Going sideways with McFarlane

As co-founder of Supadrift, the national championship series that is run by his events company, XS Promotions (which specialises in the promotion of extreme/action sports), the proud Benonian has raised the bar in terms of drifting in South Africa.

He is also taking this form of motorsport to parts anew.

City Times sports journalist Logan Green caught up with McFarlane recently and posed a few questions.

LG: How did you get into drifting and why does this sport appeal to you?

JM: As an extreme sports events company we (XS Promotions) are service providers to international brands and companies, and were invited to the X Games by ESPN, in Los Angeles, in 2006. We witnessed our first drift event there and, when we landed back in South Africa, we bought our rear-wheel drive cars to start learning how to drift. The bug bit and we were hooked for life!

LG: What is the future of this form of motorsport in SA?

JM: The future is bright. Drifting has become the fastest growing motorsport in the world, and now in SA as well, thanks to Supadrift. Drifting is like the Idols of motorsport, as it is a judged format. Three judges decide whether a driver has out-driven the other on track. All the action is right in front of you on three to four corners. The cars are going 140km/h and only 30cm from each other, going sideways – it’s an incredible thing to witness. So, being a judged sport, it means that spectators can get behind their favourite driver.

LG: You have a solid background in various other sports, what are those sports and some of your achievements?

JM: My involvement in extreme sports was first born in the water. I was a Springbok water-skier and represented the country at many world and European events for many years. I then did wakeboarding for a while after that. Thereafter I enjoyed two-wheel excitement on superbikes and in motocross, before I realized that four wheels and going sideways was the most fun ever.

LG: You were part of a contingent of South Africans who travel to Namibia to grow the sport over there, what do you think is needed to grow drifting there?

JM: We have gone to many of our neighbouring countries to foster and grow the sport of drifting. There has been a massive need to help aspiring drifters and to get the basics right. As co-owner of the Supadrift National Series, our aim is to develop these areas and get more drivers into the series.

LG: What advice would you give to people who would like to take up the sport?

JM: Drifting is one of the cheaper motorsports and really just requires a rear-wheel drive car. The rest comes down to practice and getting out on the track. We do drift courses, where we assist these people in getting to grips with their cars. We teach them the correct set-ups and requirements needed to drift. We can get someone to drift in a day, but the competitive side of it comes with more and more seat time.

LG: Where can Benonians/East Randers next catch you in action?

JM: I am all over the country with the national series. Our next stop is in Gauteng, at The Rock Raceway, in Brakpan, from July 24 to 26, for the fifth round of the championships, in conjunction with the Gauteng Motor Festival.

LG: What are your goals in drifting?

JM: I am fortunate that I have won a couple of national tour stops and have finished in the top five for the past three years. My main goal is to try to clinch a championship series win or get to an international event in Europe!

For more information about Supadrift visit www.supadrift.co.za or www.xspromotions.co.za