Red Bull Drift Shifters is Back!

October 21, 2014

-For immediate release-

Red Bull Drift Shifters is Back! Bigger And Faster than Ever Before.

On Saturday December 6, 2014, Red Bull Drift Shifters returns to Auckland City, transforming downtown into a giant pinball inspired drift track. Drivers will push themselves and their machines to new limits in this adrenalin packed premium motorsport event.

The brain child of world-renowned New Zealand drift driver ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett, Red Bull Drift Shifters will bring together top international drift drivers from Australia, USA and Japan to battle it out with New Zealand’s finest motorsport talent.

Located in the heart of Auckland CBD, spectators will witness drifting precision and high speeds, in a unique format that relies on a fully automated points scoring system, eliminating human judgment errors. This year’s course is both wider and twice the length of the inaugural 2012 event.

“This time around I wanted to build a bigger, faster and more exciting course that would really showcase the drivers’ precision driving skills and reward their commitment. We should be seeing cars hitting higher speeds than last time and flicked sideways with huge angle on the initial entry – it’s going to be insane!” says Whiddett.

The new course is automated with drift-angle sensors, digital proximity sensors and speed radars, all used in place of a judging panel to ensure accuracy and consistency. Drivers will score points from their speed and proximity to obstacles, unlocking bonus points and creating new high scores, all happening in real time and displayed on giant live screens, just like a real pinball game.

In addition to Mike Whiddett (NZ) and defending champion Matt Powers (USA,) 14 other drivers will soon be announced to complete the 16 strong field. They will all compete in a bid to clock the highest scores and move through the competition to reach the finals.

“Along with local drivers, we’ve got guys coming in from the USA, Japan and Australia with their cars,” says Whiddett. “Matt Powers will be back to defend his title, and the other guys are all champions and legends of drifting too. It’s going to be epic to have them here in New Zealand.”

“I’m really pumped to be coming back to Red Bull Drift Shifters! This event was one of my most memorable driving events of my life,” says Powers.

A family friendly, free event to the public, Red Bull Drift Shifters promises to yet again be a true motorsport spectacle.

Visit redbull.co.nz/driftshifters to watch the 2012 action clip. #DRIFTSHIFTERS

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