LIAM BURKE
Wat's you daily driver?
Haha I actually drive my partners Nissan Sentra
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Rich Hahaha nah I didn’t actually have any potential jobs I wanted to be
What made you interested in cars and drifting?
Cars, I actually signed up to work experience when I was at school to be either an engineer or a mechanic and I got sent here to Checkered Flag Automotive which back then was called Kamo automotive and got a apprenticeship within the first week. So it was luck of the draw I guess.
How long have you been at checkered flag?
6 or 7 years, been qualified for 4 years.
What got you into drifting?
My mate Ben took me to one of the Meremere track days, so I took my 300zx down to that one and then after that ended up building an r32 skyline with a rb26det in it which was putting out 330kw at the wheels.
How is working as a mechanic and drifting worked together?
Well? I’ve been able to do about 95% of the things on my car, other than sending away bits to get machined and that sort of stuff, but it’s definitely handy,and it also makes sourcing parts a whole lot easier, having a workshop to work in and just in general knowing what to do. My boss has been very supportive too!
What is your dream car?
I haven’t actually got one but it would probably have to be something with a 2J or possibly a V10 but more so a 2J.
Fastest speed driven?
245km/h
Fastest Speed sideways?
196 km/h on the entry to Pukekohe, I may have done a faster one but I ended up cooking it haha
This is your first season in D1NZ, what has been your most memorable moment for the season?
Probably getting third place podium at Hampton Downs, and also hitting the Pukekohe sweeper, before then I had only been around it once with Fanga, so I kinda knew how to take it, ‘balls to the wall’
Whats the biggest challenge of having a drifting career?
Trying to afford it! And just the stress of it, quite a few late nghts specially if you wait 2 weeks after an event to fix the car, it means you only have 2weeks to get it done.