Mad Mike drifting Crown Range in New Zealand

The Crown Range, New Zealand. 47 corners, 1076 metres elevation, 10.4km long. The country's highest paved roadway. For a moment in time it belongs to one man, Mike Whiddett. The moment will become, the drive of a lifetime.

The former state highway cuts a path between Queenstown and Wanaka. It is a short cut, which has long been a route for travellers. The first track dates back to the early gold rush days. The road now is still one of the most demanding and technical drives of the country.

The drive for Mike Whiddett will be challenging and faster than most. For the first time in NZ motorsport history, the road has been closed across three sections for a unique filming opportunity. The New Zealand-based international drift driver has a chance to push his bespoke quad-rotor rotary engine car to new limits on a completely clear road. The road closure signs are rolled out; it is time for Mad Mike to Conquer the Crown.

On paper, the first section of the road appears to be the trickiest. Seven consecutive hairpin turns on a near-vertical mountainside climb give the Switchbacks their name. The second section is all about speed. Whiddett pulls sixth gear along the Crown Terrace and winds the Mazda RX7's 750 horsepower engine out to its redline. He hits 232km/h before slowing, fleetingly pulling on the handbrake to lock the rear wheels before stomping back on the accelerator. The tyres erupt back into a spinning frenzy; black marks the bitumen. This is drifting nirvana in its purest form.

The run up to the Crown Summit is a fusion of high, medium and low speed bends, created to attack sideways. With barriers flanking the road at one side and exposed banks at the other, it mimics the mountain touge roads that the Japanese forefathers of the sport originally, and illicitly, ran by moonlight. The margin for error is slim here, but Whiddett never backs off as the final forty-seventh corner passes by in a blur.

I think drifters have an innate ability to slip from reality when driving up a road like the Crown Range in normal circumstances. We imagine drifting through the turns, the gear changes, the footwork, the hand brake and of course stomping on the gas. So for me, having the opportunity to get behind the wheel of my machine, push it to the limit and conquer the Crown is a dream turned into a reality,"""" says Whiddett.

The Crown: conquered.

#redbull #motorsports #madmike

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[muhammadafham]

even after 8 years, this is still a masterpiece

[lennyfont]

lets all appreciate that helicopter pilot that was some mad piloting

[brianglennon]

The hills are alive with the sound of Brapbrapbrap

[mikeeyyss]

The fact that this came out 7 years ago and it still looks awesome

[Pumperneek]

“Before the world invented drones” lmao

[falgunisrikumar]

After 7 years who is watching this is a legend

[shreypatel]

2:16 One of the best shots I have ever seen. Hats off to the cinematographer.

[TheKylerobert]

"47 corners"
"10 miles"
And you only saw at least 19 corners drifted and maybe a total of 4 miles captured in this skit. I want the uncut clips. That's when my jaw will drop.

[eriktenhag]

this guy is crazy but that heli pilot is crazier. mad flying skills

[DJTasawennatekensMusicWorld]

Holy hell that was the most beautiful drift racing video I have seen and they used a Mazda RX-7 FD3S big plus

[EceipSsehc]

I'm so glad to see him actually get some recognition, and more importantly, that car. Maybe this could bring rotaries back. The FD RX-7 is a brilliant car!

[garethkalber]

Dear editors,

If you could play more than 2 seconds of one shot before jumping to the next that'd be great.

Sincerely 

Me

[TSVT]

Epic car, Epic driver, Epic roads and Epic fail on the editing

[rotorthermotech]

Travelled that road in a rental RAV4 a few times last week, it’s far more challenging than it looks on this video, now I can really appreciate Mad Mikes driving

[jiggaroozay]

Here 9 years later to appreciate this classic like the first day it came out 🙌🏽

[bluetoxic_]

Who is here from the song 'Mask Off'.

[rickyb]

That sound, that car still gives me goosebumps after 2 years.

[LATRONNIK]

that thing sounds like a friggin 20k rpm f1 v8.. it's beautiful.

[obitoedits]

2:19 Imagine this moment with a high bass-ed song playing in your ears with you driving the car😍

[TheEsclaw]

Many years later, this video is still dope af