Xtreme Clutch behind 4-time NZ Drift Champion Gaz Whiter

Xtreme-Clutch sponsored driver Gaz Whiter (Tectaloy LS-Powered Nissan S14) was all smiles as he claimed his record fourth D1NZ Drift title.

Records were broken at a thrilling final round of this season’s Cody’s D1NZ National Drifting Championship at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium with Xtreme Driver Gary “Gaz” Whiter (Tectaloy LS-Powered Nissan S14) claiming an unprecedented fourth New Zealand title and Aucklander Daynom Templeman (NAC Insurance Mazda RX7 2JZ) winning the round after setting the highest ever qualifying score.

Heading into the final round held under lights in front of a 6000-strong crowd on a fast, unforgiving temporary course at the western end of the Auckland Stadium Grounds. The battle for the title of 2013/2014 Cody’s D1NZ “Drift King” looked like it was going to be between three-time former series champion Whiter in his V8-engined Nissan S14 and high profile Auckland-based drift international “Mad Mike” Whiddett (Red Bull/Speedhunters Mazda RX7).

After a strong qualifying session it was straight into battles with Gaz winning his Top 16 battle against Zac Pole, who was in a borrowed car after an engine issue in his Nissan R33 Skyline, then progressing to his Top 8 encounter when Andrew Redward spun on his chase run, only to meet his match when he came up against a hard-charging Daynom Templeman in the Top 4.

It was close but Templeman was on a roll, Gaz sealing his own fate with a half spin on the last left-hand corner of the drift section.

With Whiter only needing to finish ahead of close friend “Mad Mike” Whiddett and Curt Whittaker to win the Series, Gaz ended up with a strong 3rd place for the final round with a win over team mate Dan “Fanga” Woolhouse.

“With countless hours of testing and development, the car feels bulletproof and we feel we’ve got a really strong package from the engine right through the drivetrain, the Xtreme Clutch has held its own for 2 years now and it’s a part we needn’t worry about, reliability is everything and we couldn’t be happier with it” says Gaz Whiter.

Photo by David Atkinson.