Formula DRIFT Invades Hollywood Recap

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Last night the IZOD Indycar Series invited Formula DRIFT to participate in the “Race to the Party” event in Hollywood. Hollywood Blvd was shut down in front of Mann’s Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre and thousands of fans gathered to watch Formula DRIFT vehicles do a demonstration, Indycar pit stop challenge, and a special performance by Camp Freddy.

The fans were blown away by the drifting action of drivers Joon Maeng – Full Tilt Poker / Nitto Tires Mazda RX-8, Justin Pawlak – Falken Mazda RX-7, Michael Essa – Nitto Tires BMW 335i, Mike Whiddett – Need for Speed Mazda RX-8, and Samuel Hubinette – SHR Dodge Challenger.

Tuerck Doesn’t Win the Birthday Prize, But Does Finish Fifth in Long Beach

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~Debut of Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice promises many good things to come~

HOWELL, NJ(April 15, 2010) – On his 26th birthday Ryan Tuerck was hoping to earn the best birthday present, a win, while competing at Formula Drift’s Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on Saturday. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but he did leave with a fifth place finish as he debuted the Gardella Racing Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice.

Tuerck nearly took out the eventual event winner Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Great Eight round. He had a nearly flawless first run while being the chase car where he mirrored every move of Gittin Jr.’s and almost outdid him with what everyone
thought was perfection. In the second run against Gittin, Tuerck knew that he just needed a good run to move on to the Final Four. He came around the first turn smoothly, but as he was moving the car into position for the first clipping point he kissed the wall with the right rear Maxxis tire. While the damage to the car was minimal, the damage in the judges’ eyes was overwhelming. The team thought they would earn a ruling of “One More Round,” but it was unanimous for Gittin Jr.

“It was great out there this weekend,” said Tuerck. “I was feeling so good on that first run. I went up in the bar too high and knew that the line was close (to the wall), but I didn’t think it was that close.”

Tuerck’s run to the Great Eight was quite simple.

To start the weekend he qualified sixth. It wasn’t the position he hoped for, but there were some issues with the transmission that the Gardella Racing team had to overcome. Plus, for whatever reason Tuerck always has a way of holding back on qualifying day.

The Round of 32 was simple enough for Tuerck. His opponent, Jeff Abbott spun out as Tuerck was the following car. He professionally continued the run smoothly. On the second run, Abbott was right on Tuerck’s tail but it was too little too late, and Tuerck continued on.

Ryugi Mikki was Tuerck’s next victim in the Round of 16. With Tuerck leading in the first run Miki followed closely, but Tuerck ran a beautiful line around the course. On the second run Tuerck was the follower. He had a little too much of
a gap which he closed as Mikki had problems towards the end of the run. The judges ruled that it should be decided with ruling of “One More Run.” On the third run Tuerck was the leader and Mkki hit the wall coming into the infamous exclamation turn in at the end of the Long Beach course. That sealed his fate. Tuerck chased Miki in the fourth run and held on to advance to face Gittin in Great 8.

While he didn’t get the win, Tuerck did leave Long Beach enroute to Round 2: Road to Championship at Road Atlanta in fifth place in the Formula Drift driver standings.

“We are going to work hard getting ready for Road Atlanta,” Tuerck said. “I love that course. It is my favorite track. I have finished third there the past two years.”

This was the initial appearance of Mobil 1 as title sponsor on the Solstice. Mobil 1 had a tremendous presence at the race. They were passing out many fine freebies to fans. The overwhelming favorite was giant Mobil 1 foam fingers. Fans everywhere were wearing them. And they came in handy when the fans wanted to let the Formula Drift judges that they wanted the drivers to run “One More Time!”

Stay tuned for upcoming information as Tuerck, Gardella Racing and the Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice prepare to go to Road Atlanta, May 7-8.

This Saturday, April 18th the team will be headed to New Jersey Motorsports Park with their road race Solstice to run some licensing laps with the NASA series. Tuerck will be looking to get his competition license to compete as Gardella Racing is looking to get more involved with road racing in the SCCA and possibly in the Grand Am series this season.

Race to the Party – Formula DRIFT Demo on Hollywood Blvd

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The IZOD IndyCar Series is celebrating racing, fashion and music during this FREE event:

Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. PST
Hollywood & Highland Central Courtyard

· IZOD IndyCar Pit Stop Challenge (12:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) – Witness the speed and agility of an IZOD IndyCar Series pit stop challenge, learn how races are won and lost in the pits during this live demonstration

· Formula DRIFT Show (6:00 p.m.) – Watch as Formula DRIFT drivers compete down the world famous Hollywood Boulevard

o List of Drivers (tentatively):

· Samuel Hubinette | 2010 Dodge Challenger

· Mad Mike Whiddett | 2003 Mazda RX8

· Joon Maeng | 2003 Mazda RX8

· Justin Pawlak | 1989 Mazda RX7

· Michael Essa | 2008 BMW 350R

· IZOD IndyCar Driver Autograph Session (7:30 p.m.) – Meet the stars behind the cars of the fastest race in the world

· Hollywood Blvd Concert

o Rival Sons (7:30 p.m.) – Los Angeles based four-piece rock band that’s sweeping the nation with their soulful rock performances

o Camp Freddy (8:30 p.m.) – The greatest rock stars playing the greatest rock songs featuring Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), Billy Morrison (The Cult), Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver), Donovan Leitch (son of legendary folk singer Donovan), and Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morissette)

· Life-size Hot Wheels cars – (All day) Guests can get their pictures with life sized Hot Wheels cars and the IZOD IndyCar 2-seater, experience the fan zone featuring vintage cars throughout the decades, and much more

Art of Formula D: A 2009 Season Retrospective Event Summary

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Art of Formula D: A 2009 Season Retrospective

The ID Agency and Formula DRIFT present the Art of Formula D: A 2009 Season Retrospective. Sponsored by NOS Energy Drink, Alpinestars, Seibon Carbon, Izod IndyCar Series, Belle-1 Communications, and OC Weekly and held at the Phantom Galleries LA at the Pacifica Building in Downtown Long Beach.

Entering the seventh season of competition the Formula DRIFT series has grown to become the most recognizable drifting series in the world. Drifting calls for drivers to control high-horsepower vehicles through tight turns and often inches away from the wall and other drivers. This gallery represents the bond between man and machine and the sheer beauty that is drifting.

In 2009, Chris Forsberg became the first driver in the history of Formula DRIFT to win both the championship and the Tires.com Triple Crown. Witness and re-live his journey round by round though the eyes of Formula DRIFT staff photographer, Jose Martinez, SpeedHunters.com’s Linhbergh Nguyen, and LA’s own infamous Estevan Oriol.

The gallery features a photographical round by round account of the 2009 season and a champion’s wall featuring NOS Energy Drink / Seibon / Alpinestars driver Chris Forsberg and his Nissan 350Z Roadster. A never before seen video by Will Roegge highlighting the 2009 season was premiered. Alpinestars has displayed a collection of rare race suits including Formula DRIFT champion Chris Forsberg, IndyCar’s Danica Patrick, and Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher. Seibon will display a championship hood and memorabilia from Chris Forsberg Racing.

The gallery will be up through the month of April and open for viewing during select hours during this weekend’s Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.