Niezen wins, Maxxis makes podium at British Drift Championship round 2

Making a guest appearance at round two of the Maxxis British Drift Championship, drift star Remmo Niezen from the Netherlands piloted his V8 BMW E30 to victory, while title sponsor Maxxis’s Super-Pro championship leader Mark Luney used his MA-Z1 Drift tyres to make it on to the podium.

Run over three days, with 84 drivers at Kings Lynn’s Norfolk Arena, the event gave drivers the chance to compete on the smallest but most technical of the tracks being used during the 2011 series and entirely different to the fast sweeping bends of Donington’s Launch Pad. Fans enjoyed a close up view of the action, which eventually finished at 10.00pm under floodlights. 

Commenting afterwards, Luney explained how third place was a great result for the team: “We had a much better run than expected.  The car turned out to be tremendous, we qualified first, which surprised the whole field, and it certainly surprised ourselves. 

“We did have engine problems which developed after the qualifying runs, but we don’t think it’s too serious.  We knew the car could be good, but in a small venue like this, it was incredible.”

In the Super-Pro class the Maxxis-sponsored teams made an excellent start as Team Japspeed driver Paul Smith smoked out the arena to qualify second and Mark Luney took the top spot after changing the differential in the SATS Cosworth Supra. Team Japspeed’s Steve Biagioni made it as far as the Top Eight in the competition before being knocked out by Niezen, and Shane O’Sullivan beat Team Japspeed team mate and fellow Maxxis runner Paul Smith to progress to the Top Eight. 

Remmo Niezen usually competes in Europe and was clearly enjoying the change of scene as he overpowered Simon Perry in the Nissan Skyline to go into the final, while Luney, whose car was down on power because of a problem with one of the cylinders, made a small mistake and lost out to Matt Carter. Niezen lived up to his reputation as one of the best drifters in the world, beating Carter to take the victor’s spoils, and in the run off for third Luney used his MA-Z1 Drift tyres to clinch the final podium spot and maintain his position at the top of the championship standings. 

The Maxxis British Drift Championship moves to the Teeside Autodrome on 2-3 July, making a welcome return to a venue that has been acclaimed as having the perfect track for drifting in the UK.