Maxxis supporting Babe Michelle’s drifting ambitions
Maxxis is supporting the drifting ambitions of one of its promotional team of Maxxis Babes. Michelle Westby has set her sights on achieving her semi-pro licence by the end of 2013 having taken up drifting a year ago and the tyre supplier that originally made her part of its motorsport marketing presence is supporting her driving ambitions with sponsorship, tyres and website assistance. Maxxis International managing director Derek McMartin says the relationship is “proving to be mutually beneficial.”
He explains: “As well as supplying her with tyres we have also lent a hand building her a website to help promote her drifting and modelling in order to raise her profile keep work coming in so she can keep progressing her car. In return Maxxis becomes synonymous with a real racing talent with a growing army of fans. It really is win-win for everyone, so we’re more than happy to play our part in helping Michelle succeed.”
Westby describes herself as a tomboy who has to “glam up for my work”; while she continues to enjoy the job she has spent the last four years doing, she describes modelling ultimately as “really a means to an end. I fell in love with drifting when I was working for Time Attack and the European Drift championship. I became mesmerized by the grace, and when I went out as a passenger it took my breath away. The feeling of drifting is amazing, the adrenaline rush makes me feel alive.
“I started doing as much modelling and photographic work as possible to help me save up enough money to buy and build my first drift car. I was working nine to five in the week and then all weekend. I had to make a lot of sacrifices, social nights out were more rare and I certainly couldn’t go out buying clothes all the time any more but I didn’t mind making sacrifices as I knew its drifting that I wanted to do more than anything.
“Last year I bought a cheap 200sx, welded the diff and I was up and running. I’ve been on quite a few practice sessions at Santa Pod, and now that I have Maxxis behind me I can go to bigger circuits that require fatter tyres and more power. I am now loving sliding around race tracks such as Lydden Hill, being able to use wider wheels and gripier tyres, which has helped me progress so much quicker.
“Before I was using part worn tyres on 15inch wheels and I just wasn’t getting the grip I needed. I’m really happy with the way my career is developing, and can’t thank Maxxis, Super Pro, Garage D enough, Drift Innovation for all of their support and AWS racewear who have just sponsored me a racesuit, jacket and gloves.”
Maxxis continues to be a principle sponsor of the British Drift Championship, and investing in Westby’s ambitions shows once again the brand’s commitment to this form of motorsport. Westby hopes to try out the Fuel Topia Barrel Sprint competition on her way to her ultimate goal of the British Drift Championship.
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