Fernando Wiehrl: “We’ll give it everything we have and try to do Australia proud”

Drift Australia

Nov 13, 2007

The top three drivers from this year’s Toyo Drift Australia Series will take on the best drifters from around the world in America on November 23-25, despite shipping problems for newly-crowned Australian champion Robbie Bolger.

Bolger, second-placed Christian Pickering and third-placed Fernando Wiehrl received invitations to take part in the D1 Allstar World Championship, to be held at California’s Irwindale Speedway.

They will join the 23 other drivers from 14 nations who will take part in the event, put on by organisers of the massively popular Japanese D1 Grand Prix Series.

However, the ship transporting Bolger’s history-making VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro and parts struck engine problems, and became stranded in Cebu, Philippines, late last month.

Having been originally scheduled to arrive in America last week, Bolger has spent $53,000 to air freight the car from Hong Kong to California tomorrow morning in order to compete.

“The problems with the ship were absolutely devastating, “ Bolger said.

“The ship was supposed to arrive in America last week, but it’s been sitting in Cebu for almost a month after it had engine problems.

“We put it on another boat and got it to Hong Kong and decided to bite the bullet and pay to fly the car to America, which was our only way of getting it there on time to compete.

“I can’t wait to get out there in the car, especially after these problems, the standard here in Australia is good and I certainly don’t think we’ll embarrass ourselves.

“I believe this is a great opportunity to put Drifting in Australia on the map and we will certainly give it our best shot. “

There have been no such problems in the preparations of South Australian Pickering and New South Welshman Wiehrl, their cars were on a separate ship and will arrive the week before the event.

After just missing out on the 2007 Australian Drift Championship, Pickering is keen to end a stellar year in style.

Having finished second in the Toyo Drift Australia Series, he took out the South Australian G1 state title in the Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX

Off the track, the news has been equally good - Pickering receiving the all-clear from cancer mid-year after being diagnosed late in 2006.

“To be able to go to America and compete against the best in the world is a dream come true, “ Pickering said.

“We had a great year here in Australia and it will be great to see how we fare against the top guys from overseas.

“It is a costly exercise to ship the car and crew to the USA, but massive thanks go to Toyo Tyres who are helping make this trip possible. “

Wiehrl carries impressive form into the event, having won the last two rounds of the Australian series aboard the Auto Salon Nissan 200SX.

The U. S. trip caps a remarkable debut year for the team, who only contested their first event in late-February.

“Competing in a D1GP event is any Drifter’s dream, and now that it is going to happen is surreal, “ Wiehrl said.

“We’ll give it everything we have and try to do Australia proud.

“The track will incorporate the banking of an oval, so will very different to what we’re used to here, and there’ll be plenty of concrete walls waiting for anyone who makes a mistake. “

The three Australians will contest pre-qualifying on the evening (U. S. time) of Friday 23 November, before qualifying and battles on Sunday 25 November.