Gunfight at Hampton Corral
After 5 rounds of insane action across New Zealand, the Rockstar Energy D1NZ national drifting championship comes to a conclusion with its final round this weekend at Hampton Downs http://www.hamptondowns.com/ . The team at D1NZ stepped up the game and sold tickets via 1-day to ensure a massive crowd for the show piece finale, and this seasons two standout drivers go in with just a handful of points between them…its a gunfight alright with an SR20DET sharp shooter vs a 2JZ cannon at Hampton Corral!!!
With a 50 point lead, the burden of heading the title race sits on the shoulders of 2 time champion Gaz Whiter in the Tectaloy S14. Its been an up and down year for the team from the Kumara capital, with a huge amount of expensive gear failures placing the team under huge financial pressure and then sadly losing the teams number one supporter Vicki (Gaz’s mum) recently. Crew Chief Tony Whiter has been over the car with a fine tooth comb after the last round ended due to a 10c piece of solder, and you can be sure that Gaz will arrive full of fire and wanting to be the first ever 3-peat champion. http://www.gazwhiter.com/. Current points 1525
Hot on his heels is the man who started the season with a win in Christchurch, Curt Whittaker. Curt and the WSR/www.whittakermotorsport.com team has turned in a super consistent season, and have looked to be a team to beat at every round. Will this be the year Whittaker breaks through in the amazing piece of rolling art put together by Rolling Addiction? Curt is nothing if not consistent, and the 2jz powered Sonar Tyres r34 hasn’t really missed a beat all season, so with a driver on board who has thrown his car into sections at almost reckless speed and often led the qualifying results, this is shaping as the best finish to a D1nz season yet. Current points 1475
In third place currently, and perhaps coming into form at the right time just to upset proceedings for Whiter and Whittaker is the worlds 2nd best ginga drifter, Carl Ruiterman. Carl seemed to struggle early in the season, trying a few gimmicks and getting away from the technical precision that he used to show round after round. All that went out the window on his home track of Pukekohe, and the Ruiterman of old came back with renewed fire. Carl knows mathematically hes still in with a chance, so will do all he can to add another title to the E & H motors collection of drift and drag silverware. Current points 1345. http://driftcarl.com/
In 4th place after leaving Pukekohe frustrated at mechanical breakages, is Cole Armstrong in the V Energy R34. Cole’s season was well on track when driveline breakages took him out at the top 8 Stage, allowing Carl Ruiterman to leapfrog over him in the title chase . Cole had set a personal goal of finishing in the top 3 for the year, and I am willing to put money on the young man from Tauranga doing everything he can to get back on the season podium spot. Of note with Cole, is that he has twice this year qualified low and fought his way through to gain a top 4, so he could potentially be a spoiler in the pack for other top drivers.
Current points 1280
The last of the top 5 is the Aussie invader Josh Coote in the immaculate MCA suspension s13. It doesn’t quite look so pretty in this image after it speared off track having broken a caliper, but trust me when I say this hollinger equipped SR20DET powerhouse has everything it needs to more than upset the apple cart at the final round. Josh has been threatening a breakthrough round win, and made a couple of very small mistakes which have cost him, but if I were a betting man, I’d throw a speculator $10 on the Aussie team being at the pointy end of the field come the end of the event. Current Points 1230
So that’s your top 5 as they head into the final round, and scarily enough it doesn’t feature names like Fanga Dan Woolhouse, Andrew “Maverick” Redward, Adam Richards, Daynom Templeman or Mad Mike Whiddett, who on their day are all capable of taking not only the number 1 Qualifier spot, but also going deep into battle rounds and winning events. You can also factor in guys like Aaron Bennett, Gaza Te Nana and Jase Sellers as those who could impact on the results.
So how does it work? Well there are 60 points on offer for #1 qualifier, down to 10 for the guy that qualifies 6th. So its conceivable that we could be all tied up going into the battles….or most likely and this is only my opinion and assumes no breakages, that we will go into the top 16 battles with a gap so small, that its going to be down to a pure and simple battle of who finishes higher overall. Most likely I’d say this is the only time you will ever see a calculator out at D1, as the team managers try to work out who’s sitting where. Not that it will matter to the drivers, who are just there to win regardless 
With 300 points on offer for a round win, 280 for second and 265 for third, there’s enough points difference that 1 place might not matter, but 2 or 3 sure will, and with a tight battle at the top, and for 3rd and 4th….EVERYTHING will be laid on the line on the 21st & 22nd of April. I’d take a bet at this round will probably have the most re-runs ever, as the drivers bring out the season ending A+ game, and don’t really worry too much about having to get a car ready for another round in a short period of time.
I know where I want to be this Thursday and Friday, and regardless of the outcome I’ll happily drink a beer or 5 in true drifter style with whoever wins the title, because after this season the driver that wears the crown of D1NZ Champion DAMN SURE will have earned it!
Good Luck to all the drivers, and be sure to get down there and support the guys if you can.
