From Vision to Velocity – Sky Zhao’s Dream Drift Park Shed

From Vision to Velocity – Sky Zhao’s Dream Shed at Drift Park Meremere

For Sky Zhao, drifting has always been about more than driving. As the founder of Drift Academy and the visionary behind Drift Park Meremere, Sky has spent years building a world-class motorsport destination where drivers of all skill levels can learn, compete, and push their limits in a safe environment.

Today, Drift Academy is recognised as the world’s largest and best-rated drift school, operating across New Zealand, Japan, and China. At the heart of its New Zealand headquarters in Meremere is a facility purpose-built for performance, and when Sky set out to expand the site, he knew exactly what he wanted: a large, durable shed that would become the centrepiece of his long-term vision.

“One day I came across one of Wide Span’s promotions for a really large shed,” Sky recalls. “That sparked my interest, and one thing led to another. I ended up building my dream shed.”

Working closely with Jess from Wide Span Sheds, Sky designed a custom 24.5m x 12m x 5m clear span steel building in COLORSTEEL® Ebony. The generous internal height was a key part of the concept, creating an open and airy environment where vehicles could be displayed, maintained, and showcased in a space that feels more like a professional showroom than a conventional workshop.

“I wanted a really high stud,” Sky says. “It makes the whole space feel airy. You have the cars sitting here looking great, and from day one, it felt almost like a perfect showroom.”

The shed now serves as a central hub for Drift Park’s day-to-day operations. It provides space for vehicle preparation, driver training support, customer shelter, and a comfortable area where visitors can gather out of the weather between sessions on the track.

“We can have cars here, we can have customers out of the weather from the track, and really just provide a space for people to hang out.”

For Sky, choosing Wide Span Sheds was about more than just size and appearance. It was about investing in a New Zealand-made structure that would stand the test of time and support the future of drifting in New Zealand.

“To invest in this facility, I wanted a durable product that would be a home for a lot of people for a very long time. Having such a strong steel structure, all made in New Zealand, gave us great confidence to move forward.”

The support throughout the process was equally important. Sky says the Wide Span Sheds Waikato team, including Jess and Duane, provided exceptional assistance from design and consenting through to construction.

“They were super, super helpful and made the whole process smooth and worry free.”

From a bold vision to a fully operational motorsport destination, Sky Zhao has created something truly unique. His Wide Span shed is more than a building. It is the operational heart of New Zealand’s premier drift facility and a purpose-built space designed to inspire the next generation of drivers.

At Wide Span Sheds, we are proud to have helped bring that dream to life.