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Rebel Robbie Bolger set for Drift title fight at finale |
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Monday, 17 September 2007 |
When stunt-riding Irishman Robbie Bolger decided to pilot an Aussie V8
in the Japanese born and bred category of Drifting, many shook their
heads and said he was crazy.
It didn’t bother Bolger then, and it certainly doesn’t bother him
now as he leads the field into this weekend’s final round of the Toyo
Drift Australia Series at Oran Park after a nail-biting final thriller
at his local Queensland Raceway last month.
Although ultimately standing on the second step of the podium beside
Sydneysider and personal friend Fernando Wiehrl, the win catapulted the
Gold Coaster from fifth to the top spot on the ladder.
With only one round now left to run Bolger is in the enviable
position of perhaps making history by becoming the first ever to clinch
a drift title at any level aboard a V8-engined machine.
“Queensland’s round was just phenomenal and so close, I mean we had
to have a re-run to decide the final and it almost looked like they
were going to call a second one it was that close,” mused Bolger.
“It was fantastic and to be heading into the final round at the top
of the series is just what we have been planning for our V8s all year.
“No one agreed when I brought my cars into drifting, but you know
what? No matter what they say or what they think, we have proven them
wrong over and over again on the track and that is where it counts.
“The results speak for themselves and if I have anything to do with
it this weekend will see all the Monaro’s wares on full display on its
way to the top step of that podium!”
If Bolger’s vision comes to fruition on Sunday he will be the first
ever to pilot a V8-engined machine to title victory at any level of
drift competition in Australia – a prestigious accolade fit to crown
his growing list of history-making pursuits in the category to date.
Not only has he been the first to introduce the V8 to the
Japanese-inspired category, he was also the first interstate driver to
take a round win from the locals since Winton’s 2005 round when he won
at Mallala in April this year.
Away from the drift circuit Bolger doesn’t hesitate to break the
rules of probability or expectation there either – with the man behind
the V8 Supercar crowd entertaining ‘Stunt Rider’ holding multiple world
records for the countless death-defying bike stunts he has performed
all over Australia and overseas.
“People say I’m crazy, they look at what I am doing in the V8 Drift
cars, on the back of my stunt bike, in life in general and they just
shake their heads and don’t understand how I do it – but that’s just
me…its who I am!” laughed Bolger.
“I don’t like to go along with the crowd and I really honestly do not care what anyone else thinks – I just do my own thing.”
Doing his own thing has paid off well to date, and irrespective of
this weekend’s result next year’s Drift Australia series will see
Bolger’s newest custom-creation unleashed – the 949 horsepower Holden
Drift VE Commodore – another to add to the history books as the first
ever drift VE to hit an Australian race track.
First unveiled at July’s Eastern Creek round, Bolger has elected to
let new drifter Christian D’Agostin pilot the powerful machine as he
has been unwilling to risk the championship with a relatively untested
and underdeveloped car – a decision that while hard to maintain for
Bolger has proved wise.
“The VE is just fantastic and I am looking forward to getting her
into the racing action, but at the moment I am sticking with the Monaro
as there is just too much on the line,” said Bolger.
“The Monaro has never let me down, she is always reliable, always
quick and always on the money, that car is just perfect and with the
championship in the works and so much development yet to come with the
VE, I am hoping the Monaro can take me to the win this weekend.”
Bolger currently leads Christian Pickering by 50 points, and with
only 187 points separating Bolger from eighth placed Tom Monkhouse and
500 points on offer at Oran Park it is sure to be on for young and old;
as Bolger seeks to avenge the closely-fought 2006 finale which saw him
just lose out to title winner Beau Yates in the winner-takes-all final
battle, instead taking third for the series.
The Team VIP Petfoods Toyo Drift Australia Series Round Five schedule is below:
Saturday 22nd September, 2007
10:30am - Toyo Drift Australia Series Practice
3:10pm - Toyo Drift Australia Series Practice
4:10pm - Toyo Drift Australia Series Practice
Sunday 23rd September, 2007
9:00am - Toyo Drift Australia Series Qualifying
11:30am - Toyo Drift Australia Series Top 32 / Top 16
1:35pm - Toyo Drift Australia Series Top 8 / Top 4
2:30pm - Toyo Drift Australia Series Final
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR TEAM VIP PETFOODS:
September 22-23: Round 5 (Final) - Drift Australia Series - Oran Park
October 4-7: Round 7 – Carrera Cup - Super Cheap Auto 1000
October 18-21: Round 8 (Final) – Carrera Cup, Round 7 (Final) – Aussie Racing Cars - Lexmark Indy 300
October 22-27: Dunlop Targa New Zealand
November 3-5: Mt Buller Sprint
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