Sunday 4^th July saw the action packed program of the 4^th round of the Sideways Racing AMA and UDC Championships and the much anticipated Supra V’s Skyline challenge on the drag strip at Bishopscourt airfield circuit.

Due to a clash with round 3 of the JDM AllStars in England some competitors were missing from the entry list but this didn’t diminish the action and excitement on track, and as a special treat (Apart from the Promo girls!) was current European Drift Champion Mark Luney who was there to provide an expert eye for the judging.

A very wet start to the day proved to be a real challenge for the drivers during the practice sessions and there were plenty of spins on track but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the AMA – and with some of them in newly face lifted cars they looked anything but amateur! Thankfully the track began to dry out just in time for the battles and after some amazing action and just as amazing tyre wall contact the AMA podium were Tim Smith (1^st), Philip Duffy (2^nd), and Conor Cunningham (3rd)

The UDC top 16 provided some epic battles and as usual the lads gave it guts round the infamous figure 8 track. The top 4 was Rob Barnett V’s Jamie Russell and Chris Brady V’s Josh Moffett and the hard fought for places in the final went to Rob Barnett and Chris Brady who put on a great show with plenty of big angles and bigger smoke. Rob Barnett finished top of the pile for the second time this season but it was Chris who stole the show with a small brake disc fire after doing donuts round the car of a celebrating Robbie!

The final part of the program was the drag racing and there was the usual massive variety of speed freaks testing their metal on the quarter mile but the highlight was the Supra V’s Skyline challenge which was won by a very special car and driver – so congratulations to our very own Wayne in the SWRC Skyline!

This year, with the way we have planned our calendar of events, with Drag Championship rounds every OTHER month, we are able to host special events such as this one. We have been asked to settle the long standing feud between Honda & Toyota runners (in particular Starlets / Glanzas).

For this we were willing to take special measures and add Drag racing to one of the UDC (Drifting) championship events. On 4th April (Easter Sunday) Bishops Court will be the place to settle this score!

Schedule

AMA Drift Practice_________9.30 – 10.30
UDC Practice ( Fig 8 ) ____________10.30 – 11.30
AMA Drift Practice & Qualifying __________11.30 – 1 pm
UDC Practice & Qualifying ( Fig 8 ) ______________1 pm - 2 pm
AMA Drift top 4 Battles____________________________2 – 2.15 pm
FUN RUNS (UDC Non-Qualifiers & AMA Drivers)___________2.15 – 2.45 pm
UDC Top 16 Battles_______________________________________2.50 – 3.40 pm

Great 8 Show Case (BURNOUT DISPLAY!) 3.40 – 3.45 pm

DRAG RACING: 4 – 7 pm
Track Sessions: 7 – 7.30 pm
Drag Trophy Presentations: 7.30 pm

DRAG entries limited. – Don’t miss out! Click here to book online

In addition to the UDC title chase and also down to the successful winter series, we will also be running an AMA section to every round. In both the UDC & AMA ranks, each of the rounds from 1 to 5 will count as qualifiers for the final double-scoring round on 3rd October, the ‘King of the Court’ event. In a change from previous years the KotC Top 16 places will be determined by the points standings as we enter the final round. Ie, the points leader will start the day as top qualifier and so on down to 16th place. The same will be true for the AMA except the battles will only be between the top 8 ranked drivers. This will reward drivers for their efforts all season and will provide us with a clearer definition of the tag ‘King of the Court’.

DRIFT ELITE: In a further addition this year will also see an even higher tier of competition with the Drift Elite tournaments. We have currently planned to hold 2 of these, to run alongside with 2 rounds of the Irish Drag Racing Championship. Only 16 drifters will be invited to contest these events. These will be Div 1 / Pro Class drivers with the possible addition of some top ranked Div 2 drivers. The prize for winning one of these illustrious events is a guaranteed spot in the next round of the JDM Allstars series held in the UK mainland, along with financial backing to support your efforts on the big stage.

JDM Allstars and Sideways-Racing are forging an ever stronger working relationship that has so far gained the UDC status as JDM ranking events. In fact the UDC is now an official feeder series to the JDM, which is now seen as the highest profile drift series in Europe. 2009 UDC Champion Alan McCord will be amongst the elite level drifters that will do battle in the biggest and best competition this side of the Atlantic. Our goal has been to provide our rising stars with a clear path of progression to the very top of the sport and with our close involvement with the JDM, that path is now complete. From AMA to UDC to JDM; a novice today has the opportunity of becoming tomorrow’s DRIFT ELITE. Like Alan McCord, the next UDC Champion will have their place guaranteed in the 2011 JDM Allstars series with the full backing of Sideways Racing. Now that’s something worth the fight!

Round One, Sun 7th Mar @ Bishops Court
AMA Drift Practice __________________ 11am – 12
UDC Practice (Div 1 & 2) _____________ 12 – 1pm
AMA Drift Practice ___________________ 1 – 1.40
UDC Qualifying (Div 1 & 2) _____________ 1.40 – 2.30
AMA Drift Competition _________________ 2.30 – 3.30
UDC Fig 8 Practice (Top 16 Qualifiers) __________ 3.30 – 4pm
Div 2 Show Case (Non-Qual) __________________ 4 – 4.20
Top 16 Battles ______________________________ 4.30 – 5.15
Great 8 Burnout Display _______________________ 5.15 – 5.30

All UDC drivers are reminded that their Licence / Championship Registration is now due for renewal. The £30 annual fee must be paid at your first event of the year. These are essentially contributions towards the overall prize fund and so are in everyone’s best interest. There can be no exceptions to the rule and payments cannot be deferred, so please save us the embarrassment of having to make a refusal. Drivers without a renewed licence will not progress beyond the qualification stages of the competition.

Click here to register for event

2009 UDC Champion Alan McCord will be amongst the elite level drifters that will do battle in the biggest and best competition this side of the Atlantic. Our goal has been to provide our rising stars with a clear path of progression to the very top of the sport and with our close involvement with the JDM, that path is now complete.

From AMA to UDC to JDM; a novice today has the opportunity of becoming tomorrow’s DRIFT ELITE. Like Alan McCord, the next UDC Champion will have their place guaranteed in the 2011 JDM Allstars series with the full backing of Sideways Racing. Now that’s something worth the fight!