Tyre manufacturer Maxxis has signed up as title sponsor of this year’s British Drift Championship (BDC) – a five-round series plus a stand alone team competition which aims to represent the best in multi-class drifting throughout Britain.
Since the organisers are bidding to involve a larger international field of drivers across all classes, the 2010 Maxxis British Drift Championship will include both demanding 100mph tracks and smaller, more technical venues. Some of the circuits are established favourites among the drivers, like Lydden Hill in Kent, but the series is also travelling to some new, high profile locations.
The 2010 Maxxis British Drift Championship calendar is:
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Round 1 (Pro and Semi-Pro)
Silverstone Stowe Circuit/IST Show April 10-11
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Round 2 (Semi-Pro)
Llandow Circuit, South Wales May 1
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Round 2 (Pro)
Silverstone Main Circuit/JTS Show May 23
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Round 3 (Pro and Semi-Pro)
Lydden Hill, Kent June 19
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Round 4 (Pro and Semi-Pro)
Donington Park July 10
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Round 5 (Pro and Semi-Pro)
Knockhill, nr Dunfermline Sept 25-26
This season marks the running of BDC events on Silverstone’s Stowe Circuit and at Knockhill Racing Circuit for the first time. The season opener at the home of British motorsport will be one of the main attractions at the popular International Styling and Tuning Show, while Knockhill – Scotland’s national motorsport centre famous for its spectacular curves and crests – will host the championship decider.
The competition at Donington Park is certainly one for drift fans to relish, but it is the return to Silverstone’s main circuit – a major coup for the organisers – and a tie up with the JTS Show which means the professional drivers will be setting their sights on winning round two of the Maxxis British Drift Championship!
Extra excitement will be generated by the British Drift Team Championship, which returns as a one-off event from August 6-8. Taking place at the Norfolk Arena in Kings Lynn – a purpose-built oval which is the smallest, but most technical, track on the BDC calendar – the team competition is part of what is being billed as a three-day ‘drift extravaganza’ and includes a full day of practice plus a multi-class Top 32 drift event.
In addition to ensuring the drivers are tested and judged across all aspects of drifting competition, the venues have been selected to offer spectators a safe, yet close-up view of the action. The paddock will once again be arranged in such a way that fans are encouraged to interact with teams, drivers and sponsors, so as to continue the informal atmosphere that prevailed last season.
All competitor cars will feature Maxxis windscreen banners and at each round there will be trackside hoardings and a branded podium along with the Maxxis inflatable arch and hospitality unit. Maxxis British Drift Championship advertising will appear in key consumer titles, including Banzai, Total Nissan, EVO and Japanese Performance, while event web posters will be developed for the major drift related forums.
The Maxxis Babes will attend all the events, mingling with fans and giving away Maxxis T-shirts and caps plus flyers for the drivers to autograph. Photographs and blogs about their BDC exploits will then appear on the girls’ own website, www.maxxisbabes.com
“Our decision to sponsor British and Irish drifting as a way of promoting the Maxxis brand to an audience of performance car enthusiasts was rewarded by some superb results last season, particularly in the BDC where Team Japspeed driver Steve Biagioni lifted the title and his team mates Danny Eyles and Shane Lynch finished runner up and fifth respectively. We are delighted to increase our support in 2010 by taking over as title sponsor of Britain’s premier drifting series,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
“The BDC has come a long way since its inception just three years ago, attracting the highest calibre of teams and drivers. They are very definitely out to win, yet many within the sport have remarked on the camaraderie that exists between competitors and fans as a positive development. We look forward to seeing the very best of Britain’s drift talent chasing top honours in the Maxxis British Drift Championship.”
Maxxis PCR tyres, including the MA-Z1 Drift tyre, are available exclusively through Grouptyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler. Contact Grouptyre on 01928 706166 or visit www.grouptyre.co.uk or www.maxxis.co.uk for further details.
how much are the tickets?????