Category: FD News

Formula DRIFT Announces Contract Extensions for Venues

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 17, 2014 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro has extended contracts with Road Atlanta and Evergreen Speedway through the 2016 season. The Streets of Long Beach venue partnership will continue in 2015.

“The growth of Drift Atlanta over the past 11 years has been phenomenal,” stated Road Atlanta President and General Manager Geoff Lee. “We are pleased to extend our relationship with Formula DRIFT through 2016, and continue to build on the momentum that has made Drift Atlanta one of the largest and most renowned drifting events in North America.”

In an effort to plan for the future of the Series with established long running relationships with venues, Formula DRIFT has committed to the following tracks for the 2015 – 2016 season, Road Atlanta, Evergreen Speedway and the Streets of Long Beach for 2015. More venues are expected to sign contracts soon.

“Eleven years ago we were the last on the list to get dates locked in for some of the venues,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Now here we are eleven years later and are towards the top of the list for venues across the country. We are proud of the growth of the sport and it couldn’t have been done without the relationships that we have with these top venues and we look forward to continuing the relationships for years to come.”

Formula DRIFT is mid-way through the 2014 Pro Championship season and returns to Evergreen Speedway this weekend. This will mark the ninth year consecutive year of competition at this venue for the Series.

“Evergreen Speedway is excited and proud to announce a three year contract extension with Formula DRIFT through to the 2016 season,” said Doug Hobbs, president and CEO. “Formula DRIFT is by far, the most exciting and single largest motorsport event each and every year at Evergreen Speedway. Having such a marquee world stage series in the Seattle market is also a boost to tourism with a major economic impact. The best part for me is seeing thousands of fans smiling and having fun watching some of the most talented drivers in the world wow the crowd.”

Ford Continues Support of Formula DRIFT with Mustang Teams Running in Top-10

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Ford Continues Support of Formula DRIFT with Mustang Teams Running in Top-10

• Ford brings sweepstakes for custom EcoBoost®-powered Fiesta ST to 2014 Formula DRIFT series

• Former champ Vaughn Gittin Jr. and past winner Justin Pawlak competing in Ford Mustangs

• Gittin Jr. and Pawlak both advanced to the final eight at 2013 Monroe event

Long Beach, Calif. – July 15, 2014 – Following success in the first four Formula DRIFT events of the 2014 season, Ford Motor Company is leading the points in the manufacturer’s standings through the efforts of Mustang drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak, ranked third and sixth, respectively, in the driver’s championship. Gittin Jr. and Pawlak will compete in customized Ford Mustangs in Monroe, Washington, this weekend, July 18-19, in round five of the seven-event series.

“We’re excited to be first in the manufacturer standings heading into the final rounds of the 2014 Formula DRIFT season,” said Steve Ling, Ford North America car marketing manager. “Having competitive drivers who value performance as much as we do at Ford makes these last three rounds even more thrilling.”

Ford has supported drivers in Formula DRIFT since 2005, when the sport triggered a successful Ford Racing Performance Parts engine development program for a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 crate engine.

“Fans love seeing Ford involved on the track and in the paddock,” said Mickey Matus, Ford Racing marketing communications manager. “Last season, the two Mustang drivers consistently finished at the top, keeping Ford in the hunt for the manufacturers’ cup throughout its first year. Now, following Vaughn’s recent victories in rounds two and three in Atlanta and Miami, we’re confident our drivers will continue to show the Formula DRIFT world that Ford and Mustang are winners.”

Amidst the excitement of North America’s foremost professional drifting championship, Ford is giving fans the opportunity to enter to win an EcoBoost®- powered Fiesta ST. Anyone can enter the contest online while watching the hot action each weekend at www.formuladrift.com

“With only three events remaining in the 2014 season, Ford looks to continue their success and keep the lead on their way to their first manufacturer cup championship,” said Ryan Sage, Formula DRIFT vice president and cofounder. “Formula DRIFT fans can get in on the action by entering to win a custom Ford Fiesta ST during the remaining events this season.”

“The hot new Fiesta ST featuring the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is a huge hit, especially among the younger crowd,” said Ling. “So we partnered with Formula DRIFT to create an innovative way to give one to a lucky fan. We added a Ford Racing Performance Parts exhaust and some cool new wheels and touches to make this a true, one-of-one car. We displayed it at the season opener in Long Beach and will have it at the series finale in Irwindale, California in, October.”

The first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Highly-skilled drivers maneuver high-powered cars into controlled slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on speed, execution and style rather than fastest time, drifting is a crowd pleaser that’s often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

This season’s competition features pro drivers and teams running seven events. Judged on speed, execution and style rather than fastest time, drifting is a crowd pleaser that’s often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

The 2014 Formula DRIFT season will continue with Round 5: Throwdown at Evergreen Raceway on July 18-19. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaD.

Formula DRIFT Japan Results

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Formula DRIFT Japan Results;
Masao Suenaga Takes Event Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 10, 2014 – Formula DRIFT entered Fuji Speedway for the first Formula DRIFT Japan event for Round 2 of the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship. Japan’s own Masao Suenaga takes the inaugural event victory.

Formula DRIFT continued global expansion into the land of the rising sun holding the first ever Formula DRIFT Japan event at Fuji Speedway this past weekend. The event embarks on a three-year deal between the Series and MSC Co, Ltd.

The event had sixty-nine entries in which fourteen of those were Formula DRIFT Asia regulars. Six of the fourteen finished in the Top 16. Participating drivers represented eight countries.

“In 2003, I was here to announce that professional drifting was venturing outside of Japan for the first time,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Today, we came back to the birthplace of this sport to stage the first ever Formula DRIFT competition. To top it all off, the competition was awesome!”

Formula DRIFT featured ancillary events including: the Offset Kings car show, World Time Attack exhibition, Mazda Fest, 180 & Silvia Meet, FMX demos and Supermoto racing. Over 150,000 viewers watched the event worldwide via the Driftstream.

Formula DRIFT Results:

Winner = Masao Suenaga
2nd Place = Masashi Yokoi
3rd Place = Fredric Aasbo

The 2014 Formula DRIFT Championship season continues to Round 5: Throwdown at Evergreen Speedway on July 18-19. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaD.

Formula DRIFT and Club Dominicano de Corredores de Drift (CDCD) Announcement

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 3, 2014 – Formula DRIFT and the Club Dominicano de Corredores de Drift (CDCD) announced an extension of the agreement between the two organizations to help develop drifting in the Dominican Republic.

“We value our relationship with organizations such as the CDCD, in an effort to help to not only grow the sport of drifting globally, but also to help bring the highest level of driving talent into Formula DRIFT,” says Jim Liaw, president of Formula DRIFT.

The relationship with the two organizations dates back to 2009, with the start of the Dominican Drift Series, and includes support from Formula DRIFT with staff and judges for the Dominican Drift events. It also includes the chance for eligible drivers in the Dominican Series to have a chance to obtain their Formula DRIFT Pro Championship license to compete in Formula DRIFT.

“Formula DRIFT is the largest drifting organization in the world, with drivers of all nationalities competing including our local, Jhonnattan Castro,” says Carlos Rodriguez, president of the Club Dominicano de Corredores de Drift (CDCD). “In our Dominican Drift series we have had drivers from different countries including the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Cuba.”

Round 2 of the Dominican Drift series was held on Saturday, June 28 at the Autodromo Mobil 1 and Jhonnattan Castro took the event victory. Formula DRIFT judge Ryan Lanteigne presided over the event with judge Brian Eggert scheduled to attend Round 3 and judge Andy Yen to attend Round 4.