Helping support local drift legend Kurt Blackie get to the next round of the D1NZ Drifting Championship Series in Christchurch is the main goal of an event in Papamoa.

The Tauranga-based competitor is at The Cave Papamoa, in Ashley Place today, ready to take on any challengers at NZ's largest VR and Sim race centre.

There's also an opportunity to get up close with The Cave's V8 LS GT86, and other performance and racing cars.

As well as the car show and meeting Kurt, the event, which runs from 10am – 4pm, includes food trucks, bouncy castles, a sausage sizzle, and a live DJ. The family friendly event will have a lot of prizes up for grabs, and people can compete against Kurt in a virtual racing experience with drifting, rally and Bathurst competitions.

'Fifty businesses donated prizes for the prize wheel,” says The Cave's director Jayden Brown.

'Kurt has set some top times, which people can try and beat. We will also have some sick cars on display.”

Entry to the event is free, with all proceeds going to support Kurt and his endeavour to get to the next round of the D1NZ in Christchurch.

'It can cost up to $3000 a day just on tyres,” says Jayden. 'Kurt's passion began in his Tauranga garage, and he's taking it to the next level, on an international stage with D1NZ. We are proud to back him, but could do with a lot of help from the public.”

The Valvoline D1NZ National Drifting Championship returns to Christchurch region for the first time in five years on March 27 and 28. For the first time ever in D1NZ History two rounds in one weekend will happen alongside the Super Weekend Festival of Motorsport.