International Nissan S13 & 180SX) scoring exactly the same points in their qualifying runs before battling their way through the 20-strong field to finally come up against each other in the Top 4, with the older of the two, 23-year-old Tom, winning that encounter as well as the final battle with New Plymouth driver Stuart Baker (Steve Sole Customs 1.5JZ Nissan S13) for the round win.

“I made a bit of a mistake on my chase run,” said 20-year-old Joe of the pair’s epic Top 4 encounter. “I was happy with my lead run but in the chase I was a bit too far away at the start and a bit too close at the last corner where I straightened up a bit on the switch.”

Round one winner Troy Jenkins still leads the Pro-Am series points standings but with his win this weekend Tom is now second just two points behind with Joe third a further two points adrift.

This year’s Cody’s D1NZ event was run in conjunction with a new NZ Allstars action sports festival which included FMX, Freestyle BMX and Skate and Scooter competitions run concurrently.

In the FMX section the Best Trick prize was shared by Australian visitor Truman Carroll and Kiwi international Nick Franklin while the Pro-Am comp was won by Palmerston North rider Jason White from Stuart Ewing from Gore and Jesse Dobias from Dunedin.