SupaDrift 5 Doesn’t Fail to Deliver
August 29, 2011 in Drifting, Reports and Results, SupaDrift, Upcoming Events
This weekend’s SupaDrift round will go down in the books as one of the most hotly contested event ever witnessed on SA soil.
Clear skies and warm temperatures saw an additional influx of spectators at Zwartkops Raceway and with 27 entries for this fifth round of the SupaDrift series; they were treated to some of the best drifting action available.
This round was a critical one for most with the championship door left wide open and the security guard fast asleep. This was due to the absence of the Kimberley based Monstermob team. With Otto Graven competing on the same day in Las Vegas in the Formula Drift Series and Ronnie Graven wrapped up in work commitments, the podium seemed a little more accessible than usual. Jason Webb was still competing though and it would be a trying one for the young championship leader.
Early in practice, Webb killed the clutch on his Speed and Sound Chev Lumina and then opted to try his hand at the Ed Hardy Nissan 350Z of Jim McFarlane who kindly offered him the use of the car. Jason battled to get to grips with the 350Z and in the end, managed to get the Lumina up and running in time for qualifying.
Open practice and qualifying only offered a small taste of the level and excitement that was to follow in the Top 16 elimination rounds.
Heart were broken when SA Drift contributor, Jethro Schwartz, from East London, missed out on the 16th spot by only half a point. Only 0.5% separated him from Jonathan Rudman in the Speed and Sound Nissan 200SX.
It’s not often that one sees so many One More Times in the Top 16 battles yet this time it was littered with repeat offenders. This made for some very exciting first round passes and some surprise upsets.
Ed Hardy’s David Nell took the win over Speed and Sound’s Jonathan Rudman after Rudman dialled in too much angle and spun out while Jim McFarlane in a Speed and Sound Chev Lumina defeated Gizocorp’s Dorne Britz in the Mazda RX7 FDS.
Ernest Simpson fought against F1-X / Rockstar Energy Drink’s Mike Skelton. Skelton fought a tight battle but lingering smoke inside the cabin alerted Skelton to the fact that not all was well with the Rockstar 350Z and an emergency manoeuvre to extinguish a fire would be the final action that Skelton would see for the day. With high spirits, Skelton retired but not before being given a lift to the judges box by Simpson for a decision. Like a true champion, Skelton stood on the track, sans car and accepted the judgement I front of a bemused crowd. Simpson and would face the Falken Tyre / Gizocorp Mazda RX7 FC3S of Rudi vd Berg in the Great 8 after vd Berg beat Rightway Auto’s Dean Williams.
Wade van Zummeren was on fine form and dispatched the Autostyle BMW E30 of Vic Pardal to progress through to the Great 8. He would be paired up against Lee-Roy Frans who astounded all when he rose to the top in a One More Time battle against championship leader Jason Webb in a Speed and Sound Lumina.
The final pairing of the Great 8 would be between GWT’s Aubrey Hiles and East London’s Michael Radloff who was sporting some new SupaQuick colours on his Nissan 200SX. Hiles beat Shaun Lamprecht and his Supercharged Chev Lumina while Radloff dealt with Hannes Frans in the Top 16.
In the Great 8 battles, David Nell secured a spot in the semi finals, beating Jim McFarlane while Ernest Simpson took a narrow vistory over Rudi vd Berg, eliminating the last remaining rotary machine.
Wade van Zummeren didn’t have it easy against newcomer Lee-Roy Frans in his MkIII Toyota Supra. Once again Lee-Roy Frans held his opponent to a One More Time in a death defying display of bravery, hanging right next to van Zummeren where possible. In the end it was van Zummeren that took the win and progressed through.
Aubrey Hiles and Michael Radloff fought a hotly contested battle, both the SupaQuick S13 of Radloff and the GWT Racing S13 of Hiles poured smoke from the rear as they snaked through the course. It was to be Hiles by a narrow margin that would progress.
Hile’s good fortune would be short lived though and Hiles was relegated to the battle for third by Wade van Zummeren.
David Nell showed fine form in the final then taking care of Ernest Simpson to secure a podium finish and a spot in the final. He would be joined by Rockstar Energy Drink’s Wade van Zummeren in his Nissan Skyline R33 in a battle for top honours. Simpson would be left to battle GWT Racing’s Aubrey Hiles for the final podium spot.
A clean and tidy final saw van Zummeren take the spoils and lift the first place trophy while Nell would have to accept second place for the day. Hiles went on to beat Simpson to take third.
A bumper crowd and some of the best action to date means that the buzz word at the moment is SupaDrift 6.
Thanks goes to the series sponsors; F1-X Performance Exhausts, Achilles Tyres, Turn 1 Wheels, Tyre Traders and Speed and Sound Magazine.
Photos courtesy of Hiscox Photography and Roxy le Roux.
Was great , just one mistake I believe when Mike Skelton lost his car it was against Ernest Simpson and not Aubrey … Thanks for the great website !
Thanks Andries! You’re quite correct. Our sincerest apologies.
No problem !! Can’t wait until the next event …..