The second round of the 2017 British Drift Championship was held at its spiritual home, Teesside Autodrome.
The championship has visited this track many times over the years but this time it would be different.
As the drivers came off the faster first corner they would run out to a clipping point located on a concrete wall before entering the tighter hairpin section of the track.
The second and final hairpin also featured a wall on the exit, this one would be more difficult to master as they pushed wide, gaining speed for the run to the finish.
A few drivers found out how this wall could bite if you hit it, a light tap and you might get away with a small adjustment to the line or angle of the car, a harder hit and it was easy to smash wheels or pitch the car off the track and into the dirt.
The Pro-Am drivers took to the track on Saturday morning as usual for their practice session, the clipping points were similar to previous years and with this being a favourite track for many drivers to attend practice days, it looked like they had the lined nailed early in the day.
The speeds increase with plenty of close runs being seen toward the second half of the session.
Qualifying followed with all of the drivers clearly giving it their all as they aimed for the top spot.
The afternoon’s battles were as close as we had seen at Round 1 from the Pro-Am class, it looks like there is no easy battles in either class these days.
As the battles progressed it became clear that Peter Hayden was on a charge, eventually taking the class win with Matt Walker and Nathan Chivers beside him on the podium.
The Pro class had a damp start to the day for their practice session but it soon dried up, the sun came out and smoke filled the air, hanging the in banked amphitheatre of Teesside Autodrome.
All of the drivers looked like they could be a challenge today but a few stood out from the rest, Jack Shanahan found the limit of the track, smashing a wheel on the final wall, he is a driver that can never be ruled out for an event win though.
Matt Carter was pushing hard, taking his car right out to the walls but just staying off them, could he get any closer?
Qualifying followed with only 24 places available, the pressure would be on! The Shanahans were back on form with both Jack and Conor locking out the top of the table.
A quick driver signing session for the fans took place on the track with a huge crowd coming down for a close look at the cars.
The battles were nothing short of amazing, almost all of them close enough that it was difficult to see who would progress through each time.
By the time it was all over we would see Matt Carter take the win with Martin Richards in second and Conor Shanahan in third.
This year is shaping up to be the best in British drifting history! Be sure to check out Round 3 this weekend at the Birmingham NEC. Until then Ill leave you with some more photos from the event.