今や日本国内ばかりでなく海外でも人気のドリフト、外国人スター選手の活躍も珍しくない。先のオーストラリア・ドリフト選手権を制したのも外国人選手、TRDトレノのスタードライバー、ボー・イエーツ（Beau Yates）だ。レースに関する詳細は、以下TRD PRの公式発表（英文）を参考にしてもらうことにしたい。
ドリフトファンには見逃せない次回のレースは、なんといっても2008年11月15日土曜日開催の「Red Bull Drifting」だ。アメリカ合衆国、日本、オーストラリア、ニュージーランド、マレーシア、シンガポール、ヨーロッパ諸国、カナダなど世界各国からのエントリーが予定されている。
YATES RATES A TITLE CHANCE
TRD Drift driver Beau Yates is locked in a three-way title battle for the 2008 Drift Australia Series, although the former champion is not feeling the pressure ahead of this weekend's fifth and final round at Oran Park Raceway.
Yates finished in the top 10 of the first four rounds and has emerged late in the season as an outside contender for the championship by finishing second and third at the last two events.
The 2006 Drift Australia Champion sits third in the title race - 229 points behind series leader Leighton Fine and 159 behind second place Luke Fink.
With 500 points on offer at Oran Park, Yates knows the pressure is on his rivals not to make any mistakes.
"The series is Leighton and Luke's to lose," Yates said. "I have everything to gain and if I qualify well and get through the first battle I will be guaranteed at least third for the year.
"Leighton has a strong lead and both he and Luke have had a consistent year, but I am not out of it by any means.
"I need the perfect round where I qualify and finish first. I will be pushing very hard and be giving it my best shot. I still have plenty of hunger to win."
Nicknamed 'The Show', Yates spent the early part of the season getting to grips with the major upgrades made to his AE86 Sprinter before the start of the 2008 championship.
His Sprinter received an engine upgrade, new gearbox and a wider rear track ahead of the first race.
These upgrades, coupled with a major weight reduction program, substantially increased the car's performance output.
"My Sprinter underwent a dramatic change in the off-season and it took a while to come to grips with the car," Yates said.
"We seem to have it under control now and the car has been really strong mechanically, so I can almost guarantee it will be in contention on Sunday afternoon.
"But it's motor racing, so anything can happen." Posted on 28/09/08 By G-A.G
