In advance of Prodrift’s debut in Sweden, Sturup Raceway have recently launched a fantastic micro site with useful information regarding the event and the circuit services.

 The Sturup Raceway team have been busy promoting the arrival of Europes best drifters with exhibitions and demonstrations as well as stimulating interest amongst numerous local media outlets.

For further information on Prodrift European Series Round 3 at Sturup Raceway please visit Sturup Raceway or keep an eye on these pages.

At a technical Mondello Park circuit, where local knowledge and experience is key, it was Irelands top drifters who dominated the opening Round of the 2008 Prodrift European Series. Although many of the travelling teams and drivers failed to figure, the Top 16 was not without incident and upsets littered the first elimination battles of what is shaping up to be a fascinating Prodrift European Series.

 TOP 16 Qualifiers:
Leading the Top 16 qualifiers was 2006 Prodrift Champion Darren McNamara in his world famouos Falken Tyre SR20 Corolla. Returning for his first outing with the Corolla in Europe since its 12 month stint in the USA, Darren looked right at home as he blitzed the rest of the field with consistently powerful qualification passes. D-Mac was followed closely by Hankooks Damien Mulvey who had won the Prodrift Ireland event held only 24 hours earlier and Mike Deane and Eric O’Sullivan made up the remaining Top 4 Positions.

Top 16 Qualifiers:
1. Darren McNamara                 Falken Tyre Toyota Corrolla Sr20
2. Damien Mulvey                      Hankook Nissan Silvia Sil80
3. Mike Deane                             Dalton Tyres Silvia S13
4. Eric O Sullivan                        Rockstar Hankook Toyota Corolla Vtec86
5. James Deane                          Nexen Tyre Nissan Silvia S14.5
6. Alan Lenihan                          Hankook Nissan Silvia S13.5
7. Declan Munnelly                    Whatcar.ie Ford MkII Escort
8. Glen Maher                            Toyota Corolla SR20
9. Martin French                        Nissan Silvia S14.5
10.Shane O Grady                     Nissan Silvia S13
11.Dennis Healy                         Nexen Hunky Dory Toyota Corolla Sr20
12.Christy Carpenter                Top Fuel Imports Nissan Silvia S15
13.Conor Lenihan                      Tuning Factory Nissan Silvia S13
14.Bon Bon                                  Driftworks Federal Toyota Chaser
15.Declan Hicks                          Universal Turbos Toyota Chaser
16.Dean Kearney                        Xtreme Autos Nissan Silvia S13

Round 1 Eliminations:
The Top 16 got off to a tempestuous start with Dean Kearney judged to have made contact with McNamara through turn one, 10-0 to the Falken Corolla, a gap the Kearney could not re-coup and Darren was through to the Top 8. The highlight of the Top16 Battles was easily the sudden death deciders between the Driftworks Chaser of Bon Bon and the Nissan Silvia of Corks Mike Deane. It took 3 re-runs for the judges to determine a winner and eventually it was Deane who the judges awarded the Top 8 place to and Bon Bon in the popular smoke spewing Chaser was eliminated.

Round 2 Eliminations:
With the field thinned to just 8, it was at this stage where things were going to become extremely interesting in the hunt for semi final positions. Again McNamara was awarded a clean passage as his opponent Declan Munnelly in the MKII Escort spun out while chasing the Falken Corolla.
James Deane and Eric O’Sullivan were next to draw swords and after a 5-5 first run, the 16 year old Nexen Sponsored sensation Deane edged it with a 6-4 run 2 thus eliminating the 07 champion O’Sullivan in his new Rockstar coloured Corolla.
Lenihan in the Hankook S13 was now looking extremely comfortable and he eliminated Cork neighbour Mike Deane in the penultimate battle and the final Top 4 position was filled by Hankooks Damien Mulvey after Martin Ffrench made a terminal error during their battle.

Final 4:
McNamara V James Deane. The first of the Semi Final draws pitched the 07 Prodrift Rookie of the year against the 07 Formula Drift Rookie of the Year. It was a case of youth versus experience as the young James deane drew alongside Darren McNamara for a place in the final. Following consecutive 6-4 battles the judges required a re-run to determine a winner. It was at this stage where Deanes day would end however - following a very close Run 1, Deanes transmission gave up 3rd gear on the second pass and with it surrendered a position in the Prodrift Final to Darren McNamara.
Damien Mulvey V Alan Lenihan. The Hankook team mates lined up to contest the second semi final. Following a solid 7-3 run in favour of Lenihan during Run 1, it was a case of the young corkman putting in a solid 5-5 in Run 2 and he took his place in the Prodrift Final against McNamara.

Final: Lenihan V McNamara
The last time that Lenihan and McNamara met in a drift battle was at Punchestown 06, a result that saw McNamara overtake the then 20 year old Lenihan. Since then a lot had changed with Lenihan - he was now the leading driver in the Irish Hankook outfit and his Nissan S13 had evolved into a completely different mechanical beast, capable of matching McNamaras SR powered Hachi. The first two runs of this final were inseperable - 5-5, 5-5. The judges could not distinguish a clear advantage for either driver. It called for sudden death. Again the first of the sudden death passes was faultless, another 5-5. It was all coming down to this final run. As both cars appeared over the 90mph crest into turn 1, Lenihan was judged to have been the more agressive and as the cars transitioned and navigated the slower Honda curve with ease it was this added ferocity of Lenihan through turn 1 that earned the marginal favour of the 3 man judging panel. Lenihan had scooped it - 5.5 to 4.5, a margin that reflected exactly just how close this competition was.

Following months of preparation, anticipation and speculation, it was Irelands Alan Lenihan who took opening honours at the first round  of the Prodrift European Series held at Mondello Park , Ireland.

On a cold Irish Sunday, it was the Hankook S13 of Lenihan that remained secure and confident throughout the days changeable weather conditions, displaying consistent agressive form that his competitors could not match. En route to this historic victory, the young Corkman despatched of more experienced competitors, most notably his Hankook team mate Damien Mulvey and Team Falken’s Darren McNamara in a sudden death final, that left the Mondello grandstands upstanding and applauding the performance of Lenihan and his Hankook Nissan.

Visibly moved by the result, Lenihan returned to his Hankook pit to the rapturous applause of the extensive Hankook team to take his position on top of the podium and receive his well deserved trophies, winners cheque and prizes. Lenihan was quick to point out that this victory was one that he gladly shares with his back room team and sponsors and that his performance was the culmination of many months hard work on behalf of Team Hankook and the supporters and sponsors of this amazing Nissan S13. When reminded that he now stands as a front runner in the Prodrift European Series championship table, Lenihan casually smiled and mentioned that he hopes the resources remain in place to afford him an opportunity to travel to the remaining Prodrift European Series events. We’re pretty sure that the whole of Europe is hoping that Lenihan will continue to fight for this championship, his display at Mondello Park was one which will long live in the history books of Irish drifting - a display that the rest of Europe will want to see repeated across the remaining events of the 2008 Prodrift European Series.

Red Bull and Pirelli sponsored WRC driver Kris Meeke  has today confirmed his intention to contest the 2008 Prodrift European Series.

Making his drift debut at Prodrift European Series Round 1, Mondello Park, on April 19th/20th, Meeke will compete in the WKD Imports Nissan180SX supported with Pirelli Tyres and Red Bull Energy Drinks.

Former British Junior Rally Champion, Meeke began his career as a computer aided designer at M-Sport Ford before winning a seat in the Peugeot 106 Cup where he subsequently attracted the attention of WRC hero Colin McRae. Under the guidance and tutorage of McRae, Meeke embarked on a successful rally career that saw him win the British Junior Rally Championship driving a Ford Puma before earning a seat with the Kronos Racing Team in the Citroen Sport C2.

Meekes’ participation in Prodrift marks a significant milestone in the evolution of European drifting proving that the audiences, attention and respect attracted by the Prodrift Series now makes it a viable outlet for established motorsport professionals.
At Mondello Park today, Meeke said that he “was looking forward to the challenge” and that this opportunity to drive the WKD 180SX will be a new and exciting experience.
Meeke is widely regarded as one of Britains hottest rally talent, his career to date has taken him to many of the capacity spectator stadiums of WRC and this latest move for the Ulsterman will certainly increase Meekes’ appeal to the legions of drifting fans throughout Europe.

Also present at Mondello was Prodrift Managing Director Graham McNamara who added, “ we are delighted to have Kris competing in this years competition. His pedigree in top level rallying is second to none and the addition of his name to the Prodrift entry list really sends a strong message across European motorsport that the Prodrift European Series is now home to top European motorsport talent. We look forward to seeing him compete at Round 1 Mondello”.

Kris Meeke will begin his drifting career at Prodrift European Series Round 1, Mondello Park, April 19th & 20th.
For more information see http://www.prodriftirl.com/ ,  http://www.mondello.ie/ or http://www.krismeeke.com/