Category: FD News

Formula DRIFT Teams to Drift for First Time During WTCC on Sept. 6-8 at Sonoma Raceway

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Formula DRIFT teams will drift for the first time during a WTCC weekend on September 6-8, 2013 at Sonoma Raceway adding to the long list of appearances for the Series during national and international motorsport events. This will also be the first time in 3 years that Formula DRIFT professional vehicles will return to the venue. Drivers from the Series to participate include Michael Essa, Toshiki Yoshioka, Pat Mordaunt and past Formula DRIFT pro Ryuji Miki.

See full press release below

Yokohama Tire Corporation’s Formula Drift Team To Perform Drift Exhibitions
during the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Race Weekend at Sonoma
Raceway, September 6-8 Cars will be drifting on will on Yokohama’s new ADVAN
NeovaR AD08 R tires

FULLERTON, CA. – (September 3, 2013) – Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC)
Formula Drift Team will show off the new Advan Neova AD08R in special
demonstrations during the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC),
September 6-8 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.

“It should feature some high-speed drifting action,” said Matt Johnson,
Yokohama performance marketing supervisor. “This is a great opportunity to
showcase drifting and Yokohama tires to WTCC fans. This is the only WTCC
race this season in the U.S. and the highly competitive global series also
features Yokohama tires.”

YTC’s drifting team is comprised of Michael Essa, driving the GSR Autosport
BMW E46, Toshiki Yoshioka (GTnet Tomei Subaru BRZ) and Pat Mordaunt (A’pexi
Lexus SC430). The drivers will compete on Yokohama’s new ADVAN NeovaR ADO8 R
tires.

“Another treat for fans is a special appearance by Ryuji Miki, a former D1
Grand Prix drift champion and Formula D competitor,” said Johnson. “Miki is
flying in from Japan to pilot the A’pexi Lexus SC430 during some of the
demonstrations. He is also competing on AD08 R tires with a Nissan S15
Silvia in Japan’s D1GP series.”

The Yokohama drifting demonstrations will take place at 9 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, September 6; 9:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on
Saturday, September 7; and 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Sunday,
September 8.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing
arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global
manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a
network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire
Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete
product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger
car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction
applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line,
visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:
www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp
www.twitter.com/yokohamatc
www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines
established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway
Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire
Safety” section at www.yokohamatire.com.

Co-Founder Ryan Sage Featured in SEMA News “35 Under 35”

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Formula DRIFT vice-president and co-founder, Ryan Sage has been selected by SEMA in their “35 Under 35.” According to SEMA News, “These are people who know what’s going on at ground level, who see opportunities that are now forming and who travel in circles that might be very different from those of our “old-school” industry leaders. As a group, they are adept at leveraging technology to create value and gain a marketing or customer-service edge. They are dedicated to continuous improvement. Most are at their workplace well beyond normal working hours, covering more ground, looking to set trends or trying to invent something their customers do not yet know they need.”

Check out the cover and Ryan’s feature below.

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Title Fight Tickets On-Sale; Final Event of the 2013 Season at Irwindale Speedway on October 11-12

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 23, 2013 – Tickets for the final event of the tenth season of the Formula DRIFT Championship are on-sale now. Round 7: Title Fight on October 11-12, 2013 will be held at Irwindale Speedway. New all-venue reserved seating introduced.

The 2013 Formula DRIFT season will come to a close on October 11-12, 2013 at Irwindale Speedway. For the past three seasons the event has sold out. Early purchase is highly recommended. Tickets are on-sale now and available on www.formulad.com and through HERE.

A new all reserved seating arrangement for this venue has been implemented. The two reserved ticket options will include reserved main grandstand seating and the new reserved trackside seating. Additionally, skyboxes are available for the public to purchase.

“The finale of our 10th championship season is shaping up to be a very special one,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The competition is fierce and the championship chase is as close as ever, which means the finale will decide the 2013 champion. We invite fans to purchase their tickets early so they don’t miss out on a history making event, the crowning of a champion and the conclusion of our 10th season.”

Ticketing options include the following:

Main Grandstand Reserved Seating
– $33 Pre-Sale for Saturday Only when purchased online
– $38 Pre-Sale for Two-Day Ticket when purchased online
– Includes assigned / reserved seat located in the main grandstand

Trackside Reserved Seating
– $60 Pre-Sale for Saturday Only when purchased online
– $65 Pre-Sale for Two-Day Ticket when purchased online
– Includes assigned / reserved seat located trackside next to the judging tower

Skybox VIP
– $4,000
– Includes 30 Two-Day passes to the event and access to the skybox, 10 parking passes, FD gifts

The championship chase is as close as its ever been with less than 35 points separating the top five drivers heading into Round 6: Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway on September 13-14, 2013. The championship will again be determined at the finale. The event will additionally feature the Slammed Society car show, vendor midway, open pits to the public and more. This event also marks the end of the first 10 years for the Formula DRIFT Championship.

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

Round 5: Throwdown at Evergreen Speedway Results; Chris Forsberg Takes the Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 21, 2013 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro returned to the Pacific Northwest to a sold out crowd. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z takes the victory and the championship points lead.

The fans came out in droves for Round 5: Throwdown at Evergreen Speedway and for the second year in a row the event was held in front of a sell-out crowd.

“Each year we look forward to the action and excitement at Evergreen Speedway and this year did not disappoint. The championship chase is heating up with only two events left in the season,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The chase is as close as it has ever been and we look forward to returning to Texas for the next round of competition and then the Finals in Irwindale.”

Heading into the event, returning champion Daigo Saito had a commanding points lead, but with an early exit in the Top 32, an opening for the other drivers became present. In the consolation round, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Nexen Tire Nissan 240SX battled Fredric Aasbo in the Hankook Tire / Scion Racing tC. Wheel and tire problems helped give Aasbo the win and the third place finish. The final battle pitted Michael Essa in the GSR Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 against Chris Forsberg. After a close battle, Forsberg edged out Essa to take the victory and the lead in the 2013 Pro Championship points standings. Essa also moves into second place overall.

“Hats off to my crew for giving me a perfect running car this weekend as they were hustling really hard since Thursday’s practice to get the car dialed in for today,” said Chris Forsberg, winner of Round 5: Throwdown. “It is a testament from last year’s season to this year just how much you can improve with a hard working crew and the support of great sponsors. I’m excited for the win and the lead and can’t wait for the next event.”

With only 2 events remaining the championship is up for grabs with less than 35 points separating the top five drivers from the title. Formula DRIFT continues to Round 6: Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas on September 13-14, 2013.