Driver Spotlight -Darragh Spencer
A hard man to stop this season, finishing third in the overall Irish Drift Championship. Darragh Spencer has been charging the tracks of Ireland since his early teens and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. We got to catch up with him and get to know the pilot from from the north. This is Darragh Spencer.
You’ve been drifting for a long time, how old were you when you first got behind the wheel?
“My first track day was when I was 15 years old on the 20th October 2013 and then my first competition was just under a year later.”
Why is drifting important to you?
“Drifting for me is a form of escape, a way of getting away from reality and normal day to day life.”
Darragh Spencer getting to know the wall - Credit Martin Bowden @bowdenphotos
You first started competing at Pro level in IDC in 2018, what’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the sport since then?
“I think the biggest change I would see in drifting now is the level of cars being built and the money that is being spent. This is both good and bad for the sport in many ways because some people can afford it and the level of the builds in this country is progressing, but on the other side of it I think people can get burned out looking up to others with the fancy cars when they can’t afford something at that level. For me personally this is why my car has always been about keeping it simple, only spending money where it needed to be spent for reliability.”
Congratulations on your podium at your home track Tullyroan, how does the oval compare to other tracks you’ve driven?
“For me I really love the risk reward nature of the oval, it really separates the men from the boys. Also the fact that it is set in the oval everyone can see the entirety of the track from any location is unlike 90% of tracks across the world, having the ability to interact with the fans from the driver's seat is something else. Seeing children standing in awe looking through the fence is something that I love, I once was that child and being on the other side now as I have gotten older makes that feeling a bit more special.”
Darragh Spencer chasing down Jack Mawhinney - Credit - Meghan Roycroft @driven_by_cameras
You were the only non Driftmasters driver on the podium at Tullyroan, will we be seeing you take the leap soon?
“The answer I would like to be giving you right now is yes, but unfortunately for me at the moment I just can’t see a way that I could make it happen.. In saying that I definitely wouldn't rule it out but it's just not feasible at the moment.”
Your mam also drives, she came second in the mini cup class with the Donegal motor club last year, would you ever go out on the track together?
“We have actually double drove her mini one day at a Rally Sport Association track day, unfortunately it was cut short as I broke the gearbox in the car but don’t worry I fixed it and it’s already to go again”
Darragh chasing Alan Hynes - Credit - Ken Casey @_zen_media_
Your car really got put through its paces this year, can we expect some build changes to the 1.5JZ E46 for next season?
“This year for me really was about figuring out the new car and trying to find a nice balance between drivability and grip, I have plans to replace the rear subframe setup and fit a winters diff this off season as I found during the year I was stuck between gears on a few layouts, other than that really it will just be about refreshing the car and making sure everything is good to go again.”
If money was no object, what would your dream build be?
“I would love to develop and build my own version of the GR Yaris as a drift car.”
What are some words that you live by?
“My girlfriend always tells me - Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves”. And another one I like is Life has no limitations except the ones you make”
