About
NAME: Mike Whiddett
NICK NAME: "MAD MIKE"
HOMETOWN: Waikato, Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park
TEAM: Red Bull, Toyo Tires, Mazda, Lamborghini
FLEET: MADBUL (Mazda RX7) BADBUL (Mazda RX8) RADBUL (Mazda MX5) MADCAB (Mazda Luce) NIMBUL (Lamborghini Huracan) HUMBUL (Mazda RX7) BULLET (Mazda 3) RUMBUL (Superlite off-road truck)
DAILY DRIVE: BRODZR (Mazda BT-50)
CRUISERS: FURSTY (Mazda RX2) TROBUL (Mazda RX3)
TRANSPORTER: Kenworth T404 by GLOBOX
Mad Mike has always had a passion for all things extreme and fast, right from his first 3wheeled trike as a toddler he was never content with riding on the flat his mother Sue says he had to race down steep hills and over ramps!!
Mike raced motocross from the age of 6 and preadolescence he also competed in BMX. Eventually Mike transitioned into the extreme sport of Freestyle Motocross to compete pro for 3yrs.
The 3 year stint had mixed results and his many broken bones and concussions earned him the nick name 'Mad Mike'. It was after one too many injuries that he made the switch to another form of motorsport, which gave him the same rush of adrenaline but with the safety of a roll-cage and thus his DRIFTING career was born in 2007.
Now backed by some of the worlds biggest brands Red Bull, Mazda, Lamborghini, Toyo Tires, Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park, Rotiform, Milwaukee, Haltech Engine Management, HGT Precision, GLOBOX, KW Suspension, Turbo by Garrett, PWR Performance, Radium Engineering, K&N Filters, KC HiLites, NRG, Wilwood, Turbosmart, NGK Sparkplugs, Rocket Bunny, Liberty Walk to name a few.
Pushing the boundaries as an ambassador of the sport Mike has taken drifting around the world. From his home in New Zealand to Australia, United States of America, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, South Africa, New Caledonia & Canada.
Official Features in Gaming
2011 - Need For Speed Shift – Unleashed, which features Mad Mike along with his 2010 competition Mazda RX8
2014 - Red Bull Drift Shifters - mobile app
2016 - Mikes RADBUL MX5 was released in Project CARS a racing simulator game.
2018 - Present - Drift Torque - mobile app * Also Featuring Lincolns NOKIDN MX5
Feature Films
Over 100 million views on you tube alone amongst the following clips Conquer the Crown (Crown Range, Queenstown NZ) Conquers Highlands (Cromwell, Highlands Motorsport Park, NZ) Conquer the Cape (Franschhoek Pass in South Africa) and Mad Mike Drifts Denmark . Bio / Doco The Mad Life. Japan Car Culture ‘Nihon Nights'. Catch our Drift / Melbourne Daniel Ricciardo meets Mad Mike. Mad Mike Whiddetts Misguided Tour of Goodwood. Mad Mike vz KAMAZ. Red Bull Back Yards.
Signature Events
2012 - Mike created and brought to life Red Bull Drift Shifters in downtown Auckland, New Zealand. The event is a world first with an electronically scored run, based from triggers and sensors on the track scoring drivers on proximity and successive triggering of sensors. Making what is known as High Octane Pin Ball. The event was a hit and returned again to Auckland in 2014 seeing drivers from USA, JAPAN and Australia with Mike taking home top bragging rights. In August 2018 the High Octane Pin Ball set the bench mark once again on the streets of Liverpool with the cars rocketing up out of the Mersey Tunnel and painting the streets in front of the majestic Royal Liver building.
2017 - the Mad Mike Summer Bash event was created setting a new precedent for drifting & it's fans in NZ and bringing the biggest crowd for drifting ever recorded at Hampton Downs
Mike debuted Mad Mike Drift FORCE, open drift days held at Hampton Downs for all levels of drifting. Now a monthly re-occurring event - making drifting and top level circuits more accessible to up and coming drift stars of NZ.
2018 - the Mad Mike Summer Bash event returned for the 3rd installment.
2019 - the Mad Mike Summer Bash event returned for the 4th installment.
2021 - the Mad Mike Rotary Drags winter event
2021 - the Mad Mike Rotary Summer Drags
2022 - the Mad Mike Summer Bash
2022 - the Mad Mike Rotary Summer Drags
Hotwheels
2017 - Hotwheels released Mikes Mazda REPU
2017 - Hotwheels released RADBUL Mazda MX5 Gen 1
2018 - Hotwheels released RADBUL Mazda MX5 Gen 2
2018 - Hotwheels released HUMBUL Mazda FD RX7
2019 - Hotwheels released HUMBUL Mazda FD RX7 Zamac edition
2020 - Hotwheels released MADBUL RX3
2020 - Hotwheels released MADBUL RX3 Limited edition super treasure hunt
2021 - Hotwheels released NIMBUL Lamborghini Huracan
2021 - Hotwheels released MMM Mazda Cosmo premium edition
2021 - Hotwheels released NOKIDN Mazda MX5 - Lincolns Drift car
Achievements
2023 World Record, Fastest Mazda - Pikes Peak International Hillclimb 101st running
2023 World Record, Fastest Rotary - Pikes Peak International Hillclimb 101st running
2021 Mad Mike Motorsport MADLAB 2.0 at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
2021 1st Place NZ Stadium Offroad Championship
2020 Build completion and debut over COVID lock down NOKIDN Lincolns Drift Project Mazda MX5
2019 Build completion / debut of NIMBUL Lamborghini Huracan at Goodwood Festival of Speed
2018 Formula Drift Japan Champion
2018 1st class 1 Offroad Championship in RUMBUL (13B N/A at the time)
2017 Finalist for ‘New Zealander Of The Year' in recognition of achievement for Motorsport and Charity.
2014 & 2016 Revelation of Goodwood Festival of Speed
3 x NZ Drift Championship Winner
3 x D1NZ Championship Runner-up
First NZ Drift driver to receive an award from Motorsport New Zealand for Outstanding Achievement.
There have been many more awards and events of Mikes career but this short list details his favourites to date.
Giving Back
Mike is a longtime supporter of RACE 4 LIFE Trust, Race4Life Trust is a Not for Profit organization, which aims to fulfill the wish lists of people living with life-limiting illness. You can find out more about this amazing trust here: www.race4life.co.nz
Mike has worked with many amazing charities such as CANTEEN, Make a Wish Foundation and Southern Stars Charitable Trust along with supported many community & School projects.
As a dedicated father of two, when at home in NZ Mike can be found working on Lincolns NOKIDN Drift car, race truck or Moto X bike and also at dance classes and gymnastics with Jett.
Mike created the MADLAB which now sells Rotary engines and ships worldwide. Feeding his creative desires Mad Mike also owns and operates a sign writing & graphic design shop.