Kiwi drifter absolutely slays the Formula Drift opposition at Ebisu
The local opinions that surround 'Mad Mike' Whidett can be very interesting. While the majority are overwhelmingly positive, others pine on and on about the fact that he's never won a local title, before bursting into rants that lean on words like the dreaded 'overrated' tag.
It's all somewhat tall-poppyish really, which is no surprise given our nation's history of the syndrome.
No, he never won the Kiwi title, and no he's only ever won the single Formula Drift event — the recent round at the beloved Ebisu circuit. But, he's there, presenting a wonderful snapshot of New Zealand drifting to a world audience. He's often earmarked as one of the most flamboyant drifters out there, and his project cars are some of the most searched-for and blogged-about in the world. Our domestic scene will only grow while he's out there showcasing our talent and ingenuity to this degree.
As a fan, watching him claim the Ebisu title a few weeks ago was incredibly satisfying. Considering he and his HUMBUL Mazda RX-7 seemed to be hooked up with the course almost straight away, it wasn't a surprise that he took the top prize. You can relive it all in Network A's convenient supercut of each of his runs, including the finals.
Might I recommend using full volume ...