MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUGUST 20 2006

FINK ON FIRE IN DRIFT AUSTRALIA DEBUT

Luke Fink (front) made a stunning debut in the Toyo Drift Australia Series at Symmons Plains Raceway today, winning the round over Adam Trewhella. Image available for media use. Click for high-res, please credit Michael Coppola.

Proof that good things come to those who wait, former World BMX Champion Luke Fink made a stunning debut in the Toyo Drift Australia Series at Symmons Plains Raceway.

Going from one extreme sport to another, Fink was to have made his debut in Round 3 of the series at Eastern Creek last month, but was kept out of action due to a broken leg sustained in a BMX competition a couple of weeks beforehand.

Still on crutches, the 23 year-old was give medical clearance to take part in the Toyo Drift Australia Series’ Tasmanian debut just days before the event. It didn’t stop him on-track, though, leaving many more experienced drifters in his wake as he charged through the elimination rounds aboard the Holford Motors Nissan S14.

In front of a strong crowd of 5,400 people, Fink earnt victory after defeating West Australia’s Adam Trewhella (Hyperdrive Nissan Cefiro) in the final, becoming the fourth different winner in four rounds.

“I’m stoked,” beamed Fink, 2003 BMX World Street Championship. “We planned to debut at Eastern Creek, but obviously that didn’t happen, so to come out and win this weekend makes it even sweeter.

“It’s not hard to appreciate the standard of talent in this series, but we had confidence in our abilities coming here. The other drivers got their wins at their home-tracks, but we’ve done it on neutral territory.

“I can’t think the support of Domenic and Holford Motors enough; they’ve made this all possible.”

Equally as delighted was Fink’s team manager, Domenic Scarpari from Holford Motors.

“We knew Luke was one of the best drifters in Australia, but his performance today was sensational,” he said.

“This result sets us up for Oran Park, where we’ll debut a new S14 coming in from D1GP, with a more powerful motor. Bring it on.”

While Trewhella didn’t leave Tasmania with the win, he did take second place - his best result in the series - and vaults from 19th to 6th in the standings.

Championship leader Leighton Fine (Nankang Toyota Sprinter) was one of Fink’s scalps, but another consistent weekend saw the South Australian finish on the podium. He defeated Beau Yates (Peer Industries Toyota Sprinter) in the third-place battle, to extend his Championship lead from 51 to 126 points over Robbie Bolger (CAPA Holden Monaro), who was eliminated in the Top 8 round by Trewhella.

Craig Vanderstelt (Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 200SX), Darren Mews (Parasol EMT Riverina Nissan 200SX) and Christian DeJager (Go Fast Bits Nissan Skyline) joined Bolger inside the Top 8. Tasmanian-born Michael Truscott (Phillips Performance Lighting Nissan Silvia) was 9th.

The final round of the Toyo Drift Australia Series will be at Oran Park Raceway in Sydney, on September 23-24. Between now and then, the Symmons Plains broadcast can be seen on Speedweek (SBS) at 12 noon on Sunday September 17, and on Inside Speed (Fox Sports) at 8:30pm on Wednesday September 20.

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

Symmons Plains Top 8;
1. Luke Fink (Victoria, Nissan S14 Silvia)
2. Adam Trewhella (WA, Nissan Cefiro)
3. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyota Sprinter)
4. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter)
5. Craig Vanderstelt (SA, Nissan 200SX)
6. Darren Mews (NSW, Nissan 200SX)
7. Chris DeJager (Victoria, Nissan Skyline)
8. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro)

Championship points, after four of five rounds;
1. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyota Sprinter) 1769
2. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro) 1643
3. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter) 1637
4. Kelly McKinnon (SA, Nissan Skyline) 1424
5. Darren Mews (NSW, Nissan 200SX) 1387
6. Adam Trewhella (WA, Nissan Cefiro) 1373
7. Nathan Weissel (NSW, Nissan Skyline) 1366
8. Eugene Arendsen (QLD, Nissan 180SX) 1363