D1NZ GOES GLOBAL: HOTPIT AUTOFEST INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Drift King Dave Steedman to be the first D1NZ representative on the HOTPIT Autofest stage in California, as New Zealand’s national series steps onto the international platform

Capping a landmark night at Mercury Baypark Arena, D1NZ has confirmed a strategic international partnership with HOTPIT Autofest — one of the United States’ fastest-growing motorsport and car-culture platforms, based in California.

Newly-crowned Drift King Dave Steedman will be the inaugural D1NZ representative at HOTPIT Autofest, carrying New Zealand’s championship standard onto a global stage for the first time under this partnership.

“Partnering with D1NZ represents a pivotal moment for HOTPIT Autofest as we continue to expand our footprint. We see a powerful opportunity to connect our ecosystems, create international pathways for drivers, and deliver a more unified global drifting experience.”

— RJ Contreras, COO, HOTPIT Autofest

“Drifting has always been rooted in community and progression, and this collaboration allows us to extend those values beyond our respective regions. Together we’re creating new opportunities for drivers to rise, for brands to engage on a broader stage, and for fans to experience drifting at an even higher level.”

— James McManaway, Executive, D1NZ / Grit Motorsport

The 2026 season was one of the most expansive in D1NZ’s history — five rounds spanning Teretonga Park in Invercargill to Pukekohe Park, and including Pro Drifting’s first ever visit to the East Coast at Gisborne’s H BlackBee Drift Park, before the championship was settled under the lights at Baypark.

D1NZ is the world’s longest-running national drifting series, sanctioned by Motorsport New Zealand and broadcast on Sky TV, YouTube via Oversteer TV, and Fox Sports.