The series was founded by Kazuhiko Iwata who was a guest judge for the last two rounds of the MSC Challenge, accompanied by Formula Drift Japan judge Robbie Nishida.
As the winner, Corbyn won a drift licence to compete in Formula Drift Japan’s second-tier national competition with the potential of promotion to the top-tier drift series.
The first round of the New Zealand challenge was Corbyn’s first-ever competitive appearance and he said it was “nerve-racking” for him, his family and supporters.
“My favourite moment was in the first round,” Corbyn said. “That was probably the best moment for all of us. I had all the family up there — all supporting me.”
On arriving at the event, Corbyn suddenly realised that this was really happening.
“Seeing everyone else’s cars it was like ‘whoa’ and to come up from Gizzy and take out the first round win was pretty unbelievable.”
He isn’t ready to skip off to Japan just yet. Fresh into the sport and already an international drift licence holder, he wants to spend a little more time competing domestically.
“I want to get a bit more experience here — go and battle a few more people and make a plan to break the barrier and reach over to different areas overseas . . . maybe.”
Corbyn’s father Shaun said he couldn’t be more proud of his performance and was still “on a high”.
“Totally blindsided,” Shaun said of his son winning the title in his first competition experience.
“Words can’t describe it. The way he stepped up was just crazy.”
Shaun echoed the intentions of his son regarding his future.
“Keep him in the seat as much as we can. Try to get more battles in and keep him under pressure and keep moving forward.
“It’s great what happened but it’s only something he’s been doing for a short time with the preparation and the mechanical side of it and stuff that we are still going through.”
Corbyn’s mother Tamsin said it was “a surreal moment”.
“I was there for the first two rounds and watched rounds three and four at home with his grandparents, aunties and sister.
“We had our own little MSC party at home.”
Tamsin said their expectations going into the series was not for him to win win but simply see if he liked it or not.
“To come away with the win in the first round was absolutely amazing and to come away with the series, even better.
“It definitely gets the heart going watching. It’s just like watching him in the ministock.”
Corbyn also races in Gisborne Speedway Club’s youth ministock class.
But drifting is another ball game speed-wise, skill-wise and physically.
Getting sideways in his No.17 Nissan 370z, Wilson slid his way to victory in Round 4, beating top qualifier Jordan Joyce and second qualifier Clayton Dalley — both professional drifters — on the day.
He finished the series with 302 points, heading off Joyce on 290 and Dalley 277.
Points are awarded for the angle used on the corner — speed, racing line and how closely the “chase” car can get to the “lead” car while maintaining a sustained loss of traction.
Generally, drift cars are rear-wheel-drive and have a long wheel-base and hugely over-powered engines.
Corbyn uses a LS3 6.2-litre V8 engine — commonly found in Holdens or Chevrolets — strapped to a much smaller body to produce more than 500 horsepower.
The D1NZ — New Zealand’s top drifting league — begins this weekend at Taupō Motorsport Park.
Corbyn is not competing in the first round but is a possibility for Round 2 in Nelson at Kohatu Drift Park in February.
