Aiming for hometown advantage

After two years of disappointing results at the ASB Baypark round, Tauranga drift racer Cole Armstrong is determined to claim his hometown advantage this year.

'It's never been good for us. You've got your family, your friends and supporters there backing you so you want to give them your best,” says Cole, who after some disappointing results in the first two rounds of the D1NZ national drifting championships is now confident of competing strongly at the 2015 Mount Maunganui meeting.


After a frustrating start to the drifting season, Cole Armstrong is aiming for a turnaround at ASB Baypark on January 17-18. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

'It's definitely my favourite round and I'm determined to turn it around out there in front of my supporters and sponsors.”

Problems with a few ‘gremlins' in his new 250 GT Skyline had been hampering Cole's performance as he settled his second car in, but a strong performance at Hampton Downs before Christmas has him convinced he has it running at its best.

'It's been shutting down when the oil's low, but the computer's helped us diagnose that and we think it's sorted,” explains Cole, who despite qualifying top at round two at Mount Smart Stadium in November struck car problems and was knocked out early.

This follows earlier car problems at the opening round at Manfeild.

Despite having his new car ready to go in late autumn, his decision to return to work in Western Australia prevented him from tweaking the car's set-up during the off-season.

'It's my first V8 and the Nascar setup has taken a bit to get used to,” explains Cole, who despite poor results in the first two rounds is in seventh place in the Pro division thanks to his top qualification at Mount Smart.

'I put high expectations on myself because I think I'm one of the best drivers so I'd like to be up in the top five by the end of the season and I'm definitely aiming for the top next year.”

Minor damage to the Skyline's rear at the DriftShifters event in Auckland in early December has been repaired and his focus is now completely on preparing for the Bayfair round on January 17-18, where the drifting showdown will include a fun team's event – he's pairing up with Te Puna Pro-Am driver Kelvin Clark– a freestyle motocross demonstration and fireworks display.

Meanwhile, Cole is considering letting another pro drifter drive his RB34 Skyline at Baypark, but was waiting for confirmation when he spoke to the Sun Driver.

Beyond the Baypark event he's planning to engineer both cars for different track types to help him perform at his best wherever he competes.

At Baypark last year Cole had to pull out after blowing the gearbox and hitting a barrier wall on a qualification round, and was knocked out the previous year when he crashed and broke his steering rack.

For more details on the Baypark round, which will see drivers compete in the ‘concrete jungle' track setup for the event in the carpark-pits area, go to D1NZ.com

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