16 May 2018

Pukekohe Park Raceway’s first corner is probably the only drift corner in the world with speeds comparable to that of infamous Mondello Park, Ireland.

The two circuits host their national drifting Championship finale, generating huge excitement for spectators as the respective country’s best drifters throw their cars sideways at over 200km p/hr.

One lucky man, Cole Armstrong, will be one of very few people in the world to experience both of these corners in one year after his victory in the 2018 New Zealand Drift Championship (D1NZ). A second place finish the series finale at Pukekohe Park Raceway in May gave Armstrong the Championship win, and a ticket to compete in one round of the Irish Drift Championship later in the year – courtesy of Link Engine Management.

Photo by Simon Champman

Link ECU has been the title sponsor of the D1NZ drifting championship in 2018. The company generously decided to add a prize trip to Ireland for the winner, where they are also title sponsor of the Link ECU Irish Drift Championship.

”We are proud supporters of drifting around the world. From grass roots level, to completely professional championships like the Irish Drift Championship, British Drift Championship, Formula Drift PRO2 and D1NZ, Link has strong ties in the drifting community. We supported Cole to race in D1GP in China last year, so to see him now wave the flag in Ireland will be rewarding for us as a New Zealand owned company’’ says Link Engine Management.

‘’Although very much attached to our beginnings here in New Zealand, Link ECU now sees 85% of our sales exported across the globe. While our kiwi roots are vitally important to us, it is crucial we continue advertising to the global market. Competitive Motorsport gives us the opportunity to showcase our quality product and for this reason, we are extremely pleased to present this prize to the D1NZ winner, Cole.”

Competing in Ireland will give the kiwi driver further experience in professional competition against some of the best drifters known today.

”The Link ECU UK/Ireland based sales and technical support team will be behind Cole and his crew, giving him the logistics and help needed to get his car from Tauranga, NZ, to Mondello Park, Ireland. No doubt, Irish Link drivers Connor Shanahan, Jack Shanahan and Paul Conlan will also be supportive – welcoming him to the ‘family’ in a way the drift scene does best.”

Armstrong narrowly won the championship by 7 points over fellow Nissan driver, Darren Kelly. The V energy competitor also won the championship in 2017, making him the second driver in history to win the title back to back. The only other driver to achieve this feat is Gaz whiter who dominated the final event in 2018; qualifying in pole position and taking the round win.

 

Photo by Maria Panova Photography

 

The three drivers on the final podium – Cole Armstrong, Darren Kelly & Gaz Whiter – all use the Link Thunder ECU and Link Dash 2 Pro.