Technical ecstasy

As noted in Tuesday’s edition, Kaitaia driver Liam Burke is preparing to defend his top of the table standing in the lower tier Pro Sport series when round 3/6 of the Link ECU D1NZ National Drifting Championship takes place at Levels Raceway, Timaru this Friday and Saturday. Burke had admitted in that article he was unfamiliar with the track at Timaru and that’s because, as the event press release noted this will be the first time the D1NZ National Drifting Championship has held an event there in 11 years. Timaru also marks the first round of the championship where the drivers will get to compete on a fast and flowing circuit; the first two legs were held inside speedway facilities which proved to be a challenge for some given the short sharp nature of the section. In the main Pro Series event, reigning D1NZ champion Cole Armstrong is relishing in the opportunity to take on Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen in Timaru (the last time he competed there was in a Drift South meeting five years ago): “It’ll be really good to see how my car performs on the high-speed stuff. I love the track. I’ve driven there a few times. It’s technical, there’s something like three apexes on one corner. It’s a big haul, but I’m looking forward to it.”