When V8 Supercars went drifting

This weekend the V8 Supercar circus returns to Sydney Motorsport Park, which last year played host to one of the best post-race celebrations ever seen.

Kiwi wet weather master Shane Van Gisbergen took victory and decided to celebrate in his usual flamboyant style, the Tekno Autosports VF Commodore howling against its rev limiter as it swung from lock-to-lock on the slippery track.

Van Gisbergen is something of a master of the victory celebration. As a regular participant in national drifting events both in Australia and New Zealand, his car control is something else, as demonstrated at Darwin in 2011.

However, what made the SMP race unusual is that second- and third-placed Chaz Mostert and Jamie Whincup decided to join in the fun, treating spectators and viewers to an incredible display of car control.While sliding a 470kW Commodore or Falcon on a wet racetrack might sound easy, the truth is race cars aren't designed to operate sideways - with a very small amount of steering lock, the line between looking like a hero and ending up red-faced in the grass is a fine one.

Let's hope this weekend's racing offers up a similar spectacle!

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