Round 1 kicks off in style!
Last weekend saw Round 1 kick start 2006 into shape and proved what is in store this year from the GT Battle events.
After a short practice and course layout on Saturday, Sunday’s main event saw the D1 boys blast into action during their free practice where they go to grips with their machines. In the D1GB we had 27 drivers make it into the Qualifying stages where they were judged by D1 Japan’s top driver Mr Ken Nomura, flown in for the event from Japan to cast his expert eye on Europes best Drifters who all have D1 Licences. We were also honored to have TV’s Fifth Gear filming the event with their presenter Tiff Needell behind the wheel of the Castrol D1 Soarer, who was attempting to qualify and finish in the top 16 driver positions. The driver winning Round 1 was Brett Castle in his Nissan 200SX S14, grabbing victory against the talented Irishman Mark Luney in his Nissan Skyline.
D1GB Qualifying drivers were
Brett Castle 95 Points Steven Shine 82 PointsPhil Morrison 95 Points Niall Gunn 82 PointsDarren McNamara 94 Points Mike Murphy 80 PointsTim Marshall 90 Points John Chambers 80 PointsDamien Mulvey 89 Points Garry Kennedy 80 PointsDeclan Hicks 89 Points Mark Coyne 79 PointsMark Luney 89 Points Wilco Van Esch 79 PointsJames Hudson 88 Points James Grimsy 70 PointsBen Broke Smith 88 Points Tiff Needell 0 Points DNF ( Crash/Retired)Mike Deane 87 Points Ian Harrison 0 Points DNF ( Crash/Retired)Maciej Polody 87 Points Glen Mayer 0 Points DNF ( Retired)Mat Steele 87 PointsPaul Vlasblom 87 PointsRalph Crampton 85 PointsStephen Evans 83 PointsIan Coyne 82 PointsD1GB Round 1 Race ResultBrett Castle 20 PointsMark Luney 18 PointsRalph Crampton 16 PointsTim Marshall 14 PointsDamien Mulvey 12 PointsBen Broke Smith 10 PointsPhil Morrison 8 PointsDeclan Hicks 6 PointsMaciej Polody 4 PointsMat Steele 2 Points
D1GB National Championship Scoreboard after Round 1
Brett Castle 20 Points Nissan 200SX S14Mark Luney 18 Points Nissan Skyline R32 GTR ( RWD )Ralph Crampton 16 Points Nissan 350Z – Works SVA Imports carTim Marshall 14 Points Nissan 350Z – Works Sumo Power carDamien Mulvey 12 Points Nissan 200SX SilviaBen Broke Smith 10 Points Nissan Skyline R32 GTSPhil Morrison 8 Points Nissan 200SX S14 – Works Driftworks carDeclan Hicks 6 Points Toyota SoarerMaciej Polody 4 Points Nissan 200SX S14Mat Steele 2 Points Nissan 200SX S14
Andy Barnes, D1GB Championship Co-ordinator said ‘ We now have a Championship underway and a result from the drivers which was unexpected. Not only do we have familiar names in D1 in the top 16 but we also have drivers which are new to D1 and have managed to score high points in their first Round these being Tim Marshall and Ralph Crampton, both driving Nissan 350Z’s which are also new to the sport in the UK. With the introduction of D1 to the UK it seems we will have drivers coming into the Championship which have watched from afar in the past - giving an unknown quantity to the experienced Drift drivers who now have to watch their backs if they want to stay ahead of their game. Round 2 should produce further exciting results when it starts at Silverstone on June 17th and we eagerly await to see how the experienced Drifters cope with this new found pressure.’
The Next Event is:Silverstone June 17th / 18th
Over 10000bhp hauled its way to Rockingham this weekend to line-up on the grid for the Time Attack Series. As billed, some of the most famous cars in the UK lined up to go head to head in the first official Round of Time Attack providing a good mix of cars and with no obvious odds-on favourites. Following the warm up sessions where some drivers had some scary moments at the end of the pit straight towards the wall, the drivers headed up to the pit exit for their parade lap to show the crowd their machines. As Time Attack got underway a clear message was being sent out by Duncan Cowper in the Dax Rush as he gave some blistering laps and managing to set a healthy lead against the closest car on the grid being the Subaru Impreza of Litchfields/Powerstation who had GT ace Philip Keen at the wheel, pedalling an impressive 2 second lead over Simon Norris in the SWB Evo. In the Club Challenge the GTROC Peter Everett managed to clock a fantastic lap seeing him run clear to claim the top spot overall in the Club Challenge.
Time Attack Results (Pro Class) Time Attack Results (Club Challenge)
Duncan Cowper 1.30.185 Dax Rush Peter Everett 1.38.368 Nissan Skyline R33 GTRPhilip Keen 1.32.899 Subaru Impreza Nigel Wilson 1.40.712 Mitsubishi EvoSimon Norris 1.34.016 Mitsubishi Evo 9 Jeremy Horsham 1.42.896 Nissan 200SX S13Clive Seddon 1.34.271 Mitsubishi Evo 6 Stuart Andrew 1.43.617 Subaru ImprezaAdrian Smith 1.34.812 Toyota Celica Ben James 1.50.072 Mazda RX7Terry Pankhurst 1.34.974 Peugoet 206 WRC Simon Miskelly 1.50.729 Honda Integra TypeR DC5David Harrison 1.35.707 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR John Wooton 1.51.931 Mazda RX7Robbie Thornton 1.36.288 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR Jason Evans 1.56.236 Honda Civic TypeR EP3Rob Barnes 1.37.089 Mitsubishi Evo 8Phil Gooriah 1.37.466 Mazda RX7Darren Soothill 1.37.648 Mitsubishi Evo 6
