Reid's D1NZ domination continues
"I don't think anybody thought this was going to happen" — Reid takes fourth in a row
After entering round one of the season with no pro-series wins to his name, South Auckland's Nico Reid has won round five of the 2015–'16 D1NZ Demon Energy National Drifting Championship — his fourth in a row.
"I would never have believed it. I don't think anybody thought this was going to happen, not even myself," Reid told Driven.
"My team have been giving me a great car all season, [and] I loved every minute of it out there."
Reid's route to the final was largely clean and easy, as he beat Adam Davies, Darren Kelly, and Bruce Tannock — Tannock losing out after clouting Reid's Evergreen Tyres Silvia.
Photo / Matthew Hansen
Reid then met up with Rattla Motorsport's Curt Whittaker in the final. The pair were evenly matched in their first passes; the judges requesting a re-run.
During the re-run, Whittaker cracked, colliding with Reid heavily at turn one and forcing both cars off the road. While Reid was able to kick clear and keep driving, Whittaker's car would have to be towed back to the pits due to damage it had sustained.
"I think Bruce Tannock's was the hardest [hit]," said Reid. "Curt [Whittaker's] hit was hard too; there must be targets on my doors."
Rounding out the podium was Brad Smith and his BSR Nissan 350z, Smith able to convert his surprise pole position he claimed yesterday into a good result after narrowly playing off hometown hero and former Drift South champion Joel Counter, and his Achilles Nissan Silvia S14.
With series leader Daynom Templeman and his NAC Insurance BMW E46 M3 failing to advance into the top four — Reid now firms as the favourite to win the overall championship with just one round to go at Pukekohe Park.
"I think I've driven [Pukekohe] enough times to know what I've got to do. I definitely ain't driven it as much as these top dogs, but I can't wait to get there," said Reid.
"All we can do is keep driving forward."
Photo / Matthew Hansen
The Christchurch event was also home to the third round of the Hi-Tec Oils Trans-Tasman Drifting Championship, a series that sees the best of New Zealand and Australia go head to head in a four-round series.
After a difficult day of failures, 'Fanga Dan' Woolhouse and his Century Batteries Commodore eventually recovered to take third. Aussie vistors Rob Arbolino and James Abbott locked out the top two spots — Arbolino's win his second of the season.
Next month's Pukekohe meeting acts as the finale for both the D1NZ and Trans-Tasman championships — taking place on April 22-24.
