Four-time champion Gaz Whiter has made an emphatic return to Pukekohe Park, after pipping the top Link ECU D1NZ National Drifting Championship title contenders in a damp qualifying session.
In qualifying's early phase, championship leaders Cole Armstrong and Darren Kelly led the qualifying points tally. That was until Gaz Whiter laid down his first run; a 64.0 made impressive via clean and consistent lines and a top speed that was some 20km/h quicker than anyone elses.
"[The weather] pretty much stuffed everyone up I'd say," said Whiter.
"The entry was slippery and then as soon as you got a few metres around the sweeper it gripped up. It was a really challenging track to drive. I'm just happy to have the car in one piece."
Provisionally, Kelly and Armstrong qualified second and third on a 63.0 and 62.0 respectively. Carl Thompson and Vincent Langhorn ended the session an impressive fourth (59.0) and fifth (58.5).
The session had begun in wet conditions with plenty of standing water. But, as the session went on the showers stopped and more sunshine would emerge through the clouds.