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24 drivers. 8 teams. 1 winning line-up. That’s how the latest addition to the 2010 V 4 & Rotary Jamboree calendar, the City of Origin drift invitational, played out. And it’s something that will be making a regular appearance after its success on March 29 at Manfeild.
The concept was simple – eight teams, made up of three drivers a piece, representing different regions of the North Island and with the team winning two or more battles advancing to the next round. Simple. Instead of qualifying drivers individually like a normal drift event, teams were seeded based on their make-ups prior to the event, with team Whangarei – consisting of ex-D1NZ champion, Fanga Dan, two-times ex-D1NZ champion, Gaz Whiter and Sam Groombridge – securing the top ranked spot.
Seeded second for the event, was team Auckland, made-up of ex-two times NZ Drift and D1NZ champion, Carl Ruiterman, Andrew Redward and Daynom Templeman. Theoretically, if all played out as expected, the two would meet again in the final. And play out it did. After battling their way through the field, Whangarei met Auckland in spectacular fashion in the inaugural City of Origin drift battle. And spectators weren’t left wanting.
Auckland team leader, Carl Ruiterman, had been on form all day and looked the driver to beat. With this in mind, team Whangarei threw its two-time D1NZ champ, Gaz Whiter, to the cause. Unfortunately, after a tight first battle, the drivers were sent to a re-run, with Carl emerging the victor after arguably some of the best battling seen in NZ in years. Seeded second, were Fanga Dan Woolhouse from team Whangarei and Andrew Redward from team Auckland. After Fanga made contact with Andrew at the beginning of the pass, he was forced to retire with mechanical issues, handing the battle – and indeed the victory – the way of team Auckland.
While the third battle between Whangarei’s Sam Groombridge and Auckland’s Daynom Templeman was of little consequence, the two went at it, drawing even by the time they’d both rounded the traps twice. However, with the result of the battle a dead-ringer, it was called quits and team Auckland emerged as the inaugural V 4 & Rotary City of Origin drift invitational winners!
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