25 Jun 2015 2015 Red Bull Drift Battle summer race ends perfectly
During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, there are many Dragon Boat races all over the country. Zhuhai International Circuit meanwhile hosts a colourful and noisy high speed drift battle. Despite the hot weather, the grandstand is filled with spectators. 2015 Red Bull Drifting Battle is a combination of sports and entertainment, the qualifying, steeple chase and the duel gets the crowd truly excited. On 21 June, Kumakubo Nobushige finally takes the win, beating Hong Kong driver James Tang in the duel. James Tang and Michael Sit takes second and third places. Steeple chase winner, Australian Jake Jones had an accident and was not able to proceed to the final.
The duel is run according to the qualifying results. Two cars will face off each other twice, with drivers exchanging leading or chasing positions for each duel. 11 drivers will face off in an elimination process. The course is 260m long, judges will award points based on the cars angle, speed, closeness to the car in front or behind and smoke while the car drifts through the course. If the car can hit the ball with its tail as it drifts, there will be extra points.
As the favourite, Australian Jake Jones has beaten his master Suenaga Naoto by 0.291 second yesterday. He was especially impressive in the 360 degree turn and 180 degree turn. In the duel, Jones beat Saori Ishikawa to break into the quarter finals, where he faces Suenaga Naoto again. Unfortunately Suenaga hits Jones' car in the corner, putting them both out of the running for the final.
2015 Red Bull Drifting Battle Spring Race winner Suenaga admits that he takes part not just to win but to enjoy the process.
Hong Kong drivers James Tang and Michael Sit both make it to the semi-finals. James Tang is slightly disappointed to finish second. He said afterwards, "I am in very good form, I especially wanted to win the summer race's duel. Today I was fast. Kumakubo Nobushige was too good, his speed, angle and control was unbelievable, he just cling on to my car tightly. I must practice more to improve my skills."
As the only female driver in the Red Bull Drifting Battle, Saori Ishikawa took second place in the 2013 Red Bull Drifting Battle. She said the entries this year are all excellent drifters and the chinese drifters have also improved significantly.
Established in 2013, the Red Bull Drifting Battle has become a main stay of the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival. It attracts drifters from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei, as well as international drifters from Japan's D1 Championship. The event has introduced numerous entertaining acts like Ice Bucket Challenge, Ball Boxer, Penalty shoots, etc. These acts have given the crowds something extra to get excited about as well as establishing the drifters as true stars of the show.