Interview by Roxy le Roux

Name: Riaan Stokes

Date of Birth: 29/0/ 1975

Hometown: Alberton

Car Specifications: Nissan 200SX S13
RB25 Engine
T3/T4 Turbo
1000cc injectors
GReddy intake
Megan suspension
Momo steering wheel
Steering angle modified

Sponsors: GWT Racing and Hannes Frans – F-Rix – all the work on the car gets done in his workshop.

When did you start drifting?
April 2009 was my first race.

Where did you start drifting?
The Rock Raceway.

After only a short while in drifting, you managed to secure your first win. How has that changed the expectancies and pressures on race day?
The pressure on one’s self is to get back to that level. The more you pressurize yourself the more mistakes you make so that leaves one solution… Go back to basics.

What does your practice regime consist of?
Practicing on Friday nights before the race day and Saturday mornings of a race day as I feel that practicing too much causes overconfidence and that’s when mistakes happen. I believe in scrubbing your tires in on a race day, getting your race line and stopping.

Tell us how to cook a perfect steak on the braai?
There is only one way: lots of salt on a hot braai, quick turns and that’s it.

What’s one of your scarier moments behind the wheel?
Hitting the cement wall twice and the tire barriers once. I hit the tire barrier the Wednesday night before SupaDrift that Saturday last year. Cost a lot of work and very little sleep to repair the car in time for the event.

Who inspires you?
Adam Shefer. He is smooth, precise and is just in total control when he is drifting.

Which driver, do you most like doing tandem runs with?
Aubrey Hiles. Not just because he is a team member but we can go onto the track in tandem knowing that we can rub the cars and still walk off the track as friends.
Naude Frans because he is fast and keeps you on your toes; and Ernest Simpson because he has insane angles.

Lead or follow?
Leading because I’m in control of the whole race.

What are you looking to accomplish in 2011?
Well, last year I finished 2nd in the Club Championships and 4th in the Japan Auto Championships. I would like to get a 1st place this year. *Beating Adam Shafer, hehe.*

I would just like to end off by saying thank you to my Wife, kids, mother, to Frans and to Gerald from GWT for believing in me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.