August 19th 2008
Drift Mania Makes a Name for Itself in Toronto
In bringing its series to Toronto for a second year in a row now, Castrol DMCC has definitely carved out a new market and has converted many into the cult that is Drift Mania. This past weekend at Downsview Park turned out to be quite a success; proving that Castrol DMCC is ready to grow even more and make its way further out West. Not only is Edmonton going to get to experience the phenomenon that is Drift Mania this upcoming fall, but there is already rumours going around that Vancouver may be a potential pit stop in the 2009 series. With further talks of having a national television show, Drift Mania is proving that it is of the same caliber as national drifting series found all over the world.
The two-day electrifying event kicked off with a bang on Friday, August 15th, with a morning press conference given by Ben Woo, the official spokesperson for Drift Mania. This was followed by guest speakers Marsha McLaughlin, who spoke on behalf of Castrol, and Tony Genco, the CEO and President of Downsview Park.
As Tony Genco recounted the history of Downview Park, it was interesting to see how the building, which was once the location where planes were built, was transformed into a mega motorsports entertainment facility for the weekend. The airplane hangers were converted into the paddock area, where lucky fans were able to catch the action in the pits from up close, and get the opportunity to talk to the drivers. A professional drift track was also installed, which proved to be the most challenging one yet this season! With having to take the first turn at 100 km/hr, while sliding right towards a wall, the track layout in Round 4 clearly separated the boys from the men in this series. On top of this, being the first time the Castrol DMCC series ever held a night event, once the sun went down, the track became even more challenging for the drivers, and overall, more entertaining for the crowd!
This stress was enhanced by the fact that the drivers were being judged by not only two, but three professional Formula Drift judges. Nothing went unnoticed under the experienced and watchful eyes of Andy Yen, Stephan Verdier, and Conrad Grunewald.
Another honorary guest hailing from Formula Drift was their five-year Official Announcer, the always hilarious, Jarod Deanda. Never being too shy to call upon the drivers when they messed up, “J-Rod” always managed to leave the crowd in stitches. “I can’t wait to see and announce for the drifters of the Great White North. I’ve only heard and seen on the internet the calibre of the drivers and am looking forward to seeing some Great White Smoke and Style in person!”
A noteworthy run would be the tandem battle during the finals, between Fred Girard and Haig Kanadjian, from Team General Tire. The competition was so intense between these two drivers that two “one more times” were needed in order to determine who the winner was. Unfortunately for Haig, it was the tiny mistake he made in the last run that gave the title of Round 4 Champion to Fred Girard.
Ryan Lanteigne, coming in fourth place this past weekend, has shown that he is a natural when it comes to drift. He has picked up with sport with much talent and ease, that he is steadily making a name for himself in the world of drift. In his first race ever performed, Ryan made it to the Top 16 in a breeze, and with each race, he continuously moved his way to the top, never baking down. In his Pontiac GTO, Ryan, from the Team BFGoodrich, just skimmed the podium this time. However, with his natural gift in this sport, Ryan has a promising future in drifting.
Patrick Cyr, being the only driver in the 2008 Castrol DMCC Series hailing from Ontario, was the Toronto favourite at Round 4. Pat Cyr has truly mastered the “No Fear” factor required in the sport of drifting, as he continuously heads into sharp turns sideways at top speeds, disregarding all barricades that surround his 1986 Corolla. This past weekend, Pat Cyr made the crowd go into frenzy when he performed an awesome entry speed at around 115 km/h. Purely based on talent , Pat Cyr is definitely a driver who knows how to entertain the crowd.
Stephan Scardocchio, from team Kumho Tires, undoubtedly has one of the best lines in the Castrol DMCC series. Currently at fourth place in the 2008 standings, Scardacchio unfortunately had to forfeit Round 4 when he broke an axel. However, with Scardacchio¹s hard work and perseverance, it is almost guaranteed that we will be entering Round 5 with a vengeance.
To sum up this action pack week-end, it was Fred Girard who reached the peak of the podium with merit, while Mark Tschritter, one of 2008 biggest surprises, came in second place. Finally, it was Haig Kanadjian who landed himself in third place.
The two-day Drift Mania event definitely left a mark in Toronto, since the city is relatively new and unexposed to the world of drifting. As a matter of fact, the Castrol DMCC 2008 series was the only motorsport event ever held in Toronto this year. Nevertheless, with nail-biting action on the track, energetic crowds, and a superb “Show and Shine” display presented by Battle of the Cars Club, Round 4 will surely not be forgotten.
Finally, breaking news has just been released, that will certainly affect the performance of the drivers for the remainder of the season. Formula Drift and Red Bull formally invited the Champion of the 2008 Castrol DMCC series to compete in the Red Bull Drifting World Championship, which will be taking place this fall in Long Beach, California. The winner of this competition will not only walk away with the title of the “World’s Best Drifter”, but also with $50,000 USD in their pockets. With the level of competition in the 2008 Castrol DMCC series just being taken up a notch, no one should dare miss any of the remaining events of the season. Therefore, make sure to catch Round 5 which is set to take place at the St-Eustache Raceway, this upcoming Labour Day Weekend.
To keep informed on all the up-to-date news and info about the 2008 Castrol DMCC series, check out the website at : www.driftdmcc.com. If you may have any questions or requests, do not hesitate to contact us at media@driftmania.ca.. And always remember, life is so much better sideways!
am drift king in my country so can any body tell me any thing about it couse drifting is my life and i stunt with motorbike I live for this