Maxxis got the chance to sit down with It's a Drift Life recently for a Q&A.
Here we talk to Christian Lewis about how he got into drifting, his hopes for the British Drift Championship, how he’s finding the King of Europe Drift and more…
Can you tell us how you got into drifting?
I got into drifting when I was about 26, the first event I did was in Lousada with the KD Drift event in Portugal. I drove the car over there with spare parts in the car, entered it and finished quite well to be fair.
How long have you been competing in the BDC?
I started competing in 2011 and I’ve competed every year since.
Have there been any particular events/seasons that have really changed your career and pushed you forward?
The 2012 season was the year that changed everything for me. It was the year I won the pro-class championship at the final round of the BDC at Knockhill. I had a few podium places that year, so it was a great year for me.
What do you think are the major attributes to the MAZ1 Drift Tyre?
MAZ1s offer a lot of grip, they’re so consistent. You know where you stand with them at all times. Having previously drifted on part worn tyres before, to move onto the MAZ1 drift and have that consistency, they’re just amazing really.
Who do you class as your top competitors in King of Europe?
Just to name a few, Adam Frank, Francesco Conti, Nicko Rosso. They’re all really good competitive drivers and they’ve got some amazing machinery to be competing with as well. The cars are built a little differently to the BDC regulations, where they can build the cars to a better 50/50 weight distribution, whereas the cars that we’re using are kept in manufacturer’s tolerance.
And who do you class as your top competitors in the BDC?
With the BDC, you know that there are going to be 10 drivers out there that are going to be top 10 and if you want to be in that top 10, you’ve got to be pushing hard. There are around 35 drivers in my class, the majority of them are all good drivers. It all comes down to how you drive on the day.
Finally, How are you planning on making sure your performance transcends your competitors?
I’ve been underpowered the last 3 and a half years, so hopefully, with the modifications that we are just about to make, the car should see 450 horsepower and you’ll notice the difference because I’ll be on their doors, I’ll be in the finals.
Images courtesy of Car Scene UK Magazine
