Thick plumes of smoke and the smell of burning rubber is swirling around Mount Maunganui's ASB Baypark Stadium.
Eighty of the country's best drifters in high-octane cars are battling it out to be crowned number one in the third round of the Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship taking place today.
D1NZ spokesman Simon Chapman says awesome drifting action and a choice crowd which has been progressively building over the afternoon has created a wicked atmosphere down at Baypark.
"We're in the midst of completing our top 8 in the Pro-Sorts series, and it's awesome with the commentators getting people to cheer for their drivers. We just had a great battle between Tully Puckey and Tannock and the crowd was going nuts because it was just so close.
"The track's holding up pretty good too. It's quite abrasive and chewing up quite a few tyres, so we're getting a lot of smoke in the stadium and it's swirling around a little bit. But it's really cool, that's what we want to see, we want people to experience what it's like to see drifting."
Simon describes the track as having character, for example, in turn one it's a high-banked sweeping corner that comes around on itself, which turns into a tight and technical section that's proven to be somewhat tricky so far.
"We're getting a lot of guys spinning out and people having to take evasive action. But it's creating really close and tight action from what we've seen."
Along with the D1NZ Pro Drifting and Pro-Sport Championships, there's plenty of other action on offer including action sport demos from FMX, BMX and Stunt bike riders, D1NZ RC Drifting, plus a huge hard park with music, food, beer gardens, trade-stands, licensed bars and more.
The D1NZ will be bringing its newly formatted and highly popular Night-Show to the Bay which will see drifting under lights inside the stadium with pyrotechnics.
"The drivers are just loving it today, especially the local guys. I was having a chat with Cole Armstrong on Friday and he just cant wait to get out there to battle, not only because it's his hometown event but because he thinks the track is just incredible."
The Demon Energy D1NZ National Drifting Championship is on now, with the Night-Show starting at 4.30pm. Tickets cost $15-$140 and are available at the gate or online at www.d1nz.com
Bruce Tannock in the chase car battling against Tully Puckey.
Michael Thorley in Femme Fatale battling against Jared Anderson.
Edmond Chan in front with Guy Graham Bagrie close behind.
