The Red Bill Drift Shift has visited Liverpool
Photos & Video by Patrick Trollope.

SADLY after weeks of hot weather the Sun was frightened off by the sounds of the world's loudest motorsports event, as the as the very 1st ever 'The Red Bull Drift Shifters' in the Northern Hemisphere, took place on Sunday, 19 August 2018. Liverpool's iconic waterfront was packed as thousands of fans who flocked from all over the World to see the roaring cars, spin and race around the track, that is normally a major road within the heart of Liverpool's City Centre, next to the City's famous Royal Liver Building!

If you don't already know, this amazing sporting event was the brainchild of New Zealand drift racing royalty 'Mad' Mike Whiddett.  The idea of the event was to trigger sensors and score points as the he and his fellow drivers performed a ballet on wheels, as they zoomed around the track, acting as pinball's...!  Shooting out of the Mersey Tunnel, in a section that was used for the film Fast & Furious 6, they then shot around the track, that included a Red Bull articulated truck on stands, a yellow submarine, and 2 phone boxes! The fully automated points system, using super accurate proximity sensors, kept track of the driver's scores and set off sound effects, as spectators watched both track and big screen TVs to keep an eye on the action.

The unique event took 16 months in the planning and was sponsored and organized by Red Bull Racing, with support from Liverpool City Council. It is hoped that this event will be the first of many more events like it.

For those attending, the high octane pack of banshees on wheels where amazing to watch. Sadly our photo's and video can't let you smell the melting tires that lead to the tyre smoke and exhaust fumes billowing out from the back of the cars. Also the electric atmosphere that it all created was amazing and unlike other motorsport events we have covered in the past.

For more information about the Red Bull Drift Shifters, events go to:- RedBull.Com.

Sadly not all the cars finished the day intact, as the course was so tough that some of the cars left behind more than just skid marks as they tried to get as close as they they could get to different obstacles, with out hitting.

Congratulations go to all the drivers who rewarded the fans with what was an amazing display of driving. We would like to say that Red Bull have asked us to say:- "Red Bull Drift Shifters will feature professional drivers from around the world competing on a closed road course that has been specifically designed for its purpose. Please do not try anything you see at the event yourself at home or on the road."

Congratulations go to New Zealander and 2 time Drift Shifters competitor Gaz Whiter, who hit the highest scores of the day, taking a well deserved 1st place despite the a tough battle to get there. In second place was Hawaiian, Forrest Wang, who had in his own words had "an awesome day!" and in 3rd place was Norwegian Fredric Aasbø.

If you can, please do watch the video to the end as we talk to Masato Kawabata from Japan as well as Gaz Whiter, Forrest Wang, and Fredric Aasbø drivers and they give some hits of what might take place in the future...

Please let us know what you thought of this event. Do you want to see more events like it, taking place in the Liverpool City Region? Please do email us your thoughts to:- News24@SouthportReporter.com.

More photos on the next pages ... >>>

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