Round 4 of the British Drift Championship was held at Lydden Hill, Kent. For the second time in recent years we would see the track being used in a reverse configuration.
This would be a challenge as the track drops away into the first corner with an unforgiving wall waiting for anyone that ran wide.
If the drivers made it past the wall they would transition against the inside of the track on their uphill run to the hairpin.
A series of outer clips around the hairpin allowed for great chase runs through this part of the track and onto the final corner where another two outer clips awaited.
It was a great layout for battles and with the championship getting closer to the final round, it would be time for drivers to push hard if they wanted to improve their results.
It didn’t take long on Saturday morning before a couple of cars would be damaged as a result of entering the first corner too late or too fast and going straight through the wall or tagging it with the rear of the car and being dragged into it with the front end.
As the session went on drivers were getting more confident, running the wall at several clipping points.
Danny Grundy was looking on form as the practice session went on, a good result here would set him up for the championship going into the final round.
Conor Shanahan was also going well, would we see it go down to these two in the final?
A great set of battles took place in the afternoon with many close calls.
The battles would ultimately see Oliver Evans take the top spot on the podium, followed by Danny Grundy and Conor Shanahan.
Sunday started with the Pro practice session where the wall would claim a couple more victims. Ollie Elmore was one of them, although as is usually the case, John Shanahan was quickly on hand with a sledgehammer to help straighten the car and get it back on track.
The Pro drivers took it to another level when it came to speed through the clips and proximity to each other and the walls, it was looking like so many drivers had a chance as we headed into battles.
Conor Shanahan had borrowed a car for the day as his brother would be competing in the car he had used the previous day. He drove well but was knocked out competition in his battle against Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni.
Wayne Keeber would continue through for another battle after beating Adam Simmons, unfortunately Matt Carter would then end his day there.
Jack Shanahan would battle Steve ‘Baggsy’ Biagioni, he would be able beat him as Baggsy miscalculated the transition, hitting Jack’s car and then the wall on the run into the hairpin.
Martin Richards had been going well all day, progressing through the battles and getting into the final by beating his friend, Marc Huxley.
Martin would then battle Jack in the final, Jack would emerge as the victor, standing on the top step of the podium infront of the crowd of fans, friends and family.
The championships are looking close as we head into the final round, until then enjoy some more photos from this action packed round of the British Drift Championship.
