Category: Behind the Wheel

Behind the Wheel – Life of FD Drivers / Teams

DRIFT ALLIANCE ACE BRIAN WILKERSON TO DRIVE BMI RACING 4-ROTOR RX-8 IN LONG BEACH

News

Posted on

TORRANCE, CA (April 4th, 2010)- BMI Racing is happy to announce that Drift Alliance Ace Brian Wilkerson will drive the BMI Racing 2009 Mazda RX-8 4-Rotor drift car at Formula Drift Round 1: Streets Of Long Beach on April 9-10th.

Brian Wilkerson has been a constant presence in the east coast grassroots drifting scene for years, competing in several amateur and semi-professional events since 2006 with impressive results. Brian has renewed his Formula Drift competition license for 2010 and is looking to punch a hole in the pro-drift circuit and show that he has what it takes to be a serious contender among the world’s best drifters in the top level American drift series.

BMI Racing is currently finishing up prep-work on their one of a kind 2009 Mazda RX-8 powered by a rare 4-Rotor engine. BMI Racing is the first performance shop to successfully install a 4-Rotor engine into an RX-8 chassis. Since the car’s completion it has been an internet sensation and has received over 80,000 video hits combined on YouTube.com and StreetFire.net as well as over 200,000 total impressions due to coverage on Autoblog.com and Mazda USA’s corporate website.

While both BMI Racing and Brian Wilkerson have years of experience in their respective specialties both parties are relatively (Brian competed in Round 2 in Atlanta in ’09) new to Formula Drift and expect tough challenges ahead. However, Brian and BMI Racing are also confident that together, they can make a strong impression at Long Beach.
For further information on BMI Racing and Brian Wilkerson you can visit http://www.bmiracing.net and www.brianwilkerson.com.
If you have any inquires on BMI Racing feel free to contact Andrew Beckford ([email protected])

ABOUT BMI RACING:
BMI Racing consists of Adam and Sarah Burgess a happily married couple that moved from Australia to the USA to pursue their shared passion for motorsport, and with over 25 years combined experience they have built extreme and diverse performance vehicles.
BMI Racing has successfully built the World’s only 2009 Mazda RX-8 4 Rotor, a naturally aspirated beast that has a unique engine sound that can only be compared to that of a Formula One car. The RX-8 4 rotor has been well received wherever it has been on display, including shows such as Seven Stock 12 held at Mazda Headquarters Irvine, the final round of Formula D at Irwindale, and the world largest automotive show – The SEMA show held in Las Vegas.

Gardella Racing’s Ryan Tuerck Signed to Red Bull Athlete Program

News

Posted on

Gardella Racing’s Ryan Tuerck has reached the pinnacle of sports sponsorship by signing as a Red Bull athlete for the 2010 Formula Drift season. Tuerck finished second in the overall Formula Drift standings in 2009.

Tuerck was introduced to the Red Bull family at a special gathering on March 20th at the grand opening of the Red Bull Arena, home to the New York Red Bulls soccer team. He met other Red Bull athletes including Super Bowl champion Reggie Bush, Olympic downhill skiing champion Lindsey Vonn and BMX biker Kevin Robinson.

“To be involved with the best energy drink and coolest brand in the world is something I never dreamed of happening,” said an excited Tuerck. “When Red Bull gets together it’s like a big family, and I am really excited to be a part of it.”

In addition to the Formula D series, Tuerck and Gardella Racing will receive additional exposure through various programs implemented by Red Bull, including a demo tour at military bases, colleges and festivals throughout the North East. A schedule of appearances is coming soon.

Gardella Racing has been associated with Red Bull for more than six years. The partnership began when team owner Gary Gardella was racing in NHRA and NOPI sport compact drag racing. Gardella captured a drag racing championship during this partnership.

Be sure to watch for Tuerck, Red Bull and Gardella Racing at the first round of the Formula Drift’s Streets of Long Beach competition in Long Beach, Calif. April 9-10. Tuerck is shooting for his second consecutive win in Long Beach.

Tony Brakohiapa Partners with Top Cover Racing for the 2010 Season

News

Posted on

Tony Brakohiapa Partners with Top Cover Racing For The 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship

Coming off his best season in 2009 as the highest placing privateer, Brakohiapa returns to Formula DRIFT with new partner, Top Cover Racing.

(Tuskegee Airmen WWII P51 “Red Tail Mustang & TCR Ford Mustang “Red Tail” Drift Car Concept)

Top Cover Racing (TCR) was launched in 2005 with the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen as its operational compass. The Tuskegee Airmen are the intrepid group of African-American U.S. Army Air Corps pilots and support personnel who distinguished themselves in World War II. Taking the name of the segregated base in Tuskegee, Alabama, where they trained, they were also known as the “Red Tails” for the distinctive paint scheme of their fighter aircraft. Compiling an exemplary record, they supported ground troops and escorted allied bombers and providing “top cover” on missions over North Africa and Europe. TCR includes direct descendents of the Airmen and the bomber crews they protected, with a number of original Tuskegee Airmen participating as mentors and advisors.

“We’re very happy to have Tony B. in the driver’s seat,” said Weyman Watson, Co-Founder of Top Cover Racing. “He’s a superbly talented and intelligent driver who’s also a fierce competitor.”

“I’m honored to be TCR’s driver and their link to the Formula DRIFT audience. TCR has a diverse motorsports background and brings a wealth of knowledge to this year’s campaign,” said Tony Brakohiapa, Formula DRIFT professional driver. “The Tuskegee Airmen have determination, experience, and wisdom that we can all learn from. They have an amazing story that needs to be told. I look forward to being their “Red Tail” ambassador in motorsports, and bringing home victories in their honor.”

TCR’s motorsports experience covers the American Le Mans (ALMS), Grand-Am, NHRA, Trans-Am and Indy Racing League (IRL) racing series. Following Formula DRIFT for the past few years, TCR recently decided that now is the right time to get in.

“We’ve been fans of Tony and Formula DRIFT since we first saw him compete several years ago,” said Junious Matthews, Co-founder of Top Cover Racing. “He’s an exciting competitor with an appeal that will allow us to engage the audience that we want to reach.”

Brakohiapa will return this season with a modified, supercharged Ford Mustang. It will feature special Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tail” livery to commemorate the P-51 Mustang fighter planes they flew in World War II.

Brakohiapa is pleased to introduce new sponsors for 2010 – Wilwood Brakes, and Sparco. He is happy to continue his relationships with Sam’s Autobody & Paint, Glazier Ironworks, Cooper Tires, Seibon, Eibach, Go Pro, Enkei, Exedy, Livernois Motorsports, Griggs Racing Toi Boy Productions, and Barn Style Performance.

Gardella Racing has joined forces with the automotive industry’s first true wholesale club, YoParts.com

News

Posted on

Gardella Racing has joined forces with the automotive industry’s first true wholesale club, YoParts.com.

In 2010, GR and YoParts.com will be joining forces on the quest for a Formula Drift championship. The partnership will have YoParts.com providing parts from their extensive warehouse and GR will provide name exposure on the Pontiac Solstice.

“All of us here at YoParts are stoked about being part of the big things that Gardella Racing will be up to in 2010,” said Tom Masiero of YoParts.com. “Our relationship with Gardella Racing goes back to our drag racing roots. We have seen what type of team and organization Gardella Racing is and we think they are on the brink of HUGE success in 2010. The ability for YoParts to provide some key parts for the Solstice and to give Ryan everything he needs to compete makes this relationship a great one!”

For GR this partnership means they will have greater and quicker access to parts for Ryan Tuerck and Steve Angerman to compete in 2010. Without this access the downtime waiting for parts would hinder the team in competing for the Formula drift championship.

“I am glad to have great partnerships like this, because companies like www.YoParts.com are very energetic and hungry,” team owner Gary Gardella said. “I have seen www.YoParts.com grow so much through the years and now it seems like everyone is a member. Be sure to check out the www.YoParts.com site and see how you can become a member so you can save on parts for your drift or drag cars.”

For the GR and Formula Drift fan that cannot make it to an event, Yoparts.com has announced that they have partnered with Formula Drift to provide the first ever comprehensive interactive live stream broadcast called DriftStream!. If you are too far from an event, too busy or just don’t have the money to pay for tickets, this means that you can watch the Formula Drift action where ever you are or whatever your excuse. To get more information on this cutting edge technology click here.

This is great news because with this live stream broadcast GR will have a camera in the pit area that will allow our fans to see the team work all weekend long. Watch for more information about this soon.

Make sure to come out and see YoParts.com and GR in Long Beach, Calif., April 9-10 for Round 1, The Streets of Long Beach, of the 2010 Formula Drift season.