autoevolution
 

Drifting the 2016 Goodwood FoS, Mad Mike Whiddett Goes Lawn Mowing with 1,000 HP

With the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed hostilities having kicked off, there are plenty of machines whose aim is to complete the infamous hillclimb as quick as possible.
Mad Mike Whiddett drifts at 2016 Goodwood FoS 1 photo
Photo: Youtube screenshot
Heck, McLaren is even aiming to set a new record on the 1.16-mile course with its P1 LM (yes, the P1 has now reached its final form). Nevertheless, there are certain Goodwood-attending drivers and machines who aren't there to impress the stopwatch.

One of these amazing folks, who manhandles a just-as-amazing contraption, is pro drifter Mad Mike Whiddett. Having also visited the FoS for its 2015 and 2014 editions, the Aussie slider has returned.

The past two years have seen Mike delivering slip angle entertainment in his Madbul Mazda RX-7, which packed north of 500 horses. For the current edition of the event, though, the tire-burning man has shown up in his Badbul RX-8, which packs almost twice the power.

So, what happens when you mix a 1,000 HP Mazda with the seriously narrow Goodwood Hillclimb course? You'll get your answer in the first clip below, which shows Mike having to get creative in order to pull proper drifts.

After all, the Australian athlete is used to drifting in difficult conditions. For one thing, this is the second year when he competes in Formula D using his "square-wheelbase" Radbul Miata, which allows him to play with around 1,200 horses.

And if you thought Honda holds the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest lawn mower, all that might change once you watch the footage. We've also added a second video, one that shows the hydraulic handbrake-using man talking about the tire-melting adventure.

P.S.: We weren't kidding when we said the drifter turned to his creative side for the Goodwood moment. For one thing, you should know Mad Mike also used this year's FoS to shows us the meaning of drift-parking. If only the Goodwood team would upgrade their cameras...

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories