The fight to become 2008 Australian Drift Champion is down to three drivers, after championship leader Leighton Fine took out a hotly-contested fourth round of the Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series at Eastern Creek Raceway today.

First, second and third in the championship entering the weekend, Fine, Luke Fink and Beau Yates claimed the same positions at the Sydney circuit, setting up a showdown for championship glory in the season finale at Oran Park in September.

Today's win is Fine's third of the season in the Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX; bouncing back in style from a mechanical problem at Mallala last month which slashed his points lead.

After topping qualifying and defeating Robbie Bolger, Adam Trewhella and Khudar Elhaouli, Fine lined up in the final against Fink, whose scalps included Darren Appleton and Yates.

A series-record three re-runs were required before the judges could split Fine and Fink (Holford Motors Nissan Silvia), with Fine eventually taking the win in-front of a strong Sydney crowd to extend his points lead to 70, with one round remaining.

"After the disappointment of Mallala we really wanted to come here and get things back on track," South Australian Fine said.

"This win is the perfect outcome and adds to our championship lead going to Oran Park.

"Luke and I were so evenly matched and it was tense with all of the re-runs, fortunately we did enough in the end to get the win."

While falling just short of victory to accompany his Mallala win, Fink remains well within reach of Fine after his third podium finish from four rounds.

"Full credit to Leighton, it was a great battle with him in the final," Fink said.

"We gave it everything we had today and our car was fantastic, the work we did between rounds paid off.

"It would have been great to win, but second is a good result for the championship - we can't wait until Oran Park to fight for the title."

At his home circuit, Yates (Toyota Racing Developments AE86 Sprinter) defeated Elhaouli (JDS Auto Imports Nissan Silvia) to take third and complete an all-Toyo podium.

Yates remains third in the standings - 229 points behind Fine - while Elhaouli jumps from ninth to fifth behind Adam May (WheelWorx Nissan Skyline), who is now fourth after a strong seventh-place finish today.

May was joined in the Top Eight by his WheelWorx team-mate Linden Reynolds (Nissan Silvia), Appleton (Peer Industries Nissan Silvia) and Trewhella (Miluc Civil Nissan Cefiro).

While Elhaouli and May move up the championship order, Christian Pickering (Senwill Civil Nissan Silvia) and Bolger (VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) drop out of the Top Five after being eliminated early.

Victorian driver Leigh Pidwell (Toyota KE70 Corolla) took out the Toyo Tires Super Drift Series proceedings, while Josh Coote (Nissan 180SX) maintains his points lead.

Broadcasts of the Eastern Creek round commence on Sunday 13 July on SBS' Speedweek at 1pm, check local guides for details.

The 2008 Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series will conclude at Oran Park Raceway, NSW, on 20-21 September.

For more information about the Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series, head to www.driftaustralia.com.au.

Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series Eastern Creek Top Eight
1. Leighton Fine (SA, Toyo Tires Nissan 180SX)
2. Luke Fink (VIC, Holford Motors Nissan Silvia)
3. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Racing Developments Toyota AE86 Sprinter)
4. Khudar Elhaouli (VIC, JDS Auto Imports Nissan Silvia)
5. Linden Reynolds (SA, WheelWorx Nissan Silvia)
6. Darren Appleton (QLD, Peer Industries Nissan Silvia)
7. Adam May (SA, WheelWorx Nissan Skyline)
8. Adam Trewhella (WA, Miluc Civil Nissan Cefiro)

Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series Standings
1. Leighton Fine (SA, Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX) - 1836
2. Luke Fink (VIC, Holford Motors Nissan Silvia) - 1766
3. Beau Yates (NSW, Toyota Racing Developments Toyota AE86 Sprinter) - 1607
4. Adam May (SA, WheelWorx Nissan Skyline) - 1424
5. Khudar Elhaouli (VIC, JDS Auto Imports Nissan Silvia) - 1401
6. Christian Pickering (SA, Senwill Civil Nissan Silvia) - 1395
7. Robbie Bolger (QLD, VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) - 1395
8. Tom Monkhouse (SA, Japanese Motorsport Nissan Silvia) - 1382