The Spring Matsuri

Since 2013 the Matsuri has taken place at Anglesey Circuit; the north Wales venue is perfect for such an event.

As the event has gained a reputation for being the end of season party before the off season, thoughts had been rushing around the organisers minds as to whether or not a Spring Matsuri would, or could, be possible.

The use of Anglesey at the beginning of the year is not an option for various reasons, so the hunt was on for a suitable venue that could cater for an event to surpass any other.

Rockingham fitted the bill perfectly! The first ever Spring Matsuri would be the biggest single drift event the country had ever seen!

The event would cater for every level of drifter, from first time drivers to former champions and everyone in between.

Added to the main event was round one of the Driftcup series. The feeder series to the British Drift Championship would feature in the outer paddock. The track was designed to get the drivers to show they could use proximity when the battles started.

As at all previous Matsuri, the mixture of cars would allow those with different tastes something to admire and take a look at. There was a host of different BMWs, the usual array of S and R bodied Nissans, Mazdas, a couple of Ford Escorts, plus a few Toyotas.

The infield track would be a very busy place. Plenty of drivers had heard of the high speed, technical nature of the track and wanted to make the most of it.

The outer oval, which was originally designed for Nascar and Indy cars, is HUGE. The area around turn three was transformed into a high speed section that would test the drivers’ ability to the max.

The circuit would, for only the second time in its history, remove a section of the concrete wall at the end of the pit lane. This would allow a track to be designed which would see drivers finish drifting in the pit lane. Not only that, but the outer wall would be the boundary – get this track wrong and your car would experience some serious damage.

Drivers coped with all three tracks with no problems. Clouds of smoke would fill the venue with drivers making the most of the track time available.

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We will leave you with a selection of pictures from various photographers, all of which we thank for catching the action.

A full gallery can be found on our facebook page

Keep checking back for details on the next #matsuri

The tracks

The venue at Rockingham Motor Speedway is the largest purpose built oval in the UK.

With its infamous 1 mile oval built for 200 mph NASCAR and INDY cars it has to be WIDE!

With that in mind, we will be constructing two tracks on the banked oval. Both tracks will be driven by drivers, one after the other in a lap of the outer track.

The first track will be at the back of the track. The chance to ‘Run the wall’ will be built in to test drivers who wish to push to the limit. The track will then tighten to make use of the 50 meter wide section of tarmac towards the infield.

There will be an undulation where the banked oval drops to the level of the infield, making the most of out the area available. Twinning and trains of cars through this section will be fantastic, drivers, this section is for you to have plenty of fun with your mates!

If you wish to show the crowd what you are made of, the second track will be made for you!

Set under the a grandstand, a track set up so you can ‘Run the wall’ in front of the crowd and head in to the pit lane! Rockingham have agreed to move the dividing wall in the pit lane to allow cars to finish their drift in the pit lane. Then its down the pit lane to go back to track one!

The infield has already been announced, the track is fantastic, fast flowing with a complete mix of corners for all to drift!

Will you ‘Run the wall’ or play it safe on the infield?

Calling all car clubs

This will be the first event for many car fans in 2016!

As announced earlier this week, we were delighted to announce yesterday that for the first time in in over ten years, Rockingham Motor Speedway will host a drift event. The Spring Matsuri and round one of the 2016 Driftcup series will mean this is a weekend of Drifting not be missed.

This allows us plenty of room for car clubs to join the event and show their cars to everyone present.

If you are the organiser of a club and would like to get involved, drop us a line at [email protected]

Spring Matsuri 2016 – Rockingham Motor Speedway

Its with great pleasure that we can announce that the 2016 Spring Matsuri will be held at Rockingham Motor Speedway.

The circuit which opened back in 2001, has witnessed drifting before when drivers from D1JP visited the venue for GT Battle in 2005. The following year 5th gear presenter, Tiff Needell, would pilot a Toyota Soarer which is still being used for drifting to this day.

The venue is the only purpose built large oval in the UK and offers a mix of ultra fast corners on the the main oval. The infield is a pleasure to drift, the track lends its self to drifting like no other.

Drivers can forget about second gear action, most of the lap is for those capable of using third gear and for those with the power and skill fourth gear is a must!

The Matsuri will use both layouts! Yes! The infield will run to full effect allowing drivers to experience this wonderful venue!

The oval will incorporate two sections to drift, two track in one lap! Will there be a chance to run the famous wall we hear you ask? YES! On both sections of the oval being used.

Chicanes will be used to enable those awesome wall rubs, the second section will be underneath one of the grandstands that will be open for spectators! So if you get it right you will be a hero, get it wrong and the crowd will more than likely let you know!

As at previous events, garages will be available for hire, drift trikes will be present along with a trade village.

Car clubs, if you are interested in having a stand, please get in touch via the contact page.

If you own a car which you think is worth displaying in a show and shine competition, get in touch!

Traders, we want YOU there! Get in touch, we have an awesome deal for you all!

Drift Matsuri 2015: The Report

Anglesey Circuit played host to the third annual Drift Matsuri this last weekend, hundreds of drifters, three tracks, night drifting and a party, the season would end in style!

There is no competition here, just a gathering of drifters looking to enjoy their weekend on and off the circuit.

The track action kicked off on Saturday morning with the drivers getting to choose between the three tracks. The touge track rose up above the rest of the track before cresting the hill into a blind initiation, it then winds its way back down the hill with a few tight corners.

The hairpin track was mainly used to practice their entries with a few people trying backwards entries throughout the event.

The final circuit was the BDC loop in reverse, a run upto the first corner would see the drivers hitting 3rd gear before initiating past the pit exit, a quick manji down the straight before initiating into a banked right hairpin. It’s a fast track that finishes with a high speed right hand bend.

There were some familiar drivers out on track with regular BDC and IDC drivers taking part, the lesser known drivers get to mix it up with some of the drivers they look up to and learn from them whilst on track.

The selection of cars was better than ever before, ranging from a hotrod powered by a turbo charged SAAB engine to a host of AE86s and everything in between.

As the sun started to set the drivers would return to the paddock whilst a selection of drivers prepared their cars for the night drifting demo.

The spectators crowded around the edge of the track all waiting to see the cars emerging from the darkness at speed.

The drivers describe this as scary but incredible fun, it’s amazing watching as they manage to run close together at high speed in the dark.

Most of the cars had been decorated with light bars, neons, strobes, anything the drivers could get their hands on to make their car visible for the spectators.

After 2 hours and lots of shredded tyres it was time for the track action to stop for the evening but the party in the paddock went on much later into the night.

Sunday morning and it was time for the track to open again, the drivers would get another full day of drifting and everyone headed out onto track to make the most of it.

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted, it was time load up and head home from another successful Drift Matsuri.

We have added just a few photographs some of the additional media that were present.

You can view our full event picture gallery on the DriftMatsuri Facebook page

Calling all media – The details

Calling all media types who would love the opportunity to be able to shoot the action at the 2015 Driftmatsuri!

You will need public liability insurance with with indemnity of a minimum of £5,000,000.

You will need to show copies of previous work over the past 12 months.

A covering letter from the publication or organisation you are working for.

If you tick all those boxes, drop us an email to [email protected] and we will forward you the relevant application form for you to fill and send.

Applications will be dealt with direct with Anglesey Circuit and they will have the final say to whether you qualify for media accreditation.

2015 date confirmed