Teesside Autodrome in Middlesborough played host to a thrilling second round of the 2008 Prodrift European Series. Under the lights of Teesside circuit, the UK drifting fans witnessed a classic drift battle which featured some memorable contests that will live long in the memory of the Prodrift Series and those that were present to witness it live.

The layout of the Teesside circuit encourages a classic drifting format. A fast sweeping first corner followed by 2 tighter technical corners & finishing with a power sapping exit through a final clipping point. Although many UK and Irish drivers are familiar with the Teesside circuit, the added pressure and talent coming from a grid  of capable and skilled drivers meant that this venue was about to be tested to its maximum, by the best.

Qualifying:
Qualifying took place on a dry surface on Saturday evening. Attacking the circuit according to current Championship seeded position, Darren McNamara was first to run in the qualifying session and he set the bar pretty high. As the rest of the competitors took their turns it was evident that McNamara’s solo performance would be eclipsed and it was Irelands Martin Ffrench who eventually came out on top. Ffrench was closely followed by reigning Irish champion Eric O’Sullivan and UK’s Bon Bon driving the Driftworks Chaser. Missing from the Top 16 qualifiers were Round 1 winner Alan Lenihan and Nexen’s Dennis Healy as well as the current British Drift Championship leader Shane Lynch.

 Top 16.
Kicking off the Top 16 was Top Qualifier Martin Ffrench versus the Nexen Chaser of Miguel Marini. Frenchys S14 was too nimble for the bigger Chaser and Marini was convincingly eliminated from the competition. Next up was Hankooks Damien Mulvey versus Irish neighbour Mike Deane. Consecutive 6-4 runs in favour of Deane meant that Mulvey, who finished 3rd at Round 1, was also making an early exit. The biggest upset of the evening featured 3rd highest qualifier Bon Bon and Japspeeds Dan Eyeles. On the approach to the first hairpin, Eyeles found space up the inside of the Driftworks Chaser and executed a clean pass which earned Danny in the R33 Skyline a massive 10-0 lead thus ending Bon Bons day. Apart from that, other event favourites did enough to secure Top 8 position and things were set to really heat up as the sun set over the Teesside circuit.

Top 8.
Leading the Top 8 Battles was Martin Ffrench V Mike Deane. An impossibly close contest ensued with no less than 2 sudden death battles during which Mike Deane required two 5 minute repair breaks to fit new tyres. Eventually it was Frenchy who won by a slender margin and he was through to his first Top4 of the season. Mikes younger brother James Deane was next to take to the track in his Nexen S14. Drawn against Dean Kearny in the Xtreme Autos S13, Deane took the second run with a 6-4 following a 5-5 opening run. This score line was repeated in the next battle but this time in favour of Driftworks’ Phil Morrison . The ex Uk Champion was too strong for Japspeeds Danny Eyles and Phil was back in familiar form – the Final Four. The final Top 8 battle was between two previous Irish Champions, Darren McNamara V Eric O’Sullivan; 2 hybrid corollas representing 2 different tyre manufacturers and each equally determined to make progress into the Top 4. The Rockstar Hankook Corolla of O’Sullivan led for run 1 but was unable to shake the more powerful Falken Corolla of McNamara who claimed a 6-4 advantage. Run 2 was a closer affair at 5-5 but McNamara had done enough and Flat Eric faced his second Top 8 elimination of the season.

Final 4.
Deane V Frenchy
As Martin Ffrench led in run 1, James Deane in the Nexen S14.5 remained stuck to the rear of his yellow opponent for the entire run. Clever lines and solid angle meant that the 16 year old driver took a 6-4 advantage into the 2nd run. In typical Frenchy style Run 2 saw the Yellow S14.5 attack at 100% but upon entry to the first hairpin, contact was made and the judges accordingly marked down the chase car. The result was an emphatic 8-2 to Deane and the young Irish driver had eliminated top qualifier Ffrench and taken a place in the Round 2 Final.

Morrison V McNamara
The second semi final was a calmer affair, both McNamara and Morrison hold many years of experience in top level drifting and understand the importance of solid performances at this stage of a competition. Nevertheless, both drivers were showing total commitment and fantastic speed. McNamara’s Corolla was judged to have been the more impressive however and consecutive 6-4 results meant that it was another all Irish final between James Deane and Darren McNamara.

Final
Deane V McNamara

The first run of the final battle saw James Deane leading from Falken Corolla of McNamara. Deane’s speed through turn one and his precision around the tighter corners was impressive and awarded with a 5-5. With it all to play for in run2, the pressure was on McNamara to eliminate any opportunities for the 16 year old Nexen Driver to mount an attack. Through turns 1 and 2 Deane appeared to hold an edge but on exit from the final bend a sudden misfire brought a temporary straighten from Deane and this smallest of errors was enough to see Darren McNamara take a 6-4 advantage and with it the Round 2 victory.

In an earlier interview McNamara explained that a forthcoming schedule clash means that he will be absent from RD3 Sweden. With this in mind he was determined to take maximum points from Teesside and with an extra 20 points earned for the win, the Falken Corolla remains at the top of the Prodrift European Series, 9 points ahead of his nearest rival James Deane. Round 3 in Sweden is a circuit brand new to drifting and will be a true test of a drivers ability to adjust. With steep hills and technical corners, based on this seasons form, it should deliver another dose of top level European drifting.

Big teams gear up for UK, Prodrift Round 2.

As the UK debut of the Prodrift European Series Round 2 at Teesside rapidly approaches, many of Europe’s top drifting Teams are gearing up for the trip to Middlesborough.

Leading the charge is the Falken unit of Darren McNamara. Having suffered a big engine problem at a recent Irish event, the Corkman has returned from his Formula Drift event in Atlanta USA to find the car completely stripped and under a state of major repair. Officials at MCN Sport have said that it will be tight for time but they are confident of this world famous Corolla returning to the UK where it has enjoyed so much success in the past.

Following the Falken Team will be the new articulated team vehicle of Team Hankook. Carrying Round 1 winner Alan Lenihan, third place driver Damien Mulvey and UK teenage Drifter Jonathan Waugh, the new look 40ft Hankook presence will certainly be a paddock centrepiece. They will be hoping for at least one podium and for their
drivers to remain in touch at the Top of the leader board.

Eric O’Sullivan’s team have also recently acquired commercial transport and their RockStar Energy drink Corolla will make a welcome return to Teesside.Also running as Part of the Hankook stable, O’Sullivan dominated at this venue in March at JDM All-stars and he will be looking to go one better than his Top 8 Finish at Round 1.

Team Nexen will also make their UK debut at Teesside. Spear heading their challenge is 16 year old drift sensation James Deane in his Nissan S14.5 With no experience at this venue, it could be Dennis Healy who leads the Nexen challenge at Round 2 due to his 2007 experience here at UK V Irl battles. Miguel Marini will also make his UK debut in his new Chaser although the WKD Imports team are working around the clock to have this machine back to full strength following some damage at a recent Irish event.

New to the Championship for Round 2 will be the Team Firenza line-up of Dutch drivers Jos and Leen Bruin. Having experienced success already this year on home turf, the double Dutch Firenza team will be hoping for a solid performance against Europes best.

Federal Tyre will be represented by the home country team of Driftworks.com. Bon Bon in his rubber churning Chaser with Dan Chapman, who is now becoming comfortable in the new S13, should figure in the overall outcome of the event. Making a return to Prodrift Competition will be 2006 UK Champ Phil Morrison driving the Driftworks skyline as his new hybrid S15 is still in the final stages of completion. Making up the fourth spot in the DW team is Chris Parry. Chris (Paz) has also chosen to install the reliable Honda F20 engine into his AE86 and Teesside will see this car make its competitive debut.
Falken V Hankook V Nexen V Firenza V Federal; this is the most advanced drift tyre war in Europe, and on an abrasive circuit like Teesside, it remains to be seen whose rubber can stand up to the competition.

Also representing at their home event will be the Japspeed team of Danny Eyles, Shane Lynch and Paul Smith. Although failing to make the Top 16 at Round 1, the Japspeed boys are firmly on home turf with plenty of experience at this venue and will be confident of fighting their way out of Qualifying to a place in what promises to be a ruthless Top 16 Battle.

Round 2 at Teesside also ranks as the most international drift event ever to be staged in the UK. With drivers in attendance from Ireland, UK, Holland, Northern Ireland,  Spain, Italy, Portugal & Switzerland the drift fans of the north east are in for a truly international drifting competition.

Jonathan Waugh is the latest young driver to make his mark on the on the Prodrift Series. In March of this year at the Prodrift Ireland License Day, the 15-year-old transition-year student earned a Prodrift Pro License on his very first day out. Furthermore, the extent of Jonathans experience was just one session at the Prodrift Academy. At the age of just 15, the Carlisle born driver surely ranks as the UK and Europe’s youngest Pro License Holder.
The Waugh family now reside in County Cavan, Ireland, and Jonathan’s inspiration has grown from attending Prodrift Ireland events for the last 2 years. As a fifteenth birthday present, Jonathan received a gift voucher for the Prodrift Academy and such was his ability that the instructors encouraged him to take his skills to the track. 3 months later Jonathan put in a solid performance at the 2008 License day and finished 7th overall earning him the right to immediately compete in the big leagues.

As his first machine, Jonathan has acquired a Nissan Sil Eighty. Through WKD Imports in Carlow, Ireland, Jonathan Purchased an entry level car that he plans to develop during the course of the year. Also with Support from Hankook Tyres and Mels Signs, Waugh plans to compete in the full Irish Series and as many European events as possible. Waughs entry to Round 2 in Teesside will be his first performance outside of Ireland, and as the circuit is located close to his home town of Carlisle he can expect strong local support as he battles against the UK and Europe’s toughest competitors. Having showed such early promise, the UK drifting community could now be looking at one of its most exciting drift talents.

Belfast drifter Mark Luney can count himself as one of the pioneers of the Irish drifting scene. Way back when things began to turn sideways at Irish motorsport venues, Mark (aka Buff) was clocking up the miles towing a variety of drifting machines to the very early events of a budding Irish Drifting Scene.
Fast forward to 2008 and Buff remains as one of the scenes most competitive drivers. Although his recent presence at National Irish events has been in a judging capacity, the scope of the new Prodrift European Series was enough to re-ignite Buffs enthusiasm for the Prodrift competition and he has returned as part of a very competitive Sandy Arthur Driver Training team piloting none other than the world famous BN Sports Toyota Supra.


Round 1 Mondello was Mark’s debut in the car and as he admits, results were not foremost on the teams agenda. A solid weekends track time with experienced feedback from the driver would benefit the team most and put them in a solid position to re-adjust for Round 2 Teeside. 

Post Mondello Park, the wide body Supra has found itseslf stripped bare in the capable hands of JDM motorsport,Birmingham where it will receive a complete rebuild both under the bonnet and throughout the chasis. Mark also explains that JDM are effectively building a new car which will be tailored exactly to his requirements for the remaining events in the Prodrift European calendar thus ensuring that the Ulster based Sandy Arthur team are challenging for Prodrift glory on a consistent basis. The new look Sandy Arthur Driver Training Supra will be back in action at Prodrift Series Round 2, Teesside, UK on May 24th.

Back in November 2007, I was invited to an off-season exhibition match in Teeside. The event was a relaxed affair that pitted some British, Dutch and Irish drivers against each other. It was during the morning practice session, I spotted a tidy white over black AE86 Levin. It wasn’t until this guy was on track that I got a first hand account of just exactly how hard he could drive this little 1600cc AE86.

Coming out of the first wide hairpin, onto a straight away, the driver was flicking the car from side to side, dropping one wheel onto the grass as he went before catching the perfect line through a tight chicane around and up a hill and out of sight again. Breathtaking. The 4AGE motor could still be heard long after the car was out of sight, singing on the rev limiter the whole way until it came back into view again.
Fast forward five months and I’ve just had an interview with the man himself, Mr. Dan Chapman. Having just debuted his new Driftworks Nissan PS13 at Mondello Park for the first round of the Prodrift European Series, he seems happy with his ‘cheating’ car. He says ‘cheating’ because to this guy anything that isn’t a normally aspirated Toyota, is just going the easy route.

Dan started back in 2006 when his best mate, Jon Beezy, bought an S13 200sx. This was his first taste of drifting. Like so many others, looking at drifting videos on YouTube only briefly satisfied the hunger for more. Dan had decided he needed to drift himself. He picked up his now infamous panda AE86, as a fresh, low mileage Japanese import and had his first drift day at Lydd in December 2006. ‘Open diff, stock 16-valve with standard seats, I drove there and home on the same set of tyres and I bloody loved it! It went against all my knowledge of car control as coming from a grip racing background, making the car go sideways but still taking the racing line seemed so messed up to me, but my god the most fun ever, from that day on I wanted to just drift 24/7, just as fun at the time, with no thoughts of competitions!’
Because Dan learned to drive a car with considerably less power than his rivals, he had to learn to push the car harder and harder to keep up. By going this route Dan depended on his driving skills, rather than pure horsepower, to keep his car sideways. He maintains that because he learned to drift with so little power, it’s what has helped him develop so fast as a driver. ‘Starting out in the 16-valve open diff, stock seated AE86, I think that’s what made me learn so much so fast; from never owning a RWD car before to now never wanting to be without one,’ he laughs. ‘The Corolla to me has such a fine balance and the harder it is driven the better it performs, I left the Corolla stock for as long as possible because I believe that you do not make any modifications to the car until it is holding you back.’

Dan will be competing in the 2008 Prodrift European Series, competing under the well established banner of the Driftworks team. ‘Being sponsored by Driftworks and also being apart of the team is amazing, something I never expected or felt I deserved. Here is a group of friends like Drift Republic that love drifting and everything about it. They have all been around since the start of drifting in the UK to my knowledge, and have so much experience between them, that I know I can just call any of them up and ask a question and get a good honest answer. Having the feeling of backup makes things a lot easier, not only are they all top guys but they can all drift so good, and they have asked so little of me, they just want me to have fun and do my best, knowing that again makes competing more relaxing for me, and stress free, lets me concentrate on myself and not worry about others!
I still find it a little embarrassing when people mention Driftworks and me together. As Driftworks has had such a role in the UK and European drifting scene and I’m still such a new person on the scene, I feel I have not earned the right but hopefully will do so this year! Of course being the new boy, I am here to represent Driftworks across Europe on my travels as they compete in different championships, so little old me is here to represent everywhere I go. I love them long time!’

Watch out for Dan flying the Driftworks flag at Prodrift European Series Round Two, Saturday 24th May at Teeside Autodrome, Middlesborough, UK.

words & photos by paddy@prodriftseries.com