Whanganui drifter Ricky Lee set himself some lofty goals last year building on the success of his creation Battlemania and his efforts have attracted the attention of two top line internationals.
This year the event has attracted top international drifters, Australian ace Levi Clarke and Irish driver Danielle Murphy, widely regarded as the best female drifter in the world.
The event is the brainchild Lee launched in 2014 with Whanganui-born race designer Andrew Stewart. The pair introduced a new-look competition to the Diesel, Demons and Daredevils motorsport festival at Taupo Motorsport Park. Last year Battlemania ran in conjunction with the New Zealand Truck Racing Festival.
Battlemania this year includes 30 invite-only drivers and will run as a stand alone event this Sunday at Taupo Motorsport Park.
Over the day on Sunday more than 150 battles will take place with more than 15,000 pieces of data from the judges being processed to find the overall Battlemania champion. Last year's winner Bruce Tannock, the winner of the 2014 Silver pool, stepped up a class and won the Gold division, taking the Mouthfresh Cup as the Battlemania Grand Champion and a $2500 BOC Gas Welder. He is back again this year to try to stop the overseas drivers taking home the silverware.