Round Five of the Maxxis British Drift Championship Rocks Silverstone Circuit to the Core
- 13 Sept 2012
Judgment Day is coming soon - that's when the final round of the British Drift Championship will crown their champions at the intense Knockhill Circuit in Scotland, so performing will at Silverstone was in the forefront of everyone's intentions. The celebrated F1 track gives unrivalled spectator view points as the drivers power around the circuit with the highest entry speeds on the event calendar. Much to the delight of all the fans, this event also saw the return of the Speedhunters Team that consists of Formula D stars Fredric Aasbo and Darren "D-Mac" McNamara.
Ratcheting up the action even further was that Round 5 was condensed from its usual two days, to one single day of heady, volatile competition. Compared to the usual race weekends which span two days and have 32 drivers in each class, this time due to the incredibly tight time constraints of the Trax schedule, the British Drift Championship competitors had just one day where the Super Pro Class drivers had to qualify and compete. It clearly showcased the cream of the British Drifting crop to an audience who may not have had the chance to otherwise experience drifting in real-time.
The morning practice sessions looked strong as drivers adjusted to the pace and found their preferential lines, then after the briefing it was onto the qualifying sessions in the afternoon. The fast paced and flowing lines around Silverstone seemed to ideally suit the Super Pros. Several of the drivers managed to score above 90 points in qualification. As in all previous rounds, the drama started early and continued to build all the way to the totally satisfying crescendo. As in the earlier rounds the drivers once again found time in their busy day to line up by the Maxxis truck to take part in an autograph signing, and as always this was warmly appreciated, as the crowd turned out en-masse to greet the drivers and get memorabilia signed. Then towards the end of the day, the Championship round got underway. Right from the get-go, the action engaged the fans and held them there until the end. There were collective gasps as the drivers pulled close on each other, accelerating around the track at 90-degree angles, only inches apart, while tires were tortured and torn to the canvas.
The top 16 finalists did themselves and the British Drift Championship proud, by displaying huge helpings of bona fide driving talent, while showcasing the high standards of cars and competition within the championship. The twin battles were the highlight of an already highly enjoyable day for frenzied fans. The influx of the two Speedhunters drivers only further served to stir up the competition and significance of the event. After some exhilarating battles the judges announced the winners. Fredric Aasbo managed to retain his Silverstone crown despite the best efforts of Paul Smith, who came in second place, and Simon Perry held off the advances of Darren McNamara to grab the third tier on the podium. Round 6 - Judgment Day - the last and final event of the 2012 British Drift Championship ignites on the 29th and 30th of September. The Knockhill Circuit in Scotland is an exceedingly popular driver's track and it rewards those willing to risk complete commitment - chest pounding, nail-biting action is therefore a given. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
