JOEL PATERSON FIGHTING TO STAY IN THE D1NZ CHAMPIONSHIP

What a month it has been for Joel Paterson and his team. After finally blowing the 4AGE, the team suffered setback after setback leading up to the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship’s fourth round. “After destroying the motor, I came to the grim reality that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to have it rebuilt as the damage was quite extensive, even the turbo was ruined,” Joel said. “That week, I received a phone call from fellow competitor Pernell Callaghan, who was disheartened to hear what had happened. A week later I received another phone call from Pernell, telling me he had secretly fund-raised enough money to have the engine rebuilt and my tyres sorted for round four. There aren’t many racers in other motorsport disciplines that would do such a thing, I was blown way.”

With the money raised, and thanks to several key sponsors such as STM, the Bling Company and MRP, the build of a bigger-capacity 9AGE commenced mere days before D1NZ. On the dyno the new package produced a massive 609Nm of torque and 351kW (407hp) at the wheels on 28 psi, maxing out the injectors on E85.