Mad Mike famously drifted the Crown Range on his last big South Island trip. Photo / Brad Lord
November's Highlands 101 race meeting is set to be boosted by a special one-off appearance from Kiwi-born and now global drifting star Mad Mike Whiddett who brings his MADBUL Mazda RX7 to Highlands Motorsport Park to create a unique lunchtime show for race fans.
Whiddett's only Central Otago appearance of the year is part of a full-on weekend of motorsport action on 8 and 9 November, which features the Highlands 101 endurance race, the final round of the Australian GT Championship powered by Pirelli, and the first-ever running of Highlands' new Euromarque category.
"We're rapt that Mad Mike has confirmed he'll be bringing his award-winning Mazda RX7 to Highlands," says Highlands' event marketing manager Melanie Kees. "Mike is known for wanting to push the boundaries as an ambassador of the sport of drifting - his recent appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earned Mike a special award for outstanding performance and car control, and organisers named him the revelation of the event! There's no doubt fans will be in for a treat as Mad Mike lets loose on the Highlands' circuit."
Commenting from his Auckland base, Whiddett said: "I'm pumped to now be a part of the Highlands 101 event. I'm one of many drifters who eagerly watched the Highlands Motorsport Park come together and have been praying for the opportunity to drift the track ever since.
"I was down at Highlands mid-August and was fortunate enough to get the grand tour of the facility and drive the amazing track. This time, I cannot wait to do it again but in the one and only MADBUL (RX7) shredding sideways!"
Complementing the on-track excitement is an exclusive motor show and a special feature of race boats.
"Car enthusiasts can enjoy seeing some of the road-going versions of the GT3 race cars - McLaren, Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and more - that they'll see racing hard-out in the Highlands 101 and Australian GT Championship events," says Ms Kees.
The November event marks the first time that Highlands Motorsport Park has hosted a new car motor show open to all exotic marques, although most of the prestige vehicle brands sold in New Zealand have visited the popular venue during its 18 months of operation.
"With dozens of vehicles expected in the motor show, we're looking forward to creating an exciting display outside the Highlands National Motorsport Museum which complements the intense race action fans can enjoy throughout the Highlands 101 race meeting," Kees says.
The Highlands 101 endurance race is, naturally, the feature race of the weekend. Many thousands of spectators enjoyed the new format Highlands 101 endurance race when it ran for the first time in November 2013. With its modern take on the famous Le Mans running start and compulsory pit stops for the driver pairings, this year's Highlands 101 race will again see up to 42 race cars vie for the chequered flag at the end of 101 laps, or three-and-a-half intense and gruelling hours, on the 4.1 kilometre Highlands circuit.
The event also features the Australian GT Championship finale with up to 30 GT3 cars and their drivers expected to make the trans-Tasman journey to finish their 2014 season at Highlands' spectacular Central Otago location.
"With Mad Mike's sure-to-be-unforgettable drifting and all the road-going and GT3-spec Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins and McLarens, the Highlands 101 event is going to be hard to beat if you're a car fan of any persuasion!" says Kees.
A full event timetable will soon be available and includes:
• Friday 7 November - competitor practise sessions on-track. All Highlands Motorsport Park activities, such as the go-karts, dirt buggies and National Motorsport Museum are open as usual.
• Saturday 8 November - qualifying, racing and entertainment from 9am to 5pm, including the lunchtime appearance of Mad Mike Whiddett. Go-karts and dirt buggies operating as usual.
• Sunday 9 November - racing and entertainment from 9am to 5pm, including the lunchtime appearance of Mad Mike Whiddett. Go-karts and dirt buggies operating as usual.
General admission tickets are now on sale at special pre-event prices via TicketDirect or from the information desk in the Highlands National Motorsport Museum for access to the array of family-style spectator areas around the circuit. An adult pass (16 years and over) is $59 for Saturday only, $79 for Sunday only or save with a multi-day pass for $129 if you buy before the event. Kids under 16 years are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets will be available at the gate all event weekend too.
For more information on the Highlands 101 and all regular Highlands Motorsport Park facilities, check out the venue's website www.highlands.co.nz or Facebook page .