European Drift Championships in Barbican Turbo Abu Dhabi

Middle East car fans are to be entertained with stunning demonstrations by world-class drift racers from the “Need for Speed” European Drift Championships – Europe’s premier drift championships when they headline at this year’s Barbican Turbo festival. Drifting is a high skill level motorsport in which drivers control a car while it slides from side to side at very high speed. Organised by United Business Media, Barbican Turbo is the region’s premier custom, tuning and motorsports festival to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from the 8th – 10th of October 2009.

With a lifetime passion for motorsport, Mark Luney also known as Sideways Buff has spent five years driving in the European Drift Championships and has become one of the most respected drivers in Europe. “It’s incredible to see drifting as a motorsport become popular in the Middle East and United Business Media are doing an excellent job of promoting the sport in the region; firstly with Team Orange in 2008 and now with demonstrations from us, the European Drift Championships in 2009”. He continued, “I heard last year’s visitors to the show were unreal and I can’t wait to get to Abu Dhabi to thrill them with door-to-door performances and some near misses. It will be great fun”.

A first for Middle East audiences, driver Mark Luney, “Sideways Buff” will be joined by Paul Conlan “Coupe” to show off their mind-blowing behind-the-wheel skills for the 3 days of the event. Sideways Buff and Coupe will stylishly negotiate the tight drifting arena engaging in a rear-wheel twin-drift battle at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Both brand new competition specifications and new builds, Sideways Buff will be driving a Nissan Skyline and Coupe a Nissan S13; as both drivers will attempt to out-wit one another as they concentrate on speed, following the drift line, angle of attack – finding the biggest sideways angle possible and creating tyre smoke to astound any spectator.

United Business Media, the organisers, are also excited to have world-class driving demonstrations from the European Drifting Championships at the show. “Drifting is perfect for our event because it involves the crowd and combines the aftermarket tuning scene, which is what we are all about, with professional-level, safe racing and incredibly decorated cars”, said Matt Tarrant, Show Manager of Barbican Turbo. “The guys at the European Drift Championships are unbelievable and we can’t wait for the demo’s Mark and Paul will be doing for the thirty thousand people expected to come to Barbican Turbo. Bringing the European Drift Championships to audiences in the Middle East for the first time will be very special – there is no other event like it”

In addition to the European Drift Championships demonstrations, car fans will be able to see the latest in styling, performance products and modified cars. The show will also include the 2nd year of the largest custom car competition in the Middle East, the Top 100, the 1st UAE National Dyno Shoot-Out, and the 2nd UAE National Sound Off competition, the Japanese Tuning Zone from Auto Salon, music, gaming, exhibitors and prizes.

Barbican Turbo will run alongside Adrenaline Sports Live, presented by Rani for the second year in a row. This is the country’s annual meeting for the adventure and adrenaline sports communities, related companies and tourism bodies who want to promote their adventure travel packages.