"Mad" Mike Whiddett

Last updated

Mike Whiddett
Osaka Auto Messe 2014 (150) Madbul RX7.JPG
Whiddett's Mazda RX-7
NationalityFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealander
Born (1981-01-10) 10 January 1981 (age 43)
Auckland, New Zealand
Formula Drift
Years active2010, 2015–2016
Previous series
2015 Stadium Super Trucks
Championship titles
2018Formula Drift Japan Series

Michael Brandon Whiddett [1] (born 10 January 1981) [2] also known as "Mad Mike", is a New Zealand drifting racer. [3] He is sponsored by Red Bull. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Whiddett has also raced motocross from the age of six and placed second at the New Zealand 1997 Pro junior 85cc Motocross Champs.

Contents

Car history


Whiddett has a strong relationship with Mazda and has been drifting in Mazda engines since he started in 2007 in a Mazda RX-7. His cars have all been named in a similar way including:

He also owns a Mazda REPU with a 13B twin rotor engine called PITBUL. And a Mazda Luce Sedan set up to take up to 3 passengers called MADCAB.

Whiddett's current project car is a 2022 Mazda 3 (BP). It will feature a quad rotor Wankel engine with 1,200 hp and is being developed to race in the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in celebration of the race's 100th anniversary.

Racing history

Whiddett has competed in Formula Drift in the United States in the 2010, 2015 and 2016 seasons and was named the Most Improved Driver for the 2010 season. He has also competed in Formula D Asia and Formula D Japan. He is the first professional Mazda driver to clench a professional drifting championship. [11]

Whiddett has also competed in off-road racing. In 2015, he participated in the Stadium Super Trucks race at the Sand Sports Super Show, an opportunity he received after meeting series founder Robby Gordon at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. [12] He drove E. J. Viso's No. 5 truck during the weekend, with points earned by Whiddett going to Viso in the championship. After starting second for the first race, he finished fourth; this was followed by a retirement in Race 2 with an engine problem. [13] [14] Although he rolled in the final race, he finished seventh. [15]

2018 – Formula Drift Japan Series

2017 – Formula Drift Japan

2016 – Formula Drift

2016 – Formula Drift Japan

2015 – Formula Drift

2014 – Formula Drift Asia

2013 – Formula Drift Asia

2010 – Formula Drift

2009 – Formula Drift Asia

Achievements

Motorsports career results

Stadium Super Trucks

(key) (Bold – Pole position. Italics – Fastest qualifier. * – Most laps led.)

Stadium Super Trucks results
Year12345678910111213141516171819202122SSTCPtsRef
2015 ADE ADE ADE STP STP LBH DET DET DET AUS TOR TOR OCF
4
OCF
10
OCF
7
SRF SRF SRF SRF SYD LVV LVV 38th0 [17]
† – Replaced E. J. Viso, points went to Viso

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References

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  3. Taua, Justene. "Mike Whiddett Drift Racing". Redbull.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
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  5. "Mad Mike Whiddett: Living the Dream". DrivingLine.com. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  6. Cheng, Zarah (24 December 2015). "Mad Mike Whiddett and his Mazda MX-5 "RADBUL"". Hypebeast.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. Jonathon Klein (5 January 2016). "Mad Mike Whiddett Shakes Down His New RADBUL Drift Car". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  8. "Mad Mike Whiddett: a wet track makes me much less of a leadfoot". Stuff.co.nz. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
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  10. "This Is Mad Mike Whiddett's RadBul Gen2 Headed For Long Beach". Art of Gears. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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  12. Wilde, Dominik (4 July 2017). "'Mad' Mike Whiddett keen for Red Bull GRC chance". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  13. "Round 13 of 21 – Sand Sports #1 – 9/18/15". Stadium Super Trucks . Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  14. "Round 13 of 21 – Sand Sports #2 – 9/19/15". Stadium Super Trucks . Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  15. Sinclair, Adam (22 September 2015). "Sheldon Creed Wins Stadium SUPER Trucks Sand Sports Show Sunday Finale". Speedway Digest. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
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  17. "2015 Official Point Standings". Stadium Super Trucks . Retrieved 26 March 2019.