D1NZ heats up for Hampton Downs

D1NZ championship still up in the air as round four approaches

It's anyone's game as the country's top drifters gear up for round four of the 2015–’16 Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting championship at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Whangarei’s 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse currently leads the series standings in his 800hp Century Batteries Holden Commodore V8, but the hunt for the title has taken a dramatic turn after round three in Taupo with only four points separating the top three drivers.

“Winning the opening round definitely gave us the best kick-start to the season, but it’s anyone’s game now - three of us are in the running with a few more outside the top five that could cause an upset,” said Woolhouse, who is looking to clock up a third championship to his name.

Just three points behind however is Tauranga’s Cole Armstrong in his V Energy 250gt Nissan Skyline, the best of the Turbo pilots, with V8 driver and former champion Curt Whittaker just another point behind in the Rattla Motorsport Autosure Skyline.

Current defending champion Darren Kelly in the turbocharged HiTec Oils R34 Nissan has had a mixed bag so far this season sitting down the order in ninth overall, something he wants to rectify at Hampton Downs.

“We came second last year so it’s a track I’m confident with, pretty keen to put the car back on the podium and climb back up the points ladder," said Kelly.

Photo / Matthew Hansen

This weekend will potentially mark the last time the T2 drift section at Hampton Downs is used by the D1NZ series, with a new club circuit nearing completion as part of the wider motorsport complex. D1NZ series director Brendon White is impressed with the changes at the venue since its acquisition by businessman and motorsport icon Tony Quinn, and is looking forward to bringing the series back for years to come.

“The venue is undergoing an huge transformation and to see such amazing attributes being put into a race circuit in New Zealand is really a breath of fresh air,” said White.

“While the new circuit is not fully completed you can see the vision the team at Hampton Downs have and it spells only good things to come for Motorsport fans in the future.”

Round four of the new Pro-Sport Series will also be on show this weekend as Taranaki’s Chad Mckenzie (Waitara Tyres R32 Skyline) leads the restricted class over Tauranga’s Vincent Hopkins (Nissan R32 Skyline) and Calvin Clark (Prime Avocados C33 Laurel).

Action kicks off over the 27^th and 28^th February with gates opening at 9.30am each day. Stay tuned to Driven.co.nz for more D1NZ coverage.