IT was a packed house for the second staging of ‘Slippery Wen Wett’, part of the Racezone Drift Kings series. Traditionally held in Junction, St Elizabeth, the event made the trek to the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier on the north coast on Sunday, October 23.

More than 30 drivers showed up to contest the event which featured with a new rule set and layout designed to copy the recently concluded Red Bull Car Park Drift Series. The large group was split in two, professionals and rookies, and then whittled down to the top four from which a winner in each category was determined. At the end of the evening it was an unexpected victory for Randall Singh in the Pro group while Richard Ryan led the rookies.

“I feel great about winning the event,” Singh told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Singh went head-to-head with some of the biggest names in the drifting space, including local Red Bull Car Park Drift champion Nicholas Barnes. The top four were all equal on points heading into the final, and leaving it. That meant the points totals from the previous rounds came into play and a ten-point difference gave Singh the win. Even more impressive was the knowledge that he had not been behind the wheel of a competition car in over a decade.

“I haven’t driven competitively since the past 12 years. I just came here to have fun. Winning was the bonus,” said Singh.

He explained that watching his family, son and younger brother participating in the drift series rekindled his interest in the sport. He further explained that the car was borrowed but that he’s looking at a more permanent return.

“I have a car right now I’m about to put together for the next event coming up.”

For Ryan, he was just as happy with his win.

“It’s a good experience. This is my second time out with this car and it took a lot of hard work to get here so I would say it’s a well-deserved win for me,” said Ryan.

He fought with fellow rookies Marc Dayne Graham and Brandon Wright in the final. Having only started drifting at the start of the year, Ryan said his victory is the encouragement he needs to move forward in the sport.

“I’m working hard to go up the ladder,” Ryan said.

For event conceptualiser Kingsley Scott he was more than elated with the driver and patron response to the new format. Gone are the days of timed runs, now replaced by obstacles, points and judges.

“I feel very good about the event. I’m the first local organiser to host an event like this and you can see that it was well accepted,” Scott said.

Even though he is more than happy with the event Scott didn’t rule out any changes to the new format. He will also expand the series across the island to venues that can support Slippery Wen Wett.