Category: FD News

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

Formula Drift Star Tyler McQuarrie set to debut in World Challenge at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

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April 12, 2010 (Newport Beach, Calif.) – Formula Drift star Tyler McQuarrie is already familiar with three of the turns on the eleven-turn temporary road course of downtown Long Beach, but next weekend he’ll have to figure out eight more as he makes in debut in the World Challenge series, part of the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 16-18.

In so doing, McQuarrie will become the first driver to compete in both the Formula Drift Pro Championship’s Streets of Long Beach event – which utilizes turns nine, ten, and eleven of the TGPLB circuit – as well as a professionally sanctioned road race at the TGPLB in the same year. While other Formula Drift drivers have competed in the weekend’s Pro/Celebrity race, none have ever contested the Formula Drift round as well as a professionally sanctioned road race at the Grand Prix.

McQuarrie, from Walnut Creek, Calif., will contest in the GTS class in a Lotus Exige Cup that is supported by LPL Motorsports, Dynamic Racing Solutions, SwitchCars.com, and the Lotus Challenge Series. LPL Motorsports will provide trackside support and technical assistance throughout the weekend.

Although he is now best-known as one of the top wheelmen in Formula Drift, McQuarrie’s driving resume includes time spent in England racing Formula Vauxhall, FF2000, USTCC, American Le Mans, several runs in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill – in which he won his class in 2009 – and a championship in Redline Time Attack.

As part of the Falken Tires team in Formula Drift, McQuarrie finished third in the 2009 championship and is considered a favorite for the 2010 championship, as well of one of the sports’ most recognizable personalities.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have the chance to compete in the World Challenge race in Long Beach,” said McQuarrie. “After being away from professional road racing for some time, I am thrilled to get behind the wheel of the Exige in Long Beach. The Long Beach Grand Prix is simply one of the best races in North America, and one that every driver wants to compete in. After how exciting the Formula Drift opener was in Long Beach last weekend, I can’t wait to see how exciting the Grand Prix weekend will be.”

For more information about Tyler McQuarrie, visit www.tylermcquarrie.com. Fans can receive updates throughout the race weekend at twitter.com/tylermcquarrie (@tylermcquarrie).

The World Challenge race will start at 4:45pm PST on Sunday, April 18 and will air on VERSUS May 1, 2010, from 4:30pm-6:00pm.

Formula DRIFT 2010 Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Results

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Formula DRIFT 2010 Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Results;
Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes the Victory and the Lead in the Championship Standings

Long Beach, Calif. – April 10, 2010 – Formula DRIFT returned to the Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course to kick off its seventh season. Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes the Round 1: Streets of Long Beach victory and the early lead in the Pro Championship Standings.

The Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course hosted the first competition of the 2010 season of Formula DRIFT. The venue was packed with reserved seating selling out before the main event opened the doors and the crowds filled the grandstands, pits, and paddock. The event also provided plenty of additional features and attractions that included the debut of the new Miss Formula DRIFT, Melyssa Grace, the One of One Car Show produced by Fatlace, and MetroPCS / Sanctioned brought out celebrity guest and world famous tattoo artist Mister Cartoon. The thousands of fans were treated to world class drifting with over 13 countries represented in the competition.

“Currently there is no true world series of drifting, but today’s event was as close as you can get,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “With drivers from 13 nations and 12 current and former drifting champions, Formula DRIFT continues to grow drifting globally with the most diverse field of competitors than any other drifting series in the world.”

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach started the 2010 season off in exciting fashion with the debut of new drivers, sponsors, and vehicles to the series joining all of the returning teams. 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust piloting the Rockstar Energy Scion TC met rookie Fredric Aasbo in the Japan Auto / FSR Toyota Supra in the consolation round for third place. Foust outmatched the rookie and secured his third place finish. The finals came down to veteran drifters Rhys Millen in the RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Vaughn Gittin in the Monster Energy / Falken 2011 Ford Mustang. Gittin secured the victory with aggressive driving of his brand new vehicle to earn the victory and the early lead in the Pro Championship Standings.

“What an insane event!,” said Vaughn Gittin, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. “Big thanks to Falken for providing incredible tires, Ford for the new car and engine, and my team at ASD for putting together a competitive vehicle despite being brand new. This is unbelievable.”

For the first time a Live Stream provided by YoParts.com was made available to all fans that could not be at the event in person and gave them the ability to catch a glimpse of all the live action.

“This is the first event to launch the live stream and it was very succesful,” said Tom Masiero, founder of YoParts.com. “Over the 2-days the live stream was active we had over 29,000 unique viewers. This does not even include the viewers on mobile applications, which we do not have the statistics for yet. We look forward to bringing all the 2010 Formula DRIFT live action to households across the globe.”

The action continues on May 7-8 for Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta. Tickets are available on-line. For more information and details visit the Formula DRIFT website at: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2010 Point Standings

1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 108 Points
2. Millen, Rhys RMR / Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe 100 Points
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 82 Points
4. Aasbo, Fredric Japan Auto / FSR Toyota Supra 72 Points
5. Tuerck, Ryan Mobil 1 / Maxxis Tire / Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice 65 Points
6. Hubinette, Samuel SHR-Dodge / BF Goodrich Dodge Challenger 64 Points
7. Mordaunt, Patrick Brian Crower / PM Racing Nissan 350Z 62 Points
8. Deane, James Falken Tire Nissan S15 61.50 Points
9. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Saturn Sky 60 Points
10. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / CFR Nissan 350Z 56 Points
11. Miki, Ryuji APEXi / Hankook Tire Mazda RX-7 56 Points
12. Yoshihara, Daijiro America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 56 Points
13. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire / Sam’s Autoboy Ford Mustang 54.50 Points
14. Verdier, Stephan Royal Purple / Crawford Performace / Cooper / Subaru STI 54.50 Points
15. Wang, Forrest BF Goodrich / K&N Infiniti G35 54.50 Points
16. Takatori, Michihiro BF Goodrich / Exedy Nissan S15 54.25 Points

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results

1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 1st Place
2. Millen, Rhys RMR / Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2nd Place
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 3rd Place

Nitto Tire Announces Formula D Team Sponsorships

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NITTO TIRE ANNOUNCES FORMULA DRIFT TEAM SPONSORSHIPS

Cypress, Calif., April 8, 2010 – Nitto Tire proudly announces four team sponsorships for the 2010 Formula Drift racing series. Joon Maeng of Bergenholtz Racing will campaign a Mazda RX-8; Michael Essa will campaign a brand-new BMW 350R; grassroots racer, Matt Powers, will campaign a Nissan S14, and Alex Pfeiffer of Tanaka Racing will campaign a C5 Corvette. All four teams will use Nitto’s NT05, a max-performance street tire.

Nitto plans to extend its racing heritage by partnering with talented teams. Joon Maeng, who is supported by Bergenholtz Racing and Full Tilt Poker, is relatively new to Formula Drift. Nonetheless, in his 2009 rookie season he finished an impressive 17th place overall. For 2010 he will campaign the Bergenholtz Racing/Full Tilt Poker/Nitto Tire Mazda RX-8. Its tri-rotor 20B engine, built by Mazdatrix, was fully ported and powered by a custom-matched turbocharger to produce 600 hp at the wheels with a rotary engine scream. Maeng stated, “In drifting it is crucial to have tires that can handle harsh driving conditions. The NT05s provide plenty of traction and predictability.”

Michael Essa will debut a brand-new BMW this season. Under the hood Essa shoehorned a more powerful M5 V10 powerplant built specifically for drifting in place of the stock in-line six motor. Essa is the first driver to campaign an E92 BMW in the series. To accommodate the switch, GSR Autosport rerouted piping and parts throughout the engine bay. His career highlights include being a drift instructor, race car fabricator and professional drift driver. “The Nitto NT05 is a great tire; it’s incredibly consistent and has tons of grip,” said Essa. “They give me the confidence to drive the car at the limit, sideways, next to walls.”

Matt Powers is a longtime grassroots racer who made his way into the professional arena in 2009. In the four events in which he competed in his rookie year, he finished three of them in the top 32. During the series break, he teamed up with Team Need for Speed added some serious power upgrades to his Nissan S14. All of this newfound power will be transferred to the pavement via Nitto’s NT05 max-performance tire. Powers said, “I love the insane smoke and awesome grip of the NT05. My car is an animal and it feeds on NT05s.”

Last but not least, Alex Pfeiffer teamed up with Tanaka Racing for the 2010 season. His career includes stints in the SCCA road race series, and 2-1/2 years as a Formula Drift judge before he returned to the driver’s seat in 2009, piloting a Lexus SC300. This year he will campaign a completely different vehicle, the 800-hp C5 Corvette. This is the only Corvette running in the series this season to date.

All four teams will use Nitto’s NT05 max-performance radial. The NT05 was created using advanced computer simulation and extensive on-track testing. The result is a tire that provides precise and responsive handling and performance, which are needed for the grueling demands of drifting. See Nitto, the NT05 and all four sponsored teams in action at the 2010 season opener held in Long Beach, Calif., on April 9-10.

Nitto Tire develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company’s web site or contact the company directly. Nitto and Fueled by Enthusiasts are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nitto Tire U.S.A., Inc., located at 6021 Katella Ave., Ste 250, Cypress, CA 90630.

BFGoodrich Tires Announces 2010 Formula DRIFT Lineup

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BFGoodrich® Tires Announces 2010 Formula Drift Lineup

* Samuel Hübinette Racing and Team Drift Emporium choose BFGoodrich
g-Force(tm) T/A®KDW tires for 2010 Formula Drift season

GREENVILLE, S.C. – April 8, 2010 – BFGoodrich Tires is proud to announce its 2010
Formula Drift series lineup, featuring two of the top teams on BFGoodrich
g-Force T/AKDW tires – Samuel Hübinette Racing and Team Drift Emporium. This season
marks seven years that BFGoodrich Tires has supported Formula D, known as “the”
series for drifting in the United States.

Two-time Formula D champion Samuel “The Crazy Swede” Hübinette is coming off an
impressive fourth place finish in 2009, with plans to take his new Dodge Challenger
to the top in 2010. The Challenger’s Mopar engine pushes out in excess of 865
horsepower and promises to be a crowd favorite. Hübinette recently formed his own
racing operation, Samuel Hübinette Racing, and added veteran rally driver and
Formula D newcomer Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard to the team. Comrie-Picard will take
the wheel of the famed Dodge Viper SRT10 that Hübinette piloted to a Formula D
championship in 2005 and 2006. Both vehicles will sport BFGoodrich g-Force T/AKDW
tires during all seven rounds of Formula D action.

“Our new team, with the addition of the Challenger and ACP, has a lot of potential
this year and we’re excited to finally get this season started,” said Hübinette.
“We feel confident that our BFGoodrich tires will lead us to the podium as they did
in 2006, 2007 2008 and 2009.”

“If you thought watching the Viper scream around each turn for the last couple years
was exciting, wait until the Challenger joins in on the action,” said Roberts
Kukainis, motorsports manager, BFGoodrich Tires. “The BFGoodrich g-Force T/AKDW
tire has proved that is has what it takes to come in hot at the entry point and hug
each and every turn that these tricky Formula D courses offer. The BFGoodrich
g-ForceKDW tire is a great bolt-on performance fit for Hubinette’s 865hp Dodge
Challenger muscle car and we’re excited to be part of what promises to be a great
season.”

Team Drift Emporium has put together yet another impressive team that includes 2008
Formula D “Rookie of the Year” Michihiro Takatori, Formula D rookie Forrest Wang,
drifting veteran Jodin LeJeune and experienced motorsports pro Ron Ewerth. Each of
the team’s four vehicles will be wrapped with BFGoodrich g-Force T/AKDW tires.

Michihiro Takatori will be back behind the wheel of his Nissan Silvia S15 and has an
extensive international drifting resume making him a top contender in 2010.
Takatori was Formula D’s 2008 “Rookie of the Year,” he placed second in the 2008
Triple Crown and has had a number of great eight and top four finishers.

Forrest Wang will be making his Formula D debut in 2010. He will be piloting Drift
Emporium’s hot Lexus SC430. With top finishes in D1GP and numerous wins along the
west coast, Wang is far from a rookie and looks to make a name for himself in the
Formula Drift Championship series.

With extensive drifting experience, Jodin LeJeune has competed for more than two
years in the NOPI Drift Series. His high entry speed consistently places him at the
top of the qualifying charts. In 2010, LeJeune will pilot his blue Nissan
Motorsports-sponsored Stillen supercharged Titan V8-powered Infiniti G35 Coupe.

Ron Ewerth has been involved in professional motorsports for more than 25 years and
has competed in the NOPI Drift Series for the past two years. Ewerth will pilot his
orange Nissan Motorsports-sponsored Stillen supercharged Titan V8-powered Infiniti
G35 Coupe in 2010.

“The Drift Emporium team always puts on a good show and they have a great chance to
really make some noise this year with the return of Takatori, LeJeune and Ewerth and
the addition of Wang,” added Kukainis. “BFGoodrich is proud to partner with them
again in 2010.”

BFGoodrich Tires’ g-Force T/AKDW tire is the ultimate go-to ultra high-performance
tire. With more than 80 sizes to fit 15 to 24 inch wheels, the BFGoodrich g-Force
T/AKDW covers more car, truck and SUV fitments than any other Ultra-High Performance
(UHP) tire line. The BFGoodrich g-Force T/A®KDW tire features the highest level of
balanced wet or dry performance in the industry, providing stability in rain or
shine, using a double compound silica reinforced tread and unidirectional tread
design.

Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 35 years, BFGoodrich® Tires is
involved in every type of racing, including oval, sports car, drifting, drag,
desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combine
technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a
high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires online at
www.BFGoodrichTires.com. In 2009, BFGoodrich Tires
developed a gathering place for auto enthusiasts to celebrate the thrill of GO
through an online community, Nation of GO, where people with a passion for driving
can celebrate and share what they love to do best at
www.NationofGo.com.