MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 25 2006

AUSSIE MUSCLE TO TAKE ON JAPAN'S HOTTEST DRIFT CARS AT EASTERN CREEK

Robbie Bolger and Leighton Fine battling in the final at Queensland. (Michael Coppola photo). High resolution images are available for media use.

Making its first visit to Sydney for 2006, the Toyo Drift Australia Series slides into Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend, July 29-30. Round 3 will see the continuation of the growing rivalry between the invading Australian muscle cars and the hot Japanese imports.

Ford and Holden are synonymous with success in Australian motorsport, but are experiencing tough competition from the turbo pocket rockets which have long been the dominant force in drifting.

Toyota struck first for the Japanese manufacturers in Round 1 at Mallala in May, with Leighton Fine taking an impressive hometown win in his Sprinter.

After bursting onto the Toyo Drift Australia Series scene with a partial campaign in 2005, the 21-year old has continued his strong form this year and currently leads the championship standings.

“We’ve had a good run so far,” said Fine. “Winning at Adelaide was a great way to kick off the year and we got another good result in Queensland.

“The competition has taken another step up this year, and we saw at Queensland that the Holden’s and Ford’s are hitting their strides, so we can’t afford to rest on our laurels.”

Fine was second last time out at Queensland Raceway, behind the Holden Monaro of Robbie Bolger. Scoring his first taste of drifting success, the charismatic Bolger leapt up to second place in the standings aboard his 8-litre, 900hp beast.

“Queensland was great for us,” Bolger enthused. “We had some engine problems during the week before the round, but we got them fixed and as they say the rest is history.

“It’s great to see the V8’s being successful against the Japanese cars. They’ve dominated drifting and we’ve dominated Australian motorsport. A lot of people questioned bringing a V8 into drifting, but we proved them wrong in Queensland.”

While Fine is joined by an array of Toyota’s, Nissan’s and Mitsubishi’s, one of Bolger’s few allies in the Aussie drifting invasion is also a traditional enemy. It is the FPV DRIF6 Typhoon driven by Adam Newton, who finished fifth in Round 1.

“Ford and Holden are generally enemies in Australia,” said Newton. “You’re either a Ford supporter or a Holden supporter, but in drifting it’s almost as though we’re working together to make inroads against the imports.”

The success of Fine, Kelly McKinnon (Nissan Skyline) and Danny Vahoumis (Nissan Silvia) in the opening two rounds has South Australia on top of the interstate pointscore. Bolger heads the Queensland charge on the back of his Round 2 success at Queensland Raceway.

Looking to continue the trend of local drivers taking victory, a herd of NSW drivers will head to Eastern Creek eager for success. Beau Yates (5th) and Darren Mews (7th) are currently the top New South Welshman in the standings, while Nathan Weissel and 2005 Formula Drift Champion Fernando Wiehrl will be looking to break into the top ten with strong runs.

In addition to the drifting action, the weekend will also feature an array of entertainment, with stunt bikes, pit babes, trade stands and a show-and-shine competition all part of the weekend’s entertainment.

Tickets are $15 for practice and qualifying on Saturday, and $25 for Sunday’s action which kicks off at 9am. A weekend pass is available for $35, with kids under 12 free all weekend.

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

Championship points, after two of five rounds;
1. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyota Sprinter) 965
2. Robbie Bolger (QLD, Holden Monaro) 817
3. Kelly McKinnon (SA, Nissan Skyline) 790
4. Danny Vahoumis (SA, Nissan Silvia) 776
5. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Sprinter) 733
6. Mark Phillips (SA, Nissan Skyline) 705
7. Darren Mews (NSW, Nissan 180SX) 700
8. Eugene Arendsen (QLD, Nissan 180SX) 699
9. Mark Marcheson (SA, Nissan Silvia) 681
10. Michael Truscott (VIC, Nissan Silvia) 679

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