TJ ENDS YEAR AS DRIFTING CHAMPION
A COUNTY WEXFORD drifting driver is ending the year as Ireland’s semi pro number one having won a major event in 2016.
TJ Berney, from Longraigue, Foulksmills, triumphed over 70 competitiors at the Irish Drift Championships semi pro class event in the summer.
TJ, 30, who works at New Ross Auto Factors Ltd in New Ross, said: ‘I don’t know how it happened and I ended up coming out on top and winning it. It was surreal’
He said he put a lot of preparation into the competition.
The son of Helena and the late Matthew Berney, TJ has a sister Elaine. He said his success wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his family, friends and team at Boss Motor Sport based in Devon UK.
TJ was nominated for Beat FM Spokesperson of the Month, which was won by the All Ireland winning Kilkenny camogie team.
He has been drifting since 2009 in the British drift championship and in 2015 became a team driver for Boss Motorsport.
‘Then in 2016 I decided to compete back home in Ireland in the Irish drift championship. Being in the semi pro class in Ireland my goal was to achieve my pro license. In order to do this you have to finish in the top five overall after the season (which has five rounds) with 70 plus drivers. To have come out with winning the semi pro class overall, I’m overwhelmed and it would not have been done this year without the support from my family, friends and sponsors.’
The next step for TJ is to move to the top class in Ireland and also the UK to compete along side the best drivers from all over the world.
‘Now that I’m in the pro class I’ll be coming up against drivers with cars that are up 700 hp. It gets more expensive. Working in a motor factors makes life as a drifting driver easier as they have everything you need here. I get plenty of slagging and banter as rally drivers are in and out a lot.’
TJ’s father Matthew passed on his love of driving to him.
‘He ran the Small Engine Shop at this premises, so it’s great to be working here having previously worked at Wexford Auto Factors for six years.’
Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining control for the entirety of a corner.
A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering).
‘As a motoring discipline, professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of corners.’
Aorund 30,000 attend drifting competitions in Irland throughout the year and the sport has been growing year on year.
TJ is currently looking for sponsorship next season. Contact him at tjberney@gmail.com