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• Shane Green is the new top ranked drifter in Drift Outlaws.
• Green overcame several challenges to go top of the ranks.
• Green was awarded a massive sponsorship with VP Racing Fuels.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Shane Green realised a years-long dream when he came out on top after a recent drift battle. Green, part of the Drift Outlaws fraternity, saw his fair share of troubles over the years and rarely managed to put in good performances. But don't think it was because of a lack of skill because Green is regarded as one of the best drifters in South Africa.
No. Green's luck always seems to run dry at an event. Leading up to it, he would be in prime position to take the top spot and the day's top honour, but his car would always come up short. Whatever the trouble, Green could rarely count on his car to take the battle to his esteemed rivals. Yet, despite it, he remained one of the most feared and most respected drifters in the game. And everyone knew that if things should just fall in place for the Atlantis man, there would be no stopping him.
This is exactly what happened at Drift King held at a secluded venue just outside Cape Town at the end of November 2020.
Long overdue battle
In 2019, Juan Stemmet went to the top of the Drift Outlaws rankings and represented the fraternity and South Africa at the FIA Intercontinental Drift Cup. While Stemmet was ecstatic about the prospect, Green always felt that he deserved that honour. That he was a better drifter than Stemmet and more deserving of the privilege of representing his county. At the start of the year, the two drifters were set to go up against each other to determine who was the better between them, but damage on the drift cars meant that neither driver wanted to take the other on when they're not at their best.
Fast-forward several months and Green vs. Stemmet 2.0 was upon us. The two drivers lined up and exchanged paint on their first, and very aggressive, run. They ran again before the judges gave their verdict, voting in Stemmet's favour.
Later in the day, both Green and Stemmet dealt with the pressure of vying for the position of drift king, and the final run for the day saw the two drifters meeting up again. This time, however, it was Green who dealt with his most storied rival and coming out the winner and ranking as the top drifter on the Drift Outlaws' ranking.
What the win means
Speaking on Green's achievement, racemaster Raziek Rajah says: "Shane has been chasing down that number one spot for many years now. I am elated that his dream of drift king has materialised. As much as he has done the hard work to achieve it, he has every drifter below him that are going to make him work very hard to retain that top spot."
Green and fellow drifter Zaeed Rajah have also been awarded VP Racing Fuel sponsorships, becoming the first drift athletes of VP Racing Fuels in Africa. The sponsorship includes race suits, helmets, tyres, fuel, and more.
Rajah concludes: "Shane Green and Zaeed Rajah had a dream day as they were honoured to be recognised as VP Racing Fuels athletes. Shane Green could not have made a sponsor happier that on the day he was awarded his sponsorship, he attained Drift King. It's truly a dream come true."
