MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 15 2006

TOYO DRIFT AUSTRALIA SERIES HEADS TO TASMANIA

Robbie Bolger and Beau Yates battle it out in the final at Eastern Creek. Image available for media use. Click for high-res, please credit Nathan Wong.

There’ll be nothing plain about the Toyo Drift Australia Series’ first visit to Tasmania this weekend, August 19-20, when almost 60 of Australia’s best drifters converge on Symmons Plains Raceway.

50 drivers from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand will slide into Symmons Plains for the 4th round of the national series.

Drifting is one of the fastest growing forms of motorsport in the world. Although historically dominated by high performance Japanese imports, Aussie muscle cars have invaded the Australian drift scene in recent times.

Spearheading the Aussie invasion is Robbie Bolger in an 8litre, 900hp Holden Monaro. Currently second in the Championship, Bolger will be supported this weekend by the returning 1000hp supercharged Holden drift Ute.

Toyota ace Leighton Fine from South Australia currently leads the Toyo Drift Australia Series ahead of Queensland-based Bolger and Beau Yates from New South Wales.

Fine, Bolger and Yates have all taken round wins this year, with each driver having tasted the champagne at their home circuit. Symmons Plains represents neutral territory for the field, with few drivers having drifted at the circuit.

One driver who may hold an ace up his sleeve is Tasmania born Michael Truscott. The Nissan Silvia driver now resides in Victoria, but he is hoping that a little bit of local track knowledge and plenty of home town support will help to lift him on the podium for the first time this season.

It will be an action-packed weekend of entertainment at Symmons Plains with head to head Tandem Drift action in the battle for championship glory, Xtreme Team Drifting competitions, Stunt Bike shows, Expression Sessions and the Ignition DVD sponsored Show n Shine.

Tickets to the event will be available at the gate and represent great value at $15 for Saturday and $25 for Sunday’s action. A weekend pass is available for $35 and children under 12 are free all weekend.

Tasmanian fans have a number of ways to get a taste of the Toyo Drift Australia Series before it roars into Symmons Plains.

Featuring Eastern Creek victor Beau Yates and 2005 Series Champion Darren Appleton, there will be a series of events building up to the event at Symmons Plains, including car and driver appearances, where fans can get up close to the cars and chat with the stars.

Opportunities for Tasmanian motoring fans;

Tuesday August 15

Static Display at Autobarn Hobart

Wednesday August 16

Static Display at Autobarn Launceston

Wednesday night, Dinner hosted by DrifTas Launceston Members

Thursday August 17

Static Display at Launceston Mall (TBC)
Convoy to Symmons Plains

Friday August 18

Drift practice at Symmons Plains

Championship points, after three of five rounds;
1. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyota Sprinter) 1334
2. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro) 1283
3. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter) 1233
4. Kelly McKinnon (SA, Nissan Skyline) 1119
5. Danny Vahoumis (SA, Nissan Silvia) 1068
6. Eugene Arendsen (QLD, Nissan 180SX) 1063
7. Nathan Weissel (NSW, Nissan Skyline) 1042
8. Mark Phillips (SA, Nissan Skyline) 1040
9. Darren Appleton (QLD, Nissan 180SX) 1037
10. Fernando Wiehrl (NSW, Nissan 180SX) 1023

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About the Toyo Drift Australia Series

Formed in 2005 as part of the massive growth of drifting in Australia, the Toyo Drift Australia Series is the official Australian Drifting Championship.

In 2006, the Toyo Drift Australia Series features Australia’s top drifters battling it out side-by-side and sideways in a five-round Championship across four states.

Since it first arrived in Australia four years ago, drifting has become one of the fastest growing forms of sport in the country, and now has a strong following of spectator and commercial support.

Among this commercial support, Ford and Holden support entries in the series, as the Australian muscle cars go up against the Japanese imports which have made drifting their own.

For more about the Toyo Drift Australia Series, head to www.driftaustralia.com.au