2006 D1GP Drifting Series Final Irwindale Speedway - Twice as Nice

World All-Star

With the '06 points race already decided, Sunday's World All-Star affair took on a more relaxed attitude. Saturday's storm passed and gave way to sunny skies. But while this event was only a demo, the international gathering of drivers fought just as hard for the top spot. In some ways a win on this day might be even sweeter as it would come against the best in the world.

The D1GP actually consists of five different international series: Japan, USA, UK, New Zealand and Malaysia. After the solo runs, Gittin put America on top with a 100-point flawless run. Two other Americans, (via New Zealand and Sweden) Rhys Millen and Samuel Hubinette, both ran strong enough to make it into the top 16 as well. This D1 also marked the long overdue competition debut of Millen's Solstice and Samuel's Charger. Neither car looked very sorted as Millen was dispensed by Yoichi Imamura in his RB26-powered Top Secret ORC Z33, and Samuel was not only beaten but passed by Team UK's McNamara on the inner bank turn. Samuel is one of the strongest American talents and a fan favorite as well, although this time around McNamara's Hachi was greeted with thunderous cheers while the Charger was met with a chorus of jeers. Maybe Mopar should paint the car orange and ask Stiffler to drive it.

Vaughn Gittin didn't fare much better in his top 16 match-up. Gittin met Malaysia's Tengku Djan Ley. Djan slammed his AE86 hard into the wall in practice but somehow managed to get most of it back together for Sunday. Djan is known as Malaysia's drift king, which is appropriate because he's a Kelantanese blueblood. In his battle with Gittin's big bad Mustang, Djan initiated his drift very late on the high bank (a questionable move) in order to hang with JR. And on the inner bank, Djan executed a perfect pass on the larger Ford, advancing what was left of his Hachi to the next round.

In the top eight, Djan and Imamura tangled twice to force a "one more time" sudden death round in which the long nose Fairlady would triumph. In a repeat of Saturday's clash, McNamara once again faced Nomuken and his imposing Skyline sedan. This tandem rematch was even closer than the first, but the judges awarded a very narrow victory to Nomuken. Ueo kept the Hachi fans' last hopes alive by besting Tezuka in his beastly yellow GT-R.

In the final four, Suenaga and his highly agile RX-7 made quick work of Imamura's Z, and Nomura took out Ueo. Suenaga and Nomura were evenly matched in the finals, forcing a sudden death round. As if to avenge his bitter one-point loss in the championship, Nomura claimed the victory and provided the perfect end for a spectacular drifting double-header.

Motown Woes

Question: What do Ken Gushi, Samuel Hubinette and Rhys Millen all have in common?

Answer: They each have a factory ride from Ford, DaimlerChrysler and GM respectively. Another thing they have in common is that although they are considered to be three of the top American drifters, each of them has been struggling as of late with their factory efforts. The only American who seems to be doing well with a domestic car is Vaughn Gittin and his Falken Mustang and he's doing it without factory support. Silly us, we always thought OEM-funding was a first class ticket to the winner's circle.

By Carter Jung

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