Having motorsports in front of my camera is always exciting, but the energy becomes even greater when Mad Mike Whiddett is the one in the frame. I was happy to be part of the Red Bull Mad Mike Tour in Greece, which kicked off in the port of Heraklion, Crete.
Known for his explosive driving style and custom-built machines, Mad Mike always brings the essential ingredients for a spectacle: smoke, fire, noise, and absolute precision. For the opening stop, he transformed the city’s waterfront into a smoke-filled drift arena and set the tone for an action-packed tour.
Thousands of fans gathered to watch the drift legend alongside fellow Red Bull drifters Abdo Feghali and Natalia Iocsak. Together with a lineup of local drivers, they delivered a high-energy show filled with tandem drifts, synchronized runs, and millimeter-perfect control that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish.
One of the highlights of the evening was the spectacular “drift snake” finale, where multiple cars moved in perfect synchronization, creating a powerful display of skill, speed, and control. More than just a motorsport event, the Heraklion stop brought drift culture directly to the fans, transforming the city’s harbor into a festival of noise, tire smoke, and adrenaline.
With the first stop completed, the tour continued to the legendary Portaria Hillclimb in Pelion before reaching its grand finale in Thessaloniki.
ABOUT MAD MIKE WHIDDETT
Mad Mike Whiddett is a New Zealand drift driver, motorsport icon, and one of the most recognizable names in the world of drifting. Known for his aggressive driving style, spectacular tire-smoking performance, and custom-built Mazda machines, he has built a global reputation through appearances at some of the world’s biggest motorsport events.
As a Red Bull athlete, Mad Mike continues to push the boundaries of drifting, combining elite driving skills with showmanship to create unforgettable experiences for fans around the world.
INSIDE THE SHOOT WITH PREDRAG VUCKOVIC
Motorsports are a familiar environment for Predrag Vuckovic. Over the years, he has photographed everything from competitive racing events and drift shows to individual athlete projects, building extensive experience in some of the fastest-paced sporting environments imaginable.
His understanding of both the sport and the athletes gives him a distinct advantage behind the camera. Knowing how drivers think, where the action is likely to unfold, and how a sequence of movements develops allows him to anticipate key moments before they happen. This ability to “read” a situation is essential when working in environments where everything can change in a split second.
Drift events present another unique challenge: tire smoke, noise and constant movement. While these elements can make photographing the action more difficult, Vuckovic uses them to his advantage. Rather than seeing smoke as an obstacle, he incorporates it into his photos, transforming it into a visual effect that adds atmosphere, drama, and depth to the final image.
Equipment used for this photoshoot
Cameras: 2x Nikon Z9 camera
Lenses: 70-200 mm f 2.8, 24-70 mm f 2.8, 14-20 mm f 2.8, 35 mm f 1.2
Drone DJI Mavic pro 5 Mini
It is this combination of experience and creativity that allows Vuckovic to capture not only the action itself, but also the unmistakable energy of drifting.