|
Famous Car Insurance and Drift
Performance Products have come onboard as new commercial partners, while
competitors will do battle for a $27,500 in contingency prize money with thanks
to CI Performance, TurboXS, Iron Chef Imports and Racing
Logic.
"We're really excited about the 2008
Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series," Drift Australia director Wayne Boatwright
said.
"The championship and profile of
Drifting is getting bigger every year, and we're delighted to continue our
association with Toyo and welcome our new partners."
Competition is set to step up
another notch in 2008, with a range of moves and changes at the pointy end of
the field.
 2007 Australian Drift Champion
Robbie Bolger is building a Holden VE Ute to replace his title-winning V8
Monaro, while 2006 champion Beau Yates enters the new season with backing from
Toyota Racing Developments and significant improvements to his Toyota
Sprinter.
Yates will field his own entry while
his former team-mate Leighton Fine also on the move; inking a deal to drive the
Commercial Truck Sales entry.
He will replace Christian Pickering,
who will run his own car in 2008 after finishing second with Team CTS in
2007.
"The '08 season is going to be a
fantastic opportunity for me, working with some great people within, and
supporting the team," Fine, who finished second in the 2006 championship, said.
"The Team CTS car is an acknowledged
performer and a fantastic piece of machinery, and I hope to get the best out of
it throughout the year."
South Australian brothers Jack and
Tom Monkhouse will form a two-car entry from Adelaide, while the experienced
Danny Vahoumis joins Slide-FX as their fourth driver.
A number of new drivers will
join the series in 2008, including Trav Dunstan, Paul Austin, Chris Nutley,
Jason Greenwood and Trent Whyte, who will all graduate from the Super Drift
feeder class.
The championship will again be
broadcast around the country on a comprehensive TV package, including airtime on
Channel 9, SBS, Fox Sports and the series' own YouTube channel,
DriftAustraliaTV.
For more information about the Toyo
Tires Drift Australia Series, head to www.driftaustralia.com.au
2008 Toyo Tires Drift Australia
Series;
Rd1 -
Symmons Plains (Tasmania), March 1-2
Rd2 -
Queensland Raceway (Queensland), April 12-13
Rd3 -
Mallala Raceway (South Australia), May 24-25
Rd4 -
Eastern Creek Raceway (New South Wales), June 28-29
Rd5 -
Oran Park Raceway (New South Wales), September 20-21
|
Tasmania's Symmons Plains Raceway,
which will host the season opener on 1-2 March.