WHITTAKER IS LATEST D1NZ ROUND WINNER
D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP Press release For immediate release
* 2011/12 D1NZ NATIONAL DRIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Rnd 2
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe
Fri-Sat
Nov 25 & 26
2011
Rnd 2
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe
Fri-Sat
Nov 25 & 26
2011
29-11-11
WHITTAKER IS LATEST D1NZ ROUND WINNER
Curt Whittaker (Whittaker Motorsport 2JZ Nissan Skyline R34) is the D1NZ National Drifting Championship's latest round winner, the Aucklander battling his way to the top step of the podium at Pukekohe's Pukekohe Park Raceway on Saturday.
In hot, dry conditions and in front of a 4000-strong crowd Whittaker withstood huge pressure as he battled his way to the top spot and $5000 worth of prizes courtesy winner's award sponsor Drift Max, beating local driver Matt Jackson (MJM Mazda RX7) to get into the Top 8, former D1NZ champion Daniel Woolhouse (Castrol Edge Holden Commodore) to progress to the Top 4 then top qualifier Darren Benjamin (C35 Nissan Laurel) to make it into the Final 2 where he met Tauranga's Cole Armstrong (V Energy Nissan Skyline R34).
Having beaten Randal Luipihi (Champion Oil Nissan Silvia S15), Daynom Templeman (NAC Mazda RX7) and defending D1NZ champion Gaz Whiter (Tectaloy Nissan Silvia S14), to get there Armstrong had just as strong a case, proof the fact that the judges had to call a re-run (One More Time) before they could split the pair.
The victory is Whittaker's first major one on this side of the Tasman this season but comes just four months after his win in the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge in Sydney in August and it elevates him to third in the series points standings behind Armstrong and Round 1 winner 'Mad Mike' Whiddett (Red Bull Mazda RX7).
Whiddett qualified seventh but was sidelined before the Top 16 elimination round by a broken differential. Gaz Whiter was also in the wars, hitting Pukekohe's unforgiving armco hard in qualifying but - after hasty repairs - able to continue. Andrew Redward (Nankang Nissan S14), meanwhile, started the battles in a borrowed car (ProAm driver Cam Vernon's Nissan Skyline R32) after blowing a piston in his before he even got a chance to qualify.
Most impressive performance from one of the new faces in the D1NZ Pro this year was definitely that of Darren Benjamin, the young Hawera driver topping the points standings in qualifying by two points from Cole Armstrong with Gaz Whiter another three-and-a-half points, then successfully battling his way to the Top 4 without third gear.
The day before, Aucklander Shane Poulton (AOSC Nissan Silvia S15) and Pukekohe's Cam Vernon (Gull Nissan Skyline R32) were the class of the ProAm field with Poulton getting the better of Vernon in the Final to claim his first round win of the season.
Third and fourth places were also hard-fought, the nod eventually going to Auckland's Joe Kyle (Nissan Laurel) from Matamata's William Foster (SR20 Toyota AE85)
Poulton now leads the ProAm points standings from Waiuku's Shane Allen (who was knocked out of the Top 8), Foster and Kyle.
The second round of the 2011/12 D1NZ National Drifting Championship also saw the opening round of the 2011/12 Time Attack (single lap) series. Two classes (Pro and Pro-Am) were contested with victory in Pro going to local driver Hans Ruiterman (E&H Nissan Silvia S14) with a best lap time of 1.02.853, and victory in Pro-Am going to Aucklander Harry Dodson (Dodson Motorsport Nissan GT-R35) with a time of 1.01.687.
The focus of the 2011/12 D1NZ National Drifting Championship now turns to Taupo where the third round will be held on Friday December 16 and Saturday December 17 before breaking for the summer months.
Ends
CAPTIONS
Curt Whittaker (centre) was the big winner at the second round of this season's D1NZ National Drifting Championships at Pukekohe's Pukekohe Park Raceway over the weekend. Second was Tauranga's Cole Armstrong (left), third, Hawera's Darren Benjamin. It was an all Nissan R34 Final as Cole Armstrong battled Curt Whittaker. Darren Benjamin was the quickest qualifier and ended up third overall. ProAm winner was Auckland's Shane Poulton. Photos: Fast Company/Roo Wills
Curt Whittaker (centre) was the big winner at the second round of this season's D1NZ National Drifting Championships at Pukekohe's Pukekohe Park Raceway over the weekend. Second was Tauranga's Cole Armstrong (left), third, Hawera's Darren Benjamin. It was an all Nissan R34 Final as Cole Armstrong battled Curt Whittaker. Darren Benjamin was the quickest qualifier and ended up third overall. ProAm winner was Auckland's Shane Poulton. Photos: Fast Company/Roo Wills
2011/12 D1NZ National Drifting Championship Rnd 2 Pukekohe Park Raceway, Pukekohe Fri-Sat November 25 & 26
Round Results
D1NZ
1. Curt Whittaker (2JZ Nissan Skyline R34) 104 points
2. Cole Armstrong (Nissan Skyline R34) 89
3. Darren Benjamin (2JZ Nissan Laurel) 90
4. Gaz Whiter (Nissan Silvia S14) 77
5. Daniel Woolhouse (Holden Commodore) 67
6. Brad Lauder (Nissan Silvia S14) 64
7. Daynom Templeman (Mazda RX7) 63
8. Steve Sole (Toyota Mk11) 63
9. Chris Trundle (Mazda RX7 ) 58
10. Mike Whiddett (Mazda RX7) 57
D1NZ
1. Curt Whittaker (2JZ Nissan Skyline R34) 104 points
2. Cole Armstrong (Nissan Skyline R34) 89
3. Darren Benjamin (2JZ Nissan Laurel) 90
4. Gaz Whiter (Nissan Silvia S14) 77
5. Daniel Woolhouse (Holden Commodore) 67
6. Brad Lauder (Nissan Silvia S14) 64
7. Daynom Templeman (Mazda RX7) 63
8. Steve Sole (Toyota Mk11) 63
9. Chris Trundle (Mazda RX7 ) 58
10. Mike Whiddett (Mazda RX7) 57
ProAm
1. Shane Poulton (Nissan Silvia S15) 110 points
2. Cam Vernon (Nissan Skyline R32) 100
3. Joe Kyle (Nissan Laurel) 82
4. William Foster (SR20 Toyota AE85) 73
5. Shane Allen (Nissan Skyline) 69
6. Trevor Cairns (Nissan Laurel) 67
2. Cam Vernon (Nissan Skyline R32) 100
3. Joe Kyle (Nissan Laurel) 82
4. William Foster (SR20 Toyota AE85) 73
5. Shane Allen (Nissan Skyline) 69
6. Trevor Cairns (Nissan Laurel) 67
Series Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Cole Armstrong (Tauranga) 179
2. Mike Whiddett (Auckland) 167
3. Curt Whittaker (Auckland) 162
3. Darren Benjamin (Taranaki) 154
5. Daniel Woolhouse (Whangarei) 153
6. Gaz Whiter (Dargaville)133
7=. Brad Lauder (Rotorua) 127
7=. Steve Sole (Taranaki) 127
9. Andrew Redward (Auckland) 119
10. Mark Burling (Taranaki) 111
11. Sky Zhao (Auckland) 109.5
12. Nico Reid (Auckland) 109
13=. Daynom Templeman Auckland) 87.5
13=. Mac Kwok (Hastings) 87.5
15. Bruce Tannock (Hamilton) 83
16. Chris Trundle (Taranaki) 82.5
17. Matt Jackson (Waiuku) 80.25
18. Dave Steedman (Tauranga) 80
19. Robee Nelson (Whangarei) 79.5
20. Dimitri Amos (Wellington) 55
1. Cole Armstrong (Tauranga) 179
2. Mike Whiddett (Auckland) 167
3. Curt Whittaker (Auckland) 162
3. Darren Benjamin (Taranaki) 154
5. Daniel Woolhouse (Whangarei) 153
6. Gaz Whiter (Dargaville)133
7=. Brad Lauder (Rotorua) 127
7=. Steve Sole (Taranaki) 127
9. Andrew Redward (Auckland) 119
10. Mark Burling (Taranaki) 111
11. Sky Zhao (Auckland) 109.5
12. Nico Reid (Auckland) 109
13=. Daynom Templeman Auckland) 87.5
13=. Mac Kwok (Hastings) 87.5
15. Bruce Tannock (Hamilton) 83
16. Chris Trundle (Taranaki) 82.5
17. Matt Jackson (Waiuku) 80.25
18. Dave Steedman (Tauranga) 80
19. Robee Nelson (Whangarei) 79.5
20. Dimitri Amos (Wellington) 55
ProAm
1. Shane Poulton 166 points
2. Shane Allen 161
3. William Foster 154
4. Joe Kyle 138
5. Ryan Johnson 124
6. Vincent Langhorn 120
7=. Vincent Hopkins 118
7=. Raymond Robertson 118
9. Ricky Lee 117
10. Eddie Hayman 112
1. Shane Poulton 166 points
2. Shane Allen 161
3. William Foster 154
4. Joe Kyle 138
5. Ryan Johnson 124
6. Vincent Langhorn 120
7=. Vincent Hopkins 118
7=. Raymond Robertson 118
9. Ricky Lee 117
10. Eddie Hayman 112
Time Attack
Pro Class
1. Hans Ruiterman (Nissan Silvia S14) 1:02.853
2. Daniel Currie 1:06.018
3. Scott Kreyl (Mitsubishi Evo) 1.13.675
Pro Class
1. Hans Ruiterman (Nissan Silvia S14) 1:02.853
2. Daniel Currie 1:06.018
3. Scott Kreyl (Mitsubishi Evo) 1.13.675
Pro-Am
1. Harry Dodson (Nissan GT-R35) 1:01.687
2. Leon Scott (Mitsuibishi Evo) 1:06.159
3. Steven Brown-Thomas (Mitsubishi Evo) 1:06.185
4. Kat Benson (Mitsubishio Evo) 1:07.747
5. Kerry Mareeba 1.09.128
1. Harry Dodson (Nissan GT-R35) 1:01.687
2. Leon Scott (Mitsuibishi Evo) 1:06.159
3. Steven Brown-Thomas (Mitsubishi Evo) 1:06.185
4. Kat Benson (Mitsubishio Evo) 1:07.747
5. Kerry Mareeba 1.09.128
Calendar
Rnd 1: Oct 28-29 2011 Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 2: Nov 25-26 2011 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Rnd 3: Dec 16-17 2011 Taupo Motorsport Park Taupo
Rnd 4: Feb 10-11 2012 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Rnd 5 March 09-10 2012 Whangarei Street Course, Whangarei
Rnd 6: April 06-07 Grand Final, Hampton Downs, northern Waikato
Rnd 1: Oct 28-29 2011 Manfeild Feilding
Rnd 2: Nov 25-26 2011 Pukekohe Park Raceway
Rnd 3: Dec 16-17 2011 Taupo Motorsport Park Taupo
Rnd 4: Feb 10-11 2012 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Rnd 5 March 09-10 2012 Whangarei Street Course, Whangarei
Rnd 6: April 06-07 Grand Final, Hampton Downs, northern Waikato
Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of D1NZ. For more information about the 2011/12 D1NZ National Drifting Championship contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. If you would like to talk to D1NZ Director Brendon White he can be contacted on 0-9-534 6090, 021 274 5580 or on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To check out the DINZ website go to www.D1NZ.com
EDITOR'S NOTE: More hi-res jpgs of cars and drivers contesting the 2010/11 D1NZ National Drifting Championship can be sourced by e-mailing Ross MacKay at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.