"You've got to commit 100 per cent to what you're doing - any mental doubt will hurt you," Macksville's Brendan Bennett said, after landing his first big win as a professional in Round 2 of the Raleigh Drift Series at the weekend.

Brendan actually surprised himself with the win: "I didn't see this coming for a few years yet".

After finishing up second in the Amateur Class of the Raleigh Drift Series Championships last year, he and his (very supportive) girlfriend Kirra made the decision that this year it was time to go pro.

Up against 15 other more experienced pro drivers - mostly from Queensland, Sydney and the Central Coast - Brendan was definitely the underdog coming into the qualifier on Sunday.

And things did not get off to a roaring start for him on Saturday.

"I exploded my rear diff in the first outlap," he said.

So Kirra had to race back home to get the spare just in time for a few wet practice laps.

"I went into Sunday on the back foot with minimal practice on the new layout and a different diff ratio to what I've been used to for quite some time," he said.

But he cleared his mind and hit the first lap with as much aggression as he could muster.

For the uninitiated (like me), Brendan explains that each match is a challenge between two cars - the lead and the chaser.

The lead car's aim is to hit a series of 'clipping zones' at just the right angle of sideways, and at just the right high speed, with extra points for style and attitude. The chase car has to mimic the lead and drive as closely as is humanly possible, with the roles reversing for the second lap.

To get sideways, Brendan says, you can either use the handbrake to lock the rear tyres, or "slip the clutch" to create wheel spin.

"You're pretty relaxed on the steering wheel - you can steer the car with your throttle."

It's a challenging sport for both driver and car - Brendan chewed through 10 new tyres over the course of the weekend.

But for Brendan, it's worth it.

On Sunday Brendan proved his mettle as a Top 8 contender on the 'battle tree' first up.

The skill level of the Top 8 was so tight, they had to run that match-up twice. The same happened again in the Top 4, which he was thrilled to have reached.

Brendan's focus was so on that even a bit of a prang in the Top 2 showdown couldn't shake him and he slid in for the win.

"I was pretty stoked, really," he said.

He's now gearing up for Round 3, which should be some time in September.

Before each competition, he pores over every nut and bolt, and replaces all the fluids, "but mentally, I just try not to think about it".

"I really want to maximise what I can get out of the series this year".

If all goes well, he's got his eyes set on a place at the Australian Hi-tec Drifting Allstars Pro Series: "I really want to move on to chasing that - it's televised and all that".

But the higher up you go. the more expensive it all gets, Brendan is grateful for his two local sponsors - Bridgestone Nambucca, and Swale Hydraulics - but he'd love to find another sponsor to pick up the entry fees, which can sometimes be inhibitive.

And if his trajectory continues on the same path as it has this year, Brendan would love to take his show on the road to New Zealand -"that would be my biggest goal".

Nambucca's pride back on the prowl

No COVID on the Mid North Coast since June