Self-confessed petrol head and Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges has teamed up with champion professional drift racer Mad Mike Whiddett in a high-octane challenge to illustrate the accessibility and capability of open banking. 

Mad Mike is a champion Kiwi racer with a cult social following of 2million on Facebook and another 1.3million on Instagram.

The dynamic time trial, designed by local fintech Emerge, was created to break down the notion that banking has to be slow and complicated. 

Champion Pro Racer Mad Mike Whiddett with self-confessed petrol head Simon Bridges. Photo/Supplied.

“When we tell people they can sign up to Emerge in just seven minutes, they don't believe us,” Emerge said.

“So we proved it - by challenging Simon Bridges to open an account while drifting with legendary drift car driver Mad Mike Whiddett.

“Every Kiwi knows the pain of traditional banking. Endless paperwork. Multiple branch visits. Weeks or months of waiting. Yeah, nah, we're changing that.”

Bridges, armed with just a mobile phone, was tasked with signing up an Emerge account before Mad Mike could get through a set of tyres on the Hampton Downs track. 

Bridges successfully completed the challenge in under seven minutes while reaching speeds of 150 km/h. 

Champion Pro Racer Mad Mike Whiddett’s car. Photo/Supplied.

“Simon got it done and ‘emerged’ victorious,” Emerge said.

“By combining the adrenaline rush of high-speed drifting with a straightforward sign-up process, the time trial clearly shows that if I can navigate this process in these extreme conditions, alternatives to traditional banking can be just as agile and efficient,” Bridges said.

Champion Pro Racer Mad Mike Whiddett with Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges. Photo/Supplied.