Motorsport: 'Fanga Dan' slides up to top of table

Fanga Dan's at it again.

The Whangarei drifter continues to thrill crowds all over New Zealand after taking out round three of the D1NZ National Drifting Championship, this time in the Bay of Plenty in front of a record 5000 spectators.

Fanga Dan, also known as Dan Woolhouse, now sits comfortably at the top of the National Drifting Championship table, while fellow Whangarei racer Gaz Whiter will be hoping he can repair his car in time for the next round.

In front of a packed house, it was Woolhouse who put the pedal to the metal and slid gracefully around the tight and technical temporary drift course in the grounds of Mount Maunganui's Bay Park Stadium.

Woolhouse, who won round two in Whangarei, used all his experience in holding off round one winner Curt Whittaker.

On a day which saw top qualifier and three-time former D1NZ champion Whiter end his day against one of the unforgiving concrete walls, and high-profile international "Mad Mike" Whiddett fight back from a bruising top 16 clash, it was Woolhouse who won the day from Aucklanders Andrew Redward and Hugo Mclean.

Another Whangarei drifter, Nico Reid, made his first outing in the D1NZ pro ranks a memorable one as he nearly skid his way onto the podium. Reid was pipped at the post by Mclean who nabbed the final podium spot. However, in the process Reid proved he is a genuine up-and-comer.

V8 Supercar racer Shane van Gisbergen returned to the D1NZ series for his second outing, and after qualifying 12th overall, won his top 32 battle against fellow Aucklander Sky Zhao only to lose out to Zak Pole in the top eight.

The battle for National Drifting Championship honours heads to Hampton Downs now where Woolhouse will look to make it a hat-trick of wins in the fourth round on March 1 and 2.