Category: Press Releases

Formula DRIFT Round 4: The Gauntlet Results

News

Posted on

Formula DRIFT Round 4: The Gauntlet Results;
Aurimas Bakchis Fights His Way to Victory

FD-RD4-Final2-600

FD-RD4-Podium-600

Long Beach, Calif. – June 3, 2017 – Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras returned to Wall Speedway in New Jersey for the fourth event of the season. Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Falken Tire / Drifz Wheels Nissan 240 battled his way to victory.

“As we hit the half way point of the season, there’s still plenty of action left,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “These are the best drifters from around the world and the championship is still up for grabs.”

The Advance Auto Parts Round 4: The Gauntlet showcased tough competition throughout the event weekend. Over 1 million viewers tuned into the Livestream to watch the exciting action.

The Final 4 pitted Michael Essa in the Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3 against Kristaps Bluss in the HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46 on one side of the bracket. The battle of the BMWs went to the 2013 champion, Essa as he took advantage of a mistake by his opponent. Bakchis was set to face off against Matt Coffman in the Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240, but after failing to repair his vehicle within the allotted 5 minutes, Coffman had to bow out giving Bakchis the win. In the final battle, Essa faced off against Bakchis, with the first run being a very competitive outing. The second battle ended in dramatic fashion as Essa’s tire debeaded coming off the bank and Bakchis’ motor gave out just as he crossed the finish line. Bluss rounded out the podium in third place for the second consecutive event.

“I feel amazing. It was a very hard battle for us the whole weekend,” said Aurimas “Odi” Bakchi, winner of the Advance Auto Parts Round 4: The Gauntlet. “We had lots of challenges, but my crew pulled it together and allowed me to drive like an animal and kept my car somewhat together just enough as it literally blew up right at the finish line. The timing couldn’t have been better and I couldn’t be happier.”

The action continues to Round 5: True North at Autodrome St-Eustache in Montreal, Canada on July 15-16. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat – formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Advance Auto Parts Round 4: The Gauntlet Event Results

1. Bakchis, Aurimas Falken Tire / Drifz Wheels Nissan 240 Winner
2. Essa, Michael Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3 2nd Place
3. Bluss, Kristaps
HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46 3rd Place
4. Coffman, Matt Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240 4th Place
5. Deane, James Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan Silvia 5th Place
6. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM 6th Place
7. Yoshihara, Dai Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ 7th Place
8. Jones, Jeff DOC Racing Nissan 240 8th Place
9. Denofa, Chelsea BC Racing / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR 9th Place
10. Tuerck, Ryan Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86Falken 10th Place
11. Pawlak, Justin Roush Performance Ford Mustang 11th Place
12. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR
12th Place
13. Rintanen, Juha STR Racing Wheels / Nexen Tire Nissan Silvia 13th Place
14. Heilbrunn, Alex IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3
14th Place
15. Hamilton, Nate Team Enjuku / BC Racing / Hankook Tire Nissan 240 15th Place
16. Nishida, Robbie Jerry Yang Racing Nissan GT-R 16th Place

2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 4 Events

1. Deane, James Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240 297.00 Points
2. Essa, Michael Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3 241.00 Points
3. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM 230.00 Points

2017 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 4 Events

1. Toyota 441.00 Points
2. Ford 326.00 Points
3. BMW 241.00 Points
4. Dodge 204.00 Points
5. Nissan 155.00 Points
6. Mazda 86.00 Points

2017 Tire Championship Standings After 3 Events

1. Falken 590.00 Points
2. Achilles 526.00 Points
3. Nexen 483.00 Points
4. Hankook 398.00 Points
5. Nitto 373.00 Points

Formula DRIFT Round 3: Road to the Championship Results

News

Posted on

Formula DRIFT Round 3: Road to the Championship Results;

James Deane Takes Back the Lead with the Event Victory

RD3-Final-600

RD3-Podium-600

Long Beach, Calif. – May 14, 2017 – Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras returned to Road Atlanta, home of the inaugural Formula DRIFT event 14 years ago. James Deane in the Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240 takes the victory to regain the lead in the chase for the championship.

“This event showcased the global talent within the Series,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Each round has been highly competitive and with only three events remaining it will be exciting to see how it unfolds.”

The Advance Auto Parts Round 3: Road to the Championship was a hard charging event and treated fans to exciting competition. An estimated 1 million viewers tuned into the Livestream through the event weekend.

It was an all European podium with Latvian driver, Kristaps Bluss in the HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46 taking 3rd place after failing to repair his vehicle for a One More Time battle against Irishman, Dean Kearney in the Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper in the semi-finals. The Finals was a battle of the Irish with Kearney and Deane fighting for the win. The drivers put on a show for the fans with an incredibly tight battle, but Deane was able to inch past his opponent to take the win. With three events completed, James Deane has now taken two event wins to move back into the top of the standings.

“We got to have an all-Irish final and that was just mind-blowing,” said James Deane, winner of the Advance Auto Parts Round 3: Road to the Championship. “The two of us just gave it 110%, no messing around, and that’s how to have a battle. I’m super happy and thanks to everyone who made this possible.”

The action continues to Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway on June 2-3. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat – formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Advance Auto Parts Round 3: Road to the Championship Event Results

1. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

Winner

2. Kearney, Dean

Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper

2nd Place

3. Bluss, Kristaps

HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46

3rd Place

4. Hohnadell, Alec

Urban Air / Hoonigan / Nexen Tire Nissan 240

4th Place

5. Gittin, Vaughn

Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

5th Place

6. Tuerck, Ryan

Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86

6th Place

7. Wiecek, Piotr

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

7th Place

8. Forsberg, Chris

NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z

8th Place

9. Essa, Michael

Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3

9th Place

10. Field, Matt

Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240

10th Place

11. Heilbrunn, Alex

IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3

11th Place

12. Denofa, Chelsea

BC Racing / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

12th Place

13. Coffman, Matt

Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240

13th Place

14. Hamilton, Nate

Team Enjuku / BC Racing / Hankook Tire Nissan 240

14th Place

15. Jones, Jeff

DOC Racing Nissan 240

15th Place

16. Mohan, Kyle

Built 2 Apex / Mazdatrix / KMR 2016 MX-5

16th Place

2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 3 Events

1. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

245.00 Points

2. Kearney, Dean

Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper

186.00 Points

3. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

178.00 Points

2017 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 3 Events

1. Toyota

351.00 Points

2. Ford

250.00 Points

3. Dodge

186.00 Points

4. BMW

157.00 Points

5. Nissan

137.00 Points

6. Mazda

68.00 Points

2017 Tire Championship Standings After 3 Events

1. Falken

435.00 Points

2. Achilles

374.00 Points

3. Nexen

363.00 Points

4. Hankook

310.00 Points

5. Nitto

299.00 Points

Corey Hosford, Rockstar Performance Garage, AEM Induction Systems & more team up for a powerful return to Formula DRIFT Pro2

News

Posted on

Corey Hosford, Rockstar Performance Garage, AEM Induction Systems & more team up for a powerful return to Formula DRIFT Pro2

1600x1200_AEM_Rockstar_Corey_Hosford_S14

792x612_AEM_Rockstar_Corey_Hosford_Suit

Hosford piloting a 427ci V8 Twin Turbo by Garrett Nissan S14 Pandem “Boss”

Corey Hosford, Rockstar Performance Garage, AEM Induction Systems & more team up for a powerful return to Formula DRIFT Pro2

Gilbert, AZ – Corey ‘The Boss’ Hosford formally announced his return to Formula DRIFT Pro2 competition today, having been absent from competitive driving in recent years. The “Boss” will also find support from his new sponsors at Rockstar Performance Garage, AEM Induction Systems, Street Standard, Vibrant Performance, Takata, Maximum Driftcast, Momo, Fueled Racing, Holley Performance Products, Turbo by Garrett, Nexen Tire, Mishimoto, R1 Concepts, Tial, Motegi Racing, KW Suspensions, Blackworks Racing, Aeromotive Fuel Systems, Wisefab, AutoMeter, Exedy Clutches, Mast Motorsports, K1, Pandem by Tra Kyoto and many more. Bridges Racing in Huntington Beach, CA will facilitate the final completion of the number ‘232’ Nissan 240SX S14, while adding a custom Mast Motorsports Black Label 427ci V8 motor with TWIN GTX3582 Turbo by Garrett turbos breathing 14psi; among many other mods. Continue reading Corey Hosford, Rockstar Performance Garage, AEM Induction Systems & more team up for a powerful return to Formula DRIFT Pro2

BlackVue Sponsors Formula Drift Driver Ken Gushi and GReddy Racing

News

Posted on

kengushi_sponsorshipannounc

Seoul, Korea – April 28, 2017 – As a new Formula Drift Pro Championship season just started, presenting sponsor BlackVue announces new sponsorship.

During its first year as presenting sponsor, the representatives of BlackVue, the dash cam brand designed and manufactured by Pittasoft in South Korea, had the chance to be introduced to great personalities from the drift scene. Chief among them was Ken Gushi, driver of the number 21 Toyota 86 for GReddy Racing. Continue reading BlackVue Sponsors Formula Drift Driver Ken Gushi and GReddy Racing

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 1 Orlando Results

News

Posted on

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 1 Orlando Results;
Hometown Hero Kevin Lawrence Takes the Victory

FD-PRO2-RD1-podium-600

FD-PRO2-RD1-winner-600

Long Beach, Calif. – April 28, 2017 – The Formula DRIFT PRO 2 season kicked off in Orlando Speed World. The hometown favorite, Kevin Lawrence in the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Hankook Tire Nissan 240 takes home the victory.

PRO 2 kicked off the season in sunny Orlando, Florida with the first of four competitions. The action packed event had many highlights throughout the day and showcased the talent of the rising stars of the sport.

“The level of talent within the PRO 2 rankings is quite impressive,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “What started as a stepping stone for many American drifters has now blossomed into an international field of drivers competing at a high level for their chance at a Pro license and the chance to drive against the best drifters in the world.”

The quarter-finals featured door to door action that was often too close to call. The competition between Brandon Schmidt and Kevin Lawrence had two “One more time,” battles with Lawrence eventually getting the call to move into the Finals. In the other half of the quarter-finals, Travis Reeder met Josh Robinson and in one of the most exciting moments of the day, Reeder while having a debeaded tire managed to maintain drift to move into the Finals, while Robinson secures the third place finish. In a close final battle, the Orlando native, Lawrence was able to edge out Reeder to get the victory and take the lead in the PRO 2 points standings.

“I couldn’t do this without the support of my team and partners including Enjuku Racing, Hankook Tire, BC Racing, Competition Clutch and Konig wheels and without these guys I wouldn’t be out here driving, ” said Kevin Lawrence, winner of PRO 2: Orlando. “To all my team that is just here throughout the day – changing tires and just sweating it out with me is all I can ask for.”

Formula DRIFT continues to Round 3: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta on May 12-13. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat – formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Formula DRIFT PRO 2: Orlando Results

1. Lawrence, Kevin Winner
2. Reeder, Travis 2nd Place
3. Robinson, Josh 3rd Place
4. Schmidt, Brandon 4th Place
5. Waters, Randall 5th Place
6. Goble, Brody 6th Place
7. Stratton, Dirk
7th Place
8. Szilveszter, Gyorgy 8th Place
9. Lizardi, Luis
9th Place
10. Beechum, Trenton
10th Place
11. Rowlings, Kelsey 11th Place
12. Kiriakopoulos, George
12th Place
13. Vankirk, Matt
13th Place
14. George, Danny 14th Place
15. Meeks, Austin
15th Place
16. Brockway, Donovan 15th Place