Team DSR drifter Adam Davies took his first Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship podium at round three of the Pro Series.
The debut podium appearance for the Mimico backed drifter came at his hometown event at Tauranga's ASB Baypark Stadium, where he finished runner-up to ATJ Drift's Tom Marshall who took his first win in the series.
"It's been a long time coming," Davies said. "I've only been in the Pro Series for a season and a half, so it's a big step forward for me.
"It just gives me that little bit of a boost having a car that's realiable, obviously the driving was consistent enough to get me onto the podium - I'm stoked with it!"
Davies' competition car is a unique addition to the D1NZ Pro Series field. He competes in a Nissan 180sx, which sports a 13B turbo rotary engine.
The debut podium is the first step towards getting his ultimate goal-a win in the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship Pro Series.
"A win is the goal at the end of the day, standing on the top step. But points are points, so I'll do what I can do and work with what I've got.
"I need to maintain my consistency and if I can do that then it should be alright. I should be moving into the top-10 which was my goal at the end of the last season."
Over the D1NZ Pro and Pro-Sport Series' six different winners have come so far from the three rounds at Dunedin, Feilding and Tauranga.
Davies attributes the variety of winners to drivers performing consistently throughout the season, which is seeing a lot of dark horses come to the fore.
"It's just consistency at the end of the day which makes a big difference. To be consistent is going to keep you at the pointy end of the field.
"Tom and Joe Marshall are the underdogs and they just fly under the radar, but they're a big threat at the end of the day to guys like Dave [Steedman] and Cole [Armstrong] at the top. It's awesome to see new names coming through."
Davies wants to go head-to-head with his Team DSR teammate Dave Steedman, who won round two of the series at Feilding's Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon. A Team DSR 1-2 finish would be a dream come true Davies believed.
With two rounds remaining in the 2016-'17 Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Hampton Downs Motorsport and Pukekohe Park respectively, they could make it a reality.