Zwartkops hosts 7th Supedrift Series

Side by side drifting. Winner of the Superdrift Series 7th leg, Wade van Zummeren going sideways alongside Michael Radlof at the Zwartkops Raceway this past Saturday.

@ROBERT_MABUSELA

The seventh leg of the Superdrift Series kicked off on Saturday the 22nd of September at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria West. The day started off with rain which managed to clear off as the day progressed and the drifting was to take place. This worked in favour of photographers and judges by ensuring that they will have that much needed Smoke detail. Having smoke doesn't only cause harm to the ozone layer but complements photography, while judges like to see smoke as it impacts on judging criteria

Wade van Zummeren finished in first place after maintaining his drifting to qualify for the top 16 before upping his drifting going through to the elimination rounds. The finals was a testimony that Japanese engineered Nissan's are made for drifting as van Zummeren's Rockstar Energy sponsored Nissan Skyline R33 battled it out with Adam Shefer in his Nissan 200sx sponsored by Achillies Tyres in the finals.

Judges only had one round of the finals to decided as the finalist clipped one another just as they began drifting in the second round. Shefer seemed to be a victim of the number two as he finished in second place, clipped van Zummeren in the second round of the finals and lost both his front and rear bumpers. Third place went to Michael Radlof after 18 year old Jason Webb's fuel pump burst out as he came out of the second corner in the semi-finals. This meant that Webb couldn`t continue in the battle for third place making him settle for fourth place and the points allocated for that position.

According to Bruno Miranda, one of the judges of the drift series. Drivers are given 10 points at the begining of each drift and points are deducted based on four categories which include style, angles, speed and flair. Impressing the judges required drivers to carry out the drift and link it from the starting point until the finish line. This is usually executed by using two methods, by poping the hand break just as you begin drifting or the kick clutch method which puts driver's footwork to the test.

Drifting will take place at a different altitude as the next superdrift Series will go down to the coast. The Grand West Casino in the Western Cape is set to host the next event which will run from the 5th to the 7th of October. The Northern Regions will see the drifting action return to Zwartkops Raceway on the 24th of November during the Zwartkops Festival.