THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT JAP-FEST 2012

Ireland's biggest annual Modified Car event, Jap-Fest, is about to hit the Mondello Park track with an even more sensational offering than last year's star studded line-up. With Prodrift's Drift Series as its headline act the traditional end of season show is always the most anticipated of the year and this years event looks like being more popular than ever with the Irish championship battle going right to the wire.

Two of the biggest stars of last years Jap-Fes tDrift action, Norwegian Fredric Aasbo and Ireland's Darren McNamara, have previously confirmed their appearance at the show and the cars which they would pilot, with Aasbo driving a brand new Toyota Gt86X and McNamara in the wildest AE86 Corolla in existence.

These two top names will be joined by Current Formula D champion and one of the biggest and most popular personalities in world drifting, Daijiro Yoshihara. Dai had previously announced his appearance at the show but has now added details of the car he will drive. For the second year in a row Dai will be piloting the MG Crash Repairs/Falken 2JZ Altezza in this weekend’s event, and will be out to avenge his early exit from the top 16 run-off's at last years event.

While the Jap-Fest line-up is a who's who of World and European Drifting it should not be forgotten that there is a very competitive Irish championship also to be decided. The series reaches Mondello with five drivers still in contention for the 2012 crown, which is the closest this championship has ever been.

Just five points separate leader Brendan Stone from Damien Mulvey in third, with 2011 Jap-Fest winner James Deane between these two in second place. Shane O'Sullivan and Paul McCarthy are also in with a shout if the top three slip up. Saturday will see the Amateur and Semi Pro championship titles decided as well as practice for Sunday's Pro event. The second day of competition will include the conclusion of the Prodrift Irish Championship as well as the crowning of the overall Jap-Fest Drifting champion for 2012.

While Prodrift will be the focus for many spectators there will also be a full day of track action supporting the drifters, and plenty to see off-track too. The 'Trackday Performance' Time-Attack championship reaches its conclusion on Sunday and it alternates on track with the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint, a new type of competitive action which involves both speed and skill. Off track the Stunt Ireland Motorcycle Stunt Series will decide its first ever Irish Stunt Riding Champion and there will also be a record number of trade stands, car clubs and web site stands to view.

Tickets for the event are now available with the offer of a free grandstand seat with every ticket purchased in advance. A very favourable weather forecast coupled with the enormous appetite of Irish Car fans for the Annual Jap-Fest show should mean another record breaking year for the biggest and Best Modified show of the year.

Tickets for Mondello Jap-Fest are currently on sale through the Mondello Park web site and all pre-booked tickets will include a free Grandstand seat, normally costing €5.00.

August 25th - International Drift Stars to Headline Mondello Jap-Fest

July 13th - Barrel Sprint arrives in Ireland for Mondello Jap-Fest

June 14th - PRODRIFT STARS SIGNAL THEIR MONDELLO PARK RETURN FOR JAP_FEST 2012

For an overview of Jap-Fest 2012 click HERE.

For information on show attractions see HERE.

For club and website stand or entry information see HERE.

See here for ticket information.

Show timetable.