14 drivers go to the wall in Waimate

Waimate 50 shootout winner Josh Mitchell (left) sprays  third place finisher Ben Terry. Photos:...
Waimate 50 shootout winner Josh Mitchell (left) sprays third place finisher Ben Terry. Photos: Hamish MacLean
Two records were set at this year’s Waimate 50. On Saturday, a record 13 cars hit the wall, keeping the Waimate Volunteer Fire Brigade busy all day with recoveries.

And yesterday  under sunny skies, Josh Mitchell, of Christchurch, won this year’s title in a Subaru WRX, in a record time of 1min 54.3sec.

Waimate 50 event director Rob Aikman said he was "pretty stoked on the weekend" as more than 8000 spectators came out to take in the only street race in New Zealand.

"That’s what people come here for, to have a good time, to soak up the atmosphere," Mr Aikman said.

"It’s something different, it’s something special. It’s the only street circuit built in the country at the moment."

Liam Burke proves drift battles are a fan favourite.
Liam Burke proves drift battles are a fan favourite.
Before the shootout, Mr Aikman said he could not predict who would do this year’s fastest lap and, ultimately, it was "really, really close between the top three in particular".

Daniel Liemburg, of Timaru, came second in a Nissan 370Z, in 1min 54.9sec.  Ben Terry, of Waimate, in a Mitsubishi EVO, clocked 1min 55.8sec in his final lap of the day. Despite 13 crashes on the first day of street racing, there was only one yesterday,  after drivers settled into the race.

"They get a bit excited getting on a special circuit, you know, and it’s unforgiving. If you make an error, you’re into a wall," Mr Aikman said.

This year, 65 drivers competed in the Street Attack for a chance to qualify for the one-lap, fastest-time-takes-all shootout final.

The historic invitational drew 20 drivers. Sixteen drift teams from the North and South Islands also competed.

hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz 

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