Motorsport: Whiter out to avoid repeat of crash

Currently, Whiter is second overall on the leaderboard of the Cody's D1NZ National Drift Championships. Photo / Doug Sherring

Moving on will be a theme for Northland's three-time former D1NZ drift champion Gary Whiter as he prepares to compete this weekend at the site where he smashed into a concrete barrier last year.

The crash took place at Tauranga's Baypark in front of a 5000-strong crowd, who then put their hands in their pockets and came up with the $1400 towards the cost of repairing his car.

Whiter had qualified first before the accident, and this year will be looking to repeat the performance - minus the crash.

Currently, he is second overall on the leaderboard of the Cody's D1NZ National Drift Championships, behind high-profile Auckland-based international "Mad Mike" Whiddett.

Whiddett too had a first-hand experience with the barriers, when Gary Tenana spun in front of him and he grazed them trying to avoid Tenana's car - yet he still rates the two "stadium" rounds of the Cody's D1NZ championship series as some of the best.

"They're where I shine, I guess," Whiddett said.

Whiddett heads to the Bay with a two-point lead in the series points standings, after finishing second to Whiter at the first round at the Hampton Downs circuit then winning the second at Whangarei when - in their final battle - Whiter slid wide into the first corner.

Also competing this weekend is fellow Northland drifter Dan Woolhouse, who sits outside of the top six on the overall standings.