Top competitor Ryan Tuerck from the American Formula Drift series has officially signed on to compete at round two of the 2015–’16 Demon Energy D1NZ national drifting championship in Tauranga, on January 8–9, 2016. Tuerck will be taking control of the 450kW 2JZ-powered Toyota GT86 wild card entry for the event — a car that the series will be loaning out to numerous world-class drifters as the season progresses.

“I am super excited to travel back to New Zealand, one of my favourite countries in the world. This time to battle door to door with some of New Zealand's best drivers under the lights of Baypark in D1NZ,” says Tuerck.

Kiwi drifting fans will be familiar with Tuerck’s eccentric style and successful results in the Formula Drift series. Though he has never won the series — his best result a second-place overall finish in 2009 — the New Hampshire–based driver is currently poised in third place in the 2015 series’ standings, behind Fredric Aasbo and Ken Gushi.

Tuerck is no stranger to the Toyota GT86 chassis, having utilized one in the Formula Drift series for the past three seasons, though over there it’s badged as a Scion FR-S. Kiwi fans got to get up close and personal with Tuerck’s FR-S in late 2014, when the driver was one of a selection of international drifters to compete in the Red Bull Drift Shifters event on the streets of Auckland City.

During his time exploring New Zealand, Tuerck made several of his illustrious ‘Tuerck’d’ videos. Check out his Drift Shifters run in all its glory below:

Tuerck'd Season 3, Ep. 9: Professional drift driver Ryan Tuerck gets the exclusive invite to compete in the one-of-a-kind Red Bull Drift Shifters event down under in Auckland, New Zealand! This event showcases the precision and skill of these drivers as they drift through the pinball-like course in an effort to activate proximity sensors and get the highest score.

D1NZ series organizer Brendon White says bringing such a high-caliber driver like Tuerck down from America to compete is a coup for the series. “Ryan Tuerck has such a huge international following, he’s a great character and a superb driver,” says White. “To have him come and compete in New Zealand really helps grow our series on a world stage and we are excited that D1NZ drivers get to rub doors with the world’s best.”

Round one of the 2015–’16 D1NZ season will take place on November 27–28 at Manfeild Raceway. For more series gossip and news, check out their video of new announcements.

Header photo: Larry Chen

Matthew Hansen

Matthew Hansen is the office's resident fresher, though he's exempt from making everyone else customary daily coffees because he's truly terrible at it. Circuit racing is his main squeeze, however he dabbles in everyone else's pies from time to time. He also enjoys long walks on the beach and finding himself.