Mad Mike was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and has grown to international stardom in the world of motorsport propelled off the foundations of drifting. Mike is supported by some of the world’s most well-known brands and this year notably celebrates his 10 years with Red Bull and also being internationally factory-backed by Mazda.
Mike has won the Formula Drift Asia Pacific Championship; is three-times New Zealand Drift Nationals Champion; World Powerslide Champion (Norway) and three times Revelation of Goodwood Festival of Speed (UK). He was third in the 2016 Formula Drift World Drift Championship and has many more awards and podiums. He has achieved the International Ambassador Award for motorsport and Outstanding Achievement Award through Motorsport New Zealand. Mike was also a finalist in 2017 for the New Zealander of the Year award for his outstanding work with charities and his dedication to motorsport both in New Zealand and on an international level. Mike has built his international fan base to over 2 million on Facebook alone and is the world’s most-travelled drifter. Mike is now crossing over into other disciplines with a fourth place finish in the Stadium Super Trucks in California United States and he has numerous top 10 finishes in the Australian GT Championship driving the McLaren 650s GT3.
Mike Whiddett - 2013 Mazda RX8 13B Superlite
Mad Mike was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and has grown to international stardom in the world of motorsport propelled off the foundations of drifting. Mike is supported by some of the world’s most well-known brands and this year notably celebrates his 10 years with Red Bull and also being internationally factory-backed by Mazda.
Mike has won the Formula Drift Asia Pacific Championship; is three-times New Zealand Drift Nationals Champion; World Powerslide Champion (Norway) and three times Revelation of Goodwood Festival of Speed (UK). He was third in the 2016 Formula Drift World Drift Championship and has many more awards and podiums. He has achieved the International Ambassador Award for motorsport and Outstanding Achievement Award through Motorsport New Zealand. Mike was also a finalist in 2017 for the New Zealander of the Year award for his outstanding work with charities and his dedication to motorsport both in New Zealand and on an international level. Mike has built his international fan base to over 2 million on Facebook alone and is the world’s most-travelled drifter. Mike is now crossing over into other disciplines with a fourth place finish in the Stadium Super Trucks in California United States and he has numerous top 10 finishes in the Australian GT Championship driving the McLaren 650s GT3.
2013 Mazda RX8 13B Superlite:
This Superlite short course race truck dubbed RUMBUL made its maiden Leadfoot appearance in 2017 and is back to take on the best driveway / hill climb in New Zealand. The Superlite was originally run in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series in the United States and when the class finished up Mike picked it up out of California and shipped it back to New Zealand. The truck is powered by a Mazda RX8 13B naturally-aspirated engine and no mods have been done since its arrival in New Zealand. Yes, that’s right the class was in fact an all-rotary field! The suspension is a Fox Racing triple by-pass and it runs a Mendeola 4-speed transaxle.