Category: Behind The Scenes

Behind the Scenes – Life of FD Staff

Uncharted Territory – Formula Drift Orlando 2017 By What Monsters Do

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The path towards the 2017 Formula Drift Pro Championship continued on the banks at Orlando Speed World (OSW) in Orlando, FL after a very interesting opening round in Long Beach. This is the 3rd year the series has run in Orlando where competition keeps getting more tense for the best runs against the wall; it keeps getting hotter too, even after this year was moved up to April. The differences between Long Beach and Orlando are stark, flat streets versus the high banked oval of OSW. An extremely rough and even bouncy transition section in the middle of the track continues to shake drivers up, lifting nearly all 4 tires off the ground in some situations as drivers try to gauge how much throttle to give and not thrash into the lead driver, all while trying to keep close proximity into the final turn.

The OSW layout continues to be somewhat basic even, but before you know it, OSW’s high banked wall will suck you in or the hard bank-to-track transition will wreck havoc on a driver’s car. There were many questions to be answered like how would James Deane fair on the very different Oval track? Would Alex Heilbrunn continue to show the leaps and bounds of growth that we’ve seen? OSW would prove to also be quite interesting and continue to shake up the Championship standings, still very early in the 2017 season.

Blue Supra at Formula Drift Orlando 2017
Pro qualifying gave us a look at who would later have the most success during competition with Dai Yoshihara (95), Fredric Aasbo (93), Ryan Tuerck (93), James Deane (92), and Michael Essa (91) rounding out the Top 5 qualifiers. Qualifying scores do not always tell the complete story of the day however with Vaughn Gittin Jr. qualifying all the way back in 22nd and later nearly taking it all the way, deep in Top 16 competition. But were Gittin Jr. and other teams just playing it safe all along? After qualifying, Round 2 had a whopping 5 bye-runs, which Formula Drift chose to not even make the drivers complete their normal 1-run dance. Definitely the first of a few fan-favored moves to ensure cars continue to move on to Top 16 without the risk of mechanical issues or a silly error during a non-tandem lap around OSW.

Alex Heilbrunn E46 FRS BRZ Orlando Formula Drift

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In The Moment: Feeling The Heat By Speedhunters

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I don’t think anyone expected that.

I also don’t think that anyone could disagree with the result either. Florida was the first real unknown for the Worthouse Drift Team, with neither driver having experience at the Orlando Speed World oval, or the heat on the peninsula at this time of the year.

For all the euphoria that was felt after FD Long Beach, the atmosphere was very different as the sun set this evening.

2017 Formula Drift Orlando In The Moment-2

Both cars were parked up after the Top 16, with James having been beaten fair and square by Jhonnattan Castro – who put in one of the all-time great chase runs, it has to be said – and Piotr being unable to return to the start line after making contact with the wall on his lead run against Dean Kearney.

2017 Formula Drift Orlando In The Moment-3

Strong disappointment and frustration were definitely the initial reactions, but they were soon replaced by calm and considered reflection.

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Formula DRIFT Round 2: Unchartered Territory Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 2: Unchartered Territory Results;

Fredric Aasbo is Victorious

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 29, 2017 – Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras returned to Orlando for Round 2: Unchartered Territory. Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM takes the victory and moves into the lead in the standings.

“This season is shaping up to be very entertaining and competitive one,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The standings were shaken up after the last round with only 55 points separating the Top 7 drivers.”

Round 2: Unchartered Territory at the Orlando Speed World was an action packed event from start to finish. An estimated 1 million viewers tuned into the Livestream and were treated to a highly competitive event.

The semi-finals became a battle of champions with four past champions competing for the top spot. 2011 Formula DRIFT champion and number one qualifier, Dai Yoshihara in the Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ faced off against 2013 champion, Michael Essa, in the Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3. In a very tight battle, Essa edged Yoshihara to advance to the finals. 2010 champion, Vaughn Gittin, in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR went up against 2015 champion, Fredric Aasbo. A very close and technical chase run by Aasbo sealed the win to advance into the finals. In the finals, Aasbo found his groove and managed to take advantage of a small mistake by Essa to secure the victory and move into the top of the 2017 Pro Championship standings.

“What an incredible win! We only built this car over the off season and to get this first win after only the second time out is amazing.” said Fredric Aasbo, winner of Round 2: Unchartered Territory. “Today it all came together especially in that Top 4 battle with Vaughn Gittin Jr. and that was my highlight of the day showing that I can chase really close and getting this first win in the Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM is huge.”

The action 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.

Round 2: Unchartered Territory Event Results

1. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

Winner

2. Essa, Michael

Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3

2nd Place

3. Yoshihara, Dai

Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ

3rd Place

4. Gittin, Vaughn

Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

4th Place

5. Tuerck, Ryan

Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86

5th Place

6. Kearney, Dean

Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper

6th Place

7. Castro, Jhonnattan

Gerdau Metaldom / Nexen Tire Toyota 86

7th Place

8. Hohnadell, Alec

Urban Air / Hoonigan / Nexen Tire Nissan 240

8th Place

9. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan Silvia

9th Place

10. Bluss, Kristaps

HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46

10th Place

11. Forsberg, Chris

NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z

11th Place

12. Hamilton, Nate

Team Enjuku / BC Racing / Hankook Tire Nissan 240

12th Place

13. Field, Matt

Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240

13th Place

14. Moore, Cameron

Nameless Performance / BN Sports / Nexen Tire Toyota 86

14th Place

15. Wiecek, Piotr

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan Silvia

15th Place

16. Mohan, Kyle

Built 2 Apex / Mazdatrix / KMR 2016 Mazda MX-5

16th Place

2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 2 Events

1. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

158.00 Points

2. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

142.00 Points

3. Tuerck, Ryan

Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86

122.00 Points

2017 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 2 Events

1. Toyota

280.00 Points

2. Ford

159.00 Points

3. BMW

119.00 Points

4. Dodge

103.00 Points

5. Nissan

87.00 Points

6. Mazda

34.00 Points

2017 Tire Championship Standings After 2 Events

1. Falken

281.00 Points

2. Nexen

260.00 Points

3. Achilles

222.00 Points

4. Hankook

209.00 Points

5. Nitto

208.00 Points

2017 USDrift PRO/AM Series Schedule

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One of the original members of the Formula DRIFT PRO/AM licensing series, USDrift, is about to kick off their season in the Mid-Atlantic region. This year’s four event schedule includes two oval tracks (Shenandoah Speedway and Kilkare Raceway) and two road courses (Summit Point Raceway and VIRginia International Raceway). Also notable, is the final event taking place in conjunction with Midwest Drift Union and Southeast Drift for a return to the days of the regional PRO/AM series meeting up and battling it out for bragging rights of who has the best drivers.

The season pass, which saves $200, ends this Saturday, April 15th at midnight. You can register online here or visit www.usdrift.com for more information.