More concrete dust than tyre smoke blew through the ASB Baypark Stadium stands on Friday as 80 drivers practiced for the third round of the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship.

Points leader Cole Armstrong and third place sitter Dave Steedman tested out the track Thursday evening, but both drivers only managed two runs of the short sharp circuit per set of tyres due to the abrasiveness of the freshly laid concrete.

'It definitely needs a lot more cars on the track,” says Cole. 'There's a lot of dust on it, but as we got more and more laps it's really started to lay a touch of rubber. I'm enjoying it. It's a little bit technical though through the final section.

'Dave and I did a few runs—it's absolutely unreal on the bank. I'm on the top of third gear entering at just over 100km/h and then obviously accelerating as we come around. I reckon when I come off for the first switch we're doing 140km/h.”

Team DSR drifter Dave Steedman believes the circuit will suit the high horsepower cars which can lay their power down.

'I absolutely love the track—the big sweeping corner is mad and riding that wall is sick. The higher horsepower cars, especially around that wall ride, will probably be able to gain some advantage. But time will tell, it's hard to say until we start battling,” says Dave.

'The big issue at the moment is there's just still so much dust. The concrete itself is quite grippy, but the dust is hiding that. We already found on entry after a few runs it's gripping up. When there's 80 cars going out there tomorrow it will hopefully find its natural line.”

The D1NZ drifting action continues Friday until 8.30pm, and on Saturday starting from 11am. The main Saturday night show is from 4.30pm finishing 10.30pm. For more information visit the D1nz website at www.d1nz.com