Five years after his first attempt, Mad Mike Whiddett is having another crack at the world's toughest drifting contest.
The Kiwi has spent the last year building a radical new car to contest USA Formula Drift.
Highlands Park was the place for a top-secret test run for one of the wildest drift cars ever built.
After nine months of planning and building, it is Whiddett's first chance to find out what his team has created.
"Part of my sport is pushing the boundaries, and that's why I do it," he says. "I love the adrenaline and the challenge itself. We know the car is super fast. I don't get scared by much, but this thing definitely frightens me."
The only packing Mad Mike has done this week is preparing the Radbul for the flight to Atlanta to take on the ultimate championship – USA Formula Drift.
"This is the best tool to be able to prove myself as the world's best driver. This is the best tool for the job."
A sign writer by trade, Whiddett has become one of the best-known drifters, winning two Japanese titles and even featuring in a video game.
Last year he became the first drifter to take part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed alongside the world's top motorsport identities.
Mad Mike wowed not just the 300,000-strong crowd, but also the host.
"Lord March was spieling off for a few minutes about this person who stole the show. We thought he was talking about Sir Jackie Stewart; then he rattled my name off and it was an unreal moment."
Unreal isn't a bad description of this latest drift weapon, which started life as a cute little Mazda soft top.
Mad Mike admits there have been more than a few jokes about his being a little hairdresser's car, though he is quick to point out that it's more power than a Formula One car.
"Fine, let's see is they call me a hairdresser when I line up beside them on the grid."
Top of Whiddett's hit list is Formula drift champ Chris Forsberg. Mad Mike won their last clash in Auckland's Driftshifters. He'll try to repeat the effort in the Radbul in a fortnight.
3 News
source: newshub archive
