MOTORSPORT: Good Year Kuala Lumpur Drift Weekend

Great Action and Drama

Not to mention fantastic noise, lots of smoke and accidents

Drift is a major motorsport and last weekend it landed in a big way in Malaysia with the Malaysian leg of the Asean drift championship rumbling and screaming its way over a short but challenging tight course on the on the historic Dataran Merdeka, in front of the iconic Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

Although Malaysian drivers only made it as far as the sweet sixteen round, they put up a good fight with Ser Meng Hui or better known as Ah Fai fought gallantly until his left rear wheel came loose after hitting a kerb at the penultimate turn of the course.

Earlier Ah Fai had fought Championship leader and top ranked Malaysian drift driver, Tengku Djan a.k.a. Drift Assassin.

In the end Japanese driver Daigo Saito made his Hong-Kong prepped Toyota Aristo scream in the fastest and most stylish manner around the course to take top honours, beating Thai hotshop Kokae in the final round.

Japanese ace Ryuji Miki dispatched Indonesian rally driver Rifat Sungkar in the third place shoot-out to take third spot.

Defending Asean champion Tengku Djan Ley Mahaleel had built up enough lead in the first two rounds of the championship to retain his title.

His title was secure when closest rival Pop lost his duel in the sweet sixteen round.

The weekend weather was perfect, overcast and cool throughout with the rainclouds holding their content quietly until the competition was over.

The grandstands were packed with fans while standing room was at least five-deep in most places indicating that Malaysians have taken Drift to heart and it can only get bigger with every year.

HI RES GALLERY

THANKS TO READER AZIM ABD WAHAB FOR THE GREAT SHOTS

Good Year Formula Drift is @ Dataran Merdeka this weekend

It promises to be a spectacular show with lots of smoke, tyres squealing and girls screaming (maybe).

It can only be Formula Drift and this year the event is being held smack in the middle of the city in front of the historic Sultan Abdul Samad Building with a carnival adjoining at Dataran Merdeka.

“Drift in the ASEAN region is one of the fastest growing motorsports in the region today and we’re delighted to be renewing our affiliation with Formula Drift. This year, Team Goodyear Malaysia will be drifting using Goodyear’s Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires - the Eagle F1 Asymmetric tire - designed to enhance driving performance by providing maximum traction especially when taking corners,” said Nasution Abdul Rahman, Managing Director, Goodyear Malaysia.

“Goodyear has always had a rich heritage in racing. Its legacy is derived from an association with different forms of racing all over the world for over 100 years which has enabled Goodyear to extract significant learning, relative to tire performance that can be ultimately passed on to our consumers. We are proud to be showcasing the results of these learning at Formula Drift Malaysia,” he added.

Among the names to watch this year are Ryuji Miki (Japan) , David Templeman (New Zealand), Charles Ng (Hong Kong), Rifat Sungkar(Indonesia), Non Saranon(Thailand) and Ariff Johannis(Malaysia).

Come Early on Saturday