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.

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.

Anyone who has previously attended Prodrift at Mondello will understand that the 1200 seater grandstand is always full by 11am.  To counteract this inconvenience, this year Mondello Park are selling reserved grandstand seats in advance. Online ticket agency Ticket Lord will now allow you to choose you seats in advance of the April 19/20th curtain raiser and enjoy the best in European Drifting from the comfort of your reserved space. Arrive late, wander around the pits and take your seat for what could be the greatest drift show ever staged in Ireland. For more information on ticket prices and online bookings visit the Mondello Park website, www.mondello.ie or www.ticketlord.com .