A MODEL car enthusiast has returned from Holland after representing the UK in the world championship of drift racing.
Andrew Hutchinson, 27, of Mickleton spent seven days in Emmen with 190 other international competitors and despite not qualifying loved every minute of the experience.
“It was the first time I’ve managed to get to the world championship,” said Mr Hutchinson, who works as a mechanic by day at Mickleton Service Station and is an avid model car drift racer by night. “There were competitors from USA, Australia, Japan, Dubai and Kuwait.”
The remote control model car championships concentrate on the operator’s ability to “drift” their cars around a miniature racing track. Skill and finger dexterity is required as well as keen eyesight. But make no mistake this is not a child’s game – the one-tenth scale cars are equipped with full suspension system and specialised hard plastic tyres, which minimise grip. The cars themselves can cost more than £400 with a multitude of accessories available.
“Trying to get your car set up to gain maximum grip is the key,” said Mr Hutchinson, who became instantly hooked after accompanying a friend to a drift track at Middlesbrough. “I saw a model dumper truck flying around the track and thought, yep that’s for me.”
He has about two to three dozen inter-changeable body-shells for his car opted to use a Toyota JZX 100 body shell when he competed.
“It’s based on a replica of a Japanese drift car and really iconic in real drift car racing” he said.
Mr Hutchinson enjoys the activity so much he is now the part owner of a track at Middlesbrough, Get Your Drift On, and is hoping to get enough practice in so he can compete in next year’s championship.
