Gio Rodriguez leads Rd1 of the 2015 Hyundai Lateral Drift Championship

Lateral Drift Productions celebrated their decade-long success of sideways action and their third year of partnership with Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) as they kick off the 2015 season of the Hyundai Lateral Drift Championship.

Headed by race director 6-time Lateral Drift Champion Alex Perez, the opening round of year’s drifting season returned to an old battle ground at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) parking area. Furthermore, it coincided with the 5th staging of the Mechanical Engineering Society’s (MES) Automized car show from the De La Salle University Manila, making the weekend an all-out automotive bonding experience for everyone.

The CCP track layout challenged the drifters with a tight “figure-of-9" loop, all while being closely monitored by judges Paolo "Speedballs" Arespacochaga, and renowned Japanese drifters Kimihiro Obata and Hiromi Kajikuma.

The day started with team Kowloon Tea House’s Ng brothers Stephen and Patrick, claiming 1st and 2nd podium places respectively in the Amateur division. Joining them in 3rd was newcomer Max Lopez.

But it was in the Pro division where things heated up as last year’s rivalries were ignited once more. Completion was so tight that a few extra runs had to be made in order for the judges to score things right. As the smoke settled, the victors emerged.

Defending 2-time Lateral Drift champion Gio Rodriguez of team Atoy Customs led the opening round on-board his Mercedes-Benz 190E. Not far behind in 2nd place was team DriftMob’s John Boban, while settling for 3rd was Rodriguez’s teammate Ralph Tan.

The next round of the 2015 Hyundai Lateral Drift Championship will be held on April 18 at the Megatent in Libis, Quezon City. For more details, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LateralDriftProductions.