Two brothers from the Far North will be determined to impress the locals when the national drifting championships takes place in Whangarei this weekend.
Tom and Joe Marshall from Waipapa burst on to the national drift scene in the Pro-Am (support) class at the opening round of this year's championship at Hampton Downs last month. In what was their first ever drift meet, the brothers left quite an impression on both spectators and the rest of the field - Tom claiming the top qualifying spot in his ATJ International Nissan Laurel, and Joe going on to finish third in his Nissan 180SX. The brothers now head into the second round The Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Champs at Whangarei, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, and were regarded as the guys most likely to take the fight to round 1 class winner Troy Jenkins (Juice Polishes Nissan S15) from Auckland and runner-up Shane Giles (Shred Industries Nissan S15) from Wellington.
Following the opening leg of the 2013/14 series at Hampton Downs in Auckland last month, the second round in the championship series this weekend takes place on a temporary course dubbed 'The Concrete Jungle' marked out in transport operator Toll's marshalling yard on Rewa Rewa Road.
Some of the best drivers in Australasia are expected to turn out: Daniel 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse in his Castrol Edge Holden Commodore V8; round one winner Gary 'Gaz' Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan S14 V8) from Dargaville; high-profile Auckland-based international 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7); and V8 Supercar and SuperTourer ace Shane van Gisbergen, in 'The Rattla,' a 700hp Ford Falcon he shares with regular driver Shane Allen from Waiuku. Gisbergen is expected to be in sterling form having won the final V8 Supercar race of the season in Sydney on Sunday.
Others to look out for include last season's champion, Darren Kelly (Thirsty Liquor Nissan Skyline R34), and the country's top female driver, Jodie Verhulst (Milwaukee Tools Toyota Supra).
There will be action at Toll's Rewa Rewa Rd facility on both days with pro-am qualifying and battles and D1 Pro practice on Saturday from 9am; and D1 Pro practice, qualifying and battles from 9am on Sunday. The Whangarei round is the second of six this season, with subsequent ones in the New Year at Tauranga (January 17-18), Taupo (Feb 22 and 23), Christchurch (April 19 and 20), and Pukekohe (May 24-25).
For more information visit www.d1nz.co.nz or check out the D1 Facebook page.