MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 24 2006

BEAU YATES WINS AT ORAN PARK AND TAKES 2006 DRIFT AUSTRALIA TITLE

With a win in the fifth and final round of the 2006 Toyo Drift Australia Series at Oran Park Raceway today, Sydneysider Beau Yates became the first CAMS-awarded Australian Drift Champion.

Setting the stage for a frenetic Championship battle at the final round, the top three drivers, Leighton Fine (Nankang Tyres Toyota Sprinter), Robbie Bolger (CAPA Holden Monaro) and Yates (Peer Industries Toyota Sprinter), entered the weekend separated by 132 points in the series standings, with 500 points up for grabs.

The drama started early. Having led the Championship all year, Fine suffered an engine failure in his Sprinter during practice on Saturday. Unable to source a replacement engine in time, his title quest looked to be over until 2005 Drift Australia Champion Darren Appleton stepped in.

In a great act of sportsmanship - considering that Appleton’s team-mate, Yates, was one of the drivers hoping to eclipse Fine and take the title - Appleton lent Fine his spare Peer Industries Nissan Onevia for the weekend so the South Australian could compete.

As it turned out, Fine was knocked out in the Top 16 phase of competition, providing Bolger and Yates with an opportunity to snatch the title.

They didn’t waste the chance, and both advanced to the final, where they met in a winner-takes-all showdown for the round and Championship win. A re-run was needed to split the drivers, with Yates eventually taking the win infront of several thousand fans who braved the hot and wild Sydney weather.

“I’m ecstatic,” beamed Yates, 23. “To win the weekend and come from third place to win the Championship is amazing, especially to do it here at home.

“Last year I finished second, so winning the Championship has been my aim all year. It didn’t go our way at a couple of rounds, but we stuck at it and got the result.

“Full credit to Robbie and Leighton for a great year, too. It has been great battling with them all year, it’s been really enjoyable and l look forward to plenty more of it in the future.”

The win saw Yates turn a 132 point deficit entering the weekend to 33 point advantage over Fine, who ends the year in second place.

“I have to start by thanking Darren Appleton for handing over the keys to his spare car so I could compete today,” said the 21-year old Fine.

“It was a big gesture and I really appreciate it. I was able to go out and give it our best. It didn’t go our way, but we’ve still had a great year.

“A couple of weeks before first round, we weren’t sure whether we’d be able to do the full year, so to lead the Championship for almost the entire season and finish second in our first full season in the series is a great achievement.”

Having pushed Yates all the way in the final, Bolger and his 900hp Monaro take third place in the Championship.

“We didn’t win the Championship but we sure proved a lot of people wrong,” said Bolger.

“The Aussie Monaro gave as good as it got all year against the Japanese cars, and we came away with a top three result in the series, which is absolutely fantastic. Now to get Number 1 next year.”

South Australia’s Mark Phillips (Martini Racing Nissan Skyline) took the final podium position for the weekend, overcoming Michael Truscott (Philips Performance Lighting Nissan Silvia) from Victoria in the third place run.

Sydney drivers Fernando Wiehrl (Saber Nissan 180SX) and Darren Mews (Parasol EMT Riverina Nissan 200SX) cemented their Top 10 Championship positions, finishing fifth and seventh respectively on home soil.

They were joined in the Top 8 by Queenslanders Darren Appleton (Peer Industries Nissan 180SX) and Eugene Arendsen (Import Auto Parts Nissan 180SX).

Linden Reynolds (WheelWorx Nissan Skyline) from South Australia won the Super Drift title, while Team Delirium took out the last Xtreme Team Drifting event for 2006.

Oran Park Top Eight;
1. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter)
2. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro)
3. Mark Phillips (SA, Nissan Skyline)
4. Michael Truscott (Vic, Nissan Silvia)
5. Fernando Wiehrl (NSW, Nissan 180SX)
6. Darren Appleton (QLD, Nissan 180SX)
7. Darren Mews (NSW, Nissan 200SX)
8. Eugene Arendsen (QLD, Nissan 180SX)

2006 Toyo Drift Australia Series Championship Top Eight;
1. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter) 2136
2. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyota Sprinter) 2103
3. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro) 2100
4. Kelly McKinnon (SA, Nissan Skyline) 1764
5. Mark Phillips (SA, Nissan Skyline) 1752
6. Darren Mews (NSW, Nissan 200SX) 1751
7. Eugene Arendsen (QLD, Nissan 180SX) 1720
8. Fernando Wiehrl (NSW, Nissan 180SX) 1719

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