Drifting: Fabulous 'Fanga' all fired up

Whangarei's "Fanga" Dan Woolhouse secured his second win of the New Zealand National Drifting Championship (D1NZ) in his Holden Commodore after challenging battles on Sunday.

The event at Baypark attracted more than 5000 fans in one of D1NZ's biggest meetings to date.

Andrew Redward, of Auckland, finished second after putting on an impressive performance but spun during the final battle against eventual winner Woolhouse.

Hugo Maclean secured his first podium finish when he finished third overall in his Toyota AE86.

Many of the country's top drifters succumbed to the tricky concrete-lined track including international driver "Mad" Mike Whiddet and three-time D1NZ champion Gary "Gaz" Whiter proving the track was the tight, technical surface the drivers described.

It was also a disappointing weekend for local favourite Cole Armstrong who broke a steering rack after nudging Nico Reid in the Top 16 battle.

"It's a shame that it didn't go our way today but the home crowd really turned it on for the local drivers," Armstrong said.

Jodie Verhulst, another local driver and one of only two females, finished second in the Pro-Am category which gives competitors the ability to grow their skills before competing in the tougher professional class.

The other two local drivers, Ben Belcher (Te Puke) and Drew Donovan, fought hard but were both knocked out in the Top 32 battles.

Donovan's biggest battle was overnight when his crew ripped the original V8 engine out of the Nissan S15 and replaced it with a more sedate RB20 engine.

The next round of the D1NZ championship will be at Hampton Downs on March 1 and 2.