Bolger Eyes V8 History At Drift Australia Finale

[duane@DA]

Holden driver Robbie Bolger will head to the Toyo Drift Australia Series season finale at Oran Park on 22-23 September determined to win the championship and write his own slice of history.

While V8s winning in Australian motorsport is nothing new, a V8-engined car has never won a Drifting series at any level in Australia, with current Australian Drift Championship leader Bolger (VIP Petfoods Monaro) in the box seat to become the first person to do so.

From it’s origins in Japan, Drifting has been dominated by nimble Japanese sports cars such as the Nissan Silvia, Nissan Skyline and Toyota Sprinter, with V8s only recently making inroads.

Locally, stunt-rider Bolger has been the pioneer, introducing high-horsepower Holden V8s to the sport in 2005.

“It’d be fantastic to be the first driver to win a Drifting title in Australia with a V8,” Bolger said.

“A lot of people thought I was crazy for trying to Drift an Aussie V8, maybe the Nissan fans were still bitter about Jim Richards and Mark Skaife being booed when they won Bathurst in 1992.

“But we just keep proving them wrong on the track, the V8s are showing their worth and are here to stay - we’re not a noisy minority any more.”

For Bolger, winning the 2007 championship would be the culmination of a three year program.

He took the cover off a Holden Ute and his current 800hp Monaro in 2005, before making major progress in 2006.

After taking his first win at Queensland Raceway, Bolger almost won the title, eventually finishing third after losing to Beau Yates (Peer Industries Toyota Sprinter) in the winner-takes-all final battle at Oran Park.

Undeterred, Bolger upped the ante in 2007, winning at Mallala and taking second place at Queensland Raceway last month to put himself in the championship lead with one round remaining.

“Last year we came so close to winning the title in the final battle with Beau,” he said.

“We worked hard during the off-season on the car, we’re still working hard to keep improving it, and the results have been paying off.”

Win, lose or draw, Bolger will continue his V8 evolution in 2008.

Having resisted the temptation to climb aboard his brand-new, state-of-the-art Holden VE Commodore this year, Bolger will unleash the 940hp weapon next year.

The Queensland resident is one of eight drivers who will enter the final round in championship contention.

With 500 points on offer, just 187 separates Bolger and eighth-placed Tom Monkhouse (WheelWorx Nissan 180SX), a group of drivers which includes two former series champions and seven drivers who have won a Toyo Drift Australia Series round.

“It’s going to be close at Oran Park, with so many drivers in with a shot at the title, but we’re going there to win,” Bolger, who leads Christian Pickering (Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX) by 50 points, predicted.

“Winning the championship is the main goal, and winning at Oran Park would be the best way to wrap it up.

“That’s our aim for the weekend, to go there, dominate and walk away with the big trophy.”

In addition to the Toyo Drift Australia Series and Super Drift Series season finales and team Drifting, the 22-23 September weekend at Oran Park will be a high-octane extreme sports fest.

Two-wheel Supermoto action will be part of Sunday’s entertainment, along with extreme stunt bike and moto trials demonstrations, freestyle minibikes, and the Auto Salon Show ‘n’ Shine.

Tickets are $20 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday, or $40 for the weekend, with kids under 12 free all weekend.

Toyo Drift Australia Series standings after round four

1. Robbie Bolger (QLD, VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) 1620

2. Christian Pickering (SA, Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX) 1570

3. Adam Trewhella (WA, Japanese Wholesale Spares Nissan Cefiro) 1559

4. Darren Appleton (QLD, Team Peer Nissan 180SX) 1547

5. Fernando Wiehrl (NSW, Auto Salon Nissan 200SX) 1499

6. Beau Yates (NSW, Team Peer Toyota AE86 Sprinter) 1473

7. Leighton Fine (SA, Team Peer Nissan Onevia) 1469

8. Tom Monkhouse (SA, WheelWorx Nissan 180SX) 1433