Going wall to wall at Baypark

Team mates from Team DSR Dave Steedman and Adam Davis. Image: Daniel Hines.

The D1NZ drifting championship series for 2020 is making its way to Trustpower Baypark Stadium for round three on February 28 and 29.

Baypark is the only stadium event this year. It's the third time drifting has been held in Tauranga.

Managing director Brendon White says everyone is very excited for the event.

'This event is special. Many don't see the huge week-long undertaking to remove the speedway track, concrete in the drift track, and clean and present it ready for the main event. It requires a huge team of volunteers and sponsors to make it happen.”

Tauranga drifters Team DSR, consists of Dave Steedman and Adam Davis. They say they are looking forward to a home round.

'Being our home round – it's one of our favourites. It's a really cool track. As drivers we love it, and for spectators it's really awesome because we're right on the wall and the spectators are right there in amongst the action,” says Dave.

Baypark is the third round of the championship series, with racers already competing in Invercargill and Pukekohe.

After two rounds, Dave is sitting fifth on the championship ladder with Adam sitting in eighth. Another Tauranga drifter Cole Armstrong is leading the championship.

'It's actually frustrating because after round one I was second,” says Dave on his current position in the championship.

'It's frustrating that we've not managed to keep right up top there, however, Baypark is a track we love, we love putting on a show and we are really looking forward to getting some podiums.”

Dave says it's pretty full-on nowadays with the level that drifting is at.

'It's a common misconception that we're just hooligans and we just chuck on some second-hand tires and away we go.

'There is a huge amount of prep that goes into the cars. We use really good sticky semi-slick tyres to get as much grip as we can and we'll probably go through 60 tyres in a good weekend. There is so much more involved in our sport than it was when we started seven or eight years ago.

'We've got winters quick change differentials, sequential gearboxes, two way suspension from the States and that's just our cars. That's the level that we have to be to be competitive.”

For this season Dave wants to be up on the podium.

'That's what I've been really pushing for the last few seasons. Adam managed to get up there in second last season which was fantastic, but trying to get a podium, a season podium would be certainly the long-term goal.”

The hometown heroes need to be backed, says Brendon.

'Championship leader Cole Armstrong is a hot favourite alongside Adam Davies who came second last year in the championship. Dave Steedman and Kurt Blackie are also flying the hometown flag with over 40 other drivers from around New Zealand competing including Fanga Dan and the return of Darren Kelly.”

Fans need to get along and take part as it will be something accelerating to watch, says Brendon.

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