THE Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series heads to Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway this weekend for the penultimate round of 2008, as the title fight heats up.
After winning the opening two rounds, South Australian Leighton Fine (Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX) held a massive 199-point championship lead over Luke Fink (Holford Motors Nissan Silvia) heading to his home round at Mallala last month.
There, however, he suffered a double driveshaft failure and was eliminated early.
Fink won the event and closed to within 36 points of Fine, blowing the title fight wide open, with the top four drivers now covered by 227 points with two rounds remaining.
“We couldn’t have asked for more from the first two rounds, with two wins and a big championship lead it was all going well,” said Fine, who finished second in the 2006 championship.
“Then Mallala was a real blow, being forced out early by a mechanical problem is never a good feeling, let alone at your home round.
“In terms of our championship it was also pretty disappointing as a good result would have really put us in the box seat.
“It’s behind us now and we’re confident of bouncing back this weekend.”
Victory at Mallala was Fink’s second in the series, having also won on debut in 2006.
Despite his current championship position, the former World BMX Champion says he won’t be changing his aggressive, risk-taking style.
“We’re going to keep the same attacking frame of mind we’ve had all year,” Fink said.
2006 Australian Drift Champion Beau Yates (Toyota Racing Developments AE86 Sprinter) and 2007 runner-up Christian Pickering (Senwill Civil Nissan Silvia) currently sit third and fourth, 164 and 227 points respectively behind Fine.
With 1000 points on offer in the remaining two rounds, they are well in championship contention, along with reigning series champion Robbie Bolger (VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) in fifth, 265 points behind Fine.