Category: FD News

Formula DRIFT News Update

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Formula DRIFT Memorandum

Date: August 22, 2009
Re: Decision regarding tandem match-up between Chris Forsberg and Calvin Wan

Due to various external communications based on poor information from unqualified sources, Formula Drift has issued the following clarification ruling regarding the Round of 32 match-up between Chris Forsberg and Calvin Wan.

– On the first run of the head to head match-up contact was made between Chris Forsberg and Calvin Wan. Calvin Wan, who was chasing, was deemed at fault for the contact. Subsequently Chris Forsberg’s car was damaged. Specifically a lower control arm was broken.
– Chris Forsberg Racing enacted the 5 Minute Rule via their spotter; legally per the guidelines of the Formula Drift rulebook.
– The 5 Minutes expired and Chris Forsberg Racing brought the vehicle back to the line to run the second run of the head to head match-up.
– The judges’ decision was One More Time.
– Chris Forsberg Racing asked for a second 5 Minute and was denied by the Chief Steward
– The match continued and Calvin Wan was deemed the victor.
– 8 minutes past the expiration of the Head-to-Head battle Chris Forsberg Racing filed a legal protest deeming that they were unjustly refused additional time to fix their vehicle according Appendix E/”5 Minute Time Out” of the 2009 Formula DRIFT Rulebook. Chris Forsberg Racing stated that there is no provision that would NOT allow additional time if the team requests and that the Chief Steward can allow for additional time to fix the vehicle if deemed warranted.
– The protest by Chris Forsberg Racing was deemed legal and valid and that additional time should have been allowed which would have easily repaired the minor issue with the car
– The Chief Steward ruled to run the One More Time battle between Chris Forsberg and Calvin Wan.

Formula DRIFT understands that this is a rare and isolated incident and in no way sets precedent for “Re-runs”. This is an example of a team properly using the protest provision on a non-subjective call and finding error in a specific ruling by a Formula DRIFT official.
Any questions and comments, can be addressed to Randy Hembrey, Jim Liaw, or Ryan Sage. Contacts are listed on the Formula DRIFT website.

Fatlace x FD “Cone Killers 2” Event and T-shirt Release

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Once again Formula DRIFT and Fatlace have teamed-up for their second “Cone Killers” event at the Fatlace store in San Francisco. The event will feature the release of a limited edition Fatlace x FD shirt, driver meet and greet, Miss FD, and one winner will get a chance for a Formula DRIFT ride along!

Then join us for the after-event at O Izakaya Lounge from 9PM – 12AM.

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Available exclusively at the Fatlace Store and Fatlace Booth during Round 6: Locked and Loaded. Fatlace takes it back to the roots of drifting with the release of the “”Support Your Local Drifter” t-shirt available in both black and white.

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Available exclusively on the Formula DRIFT online store and at events only is the official “Locked and Loaded” Formula DRIFT x Fatlace collaboration.

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Formula DRIFT Round 5: Breaking Point Results

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For Immediate Release

August 10, 2009

Formula DRIFT Round 5: Breaking Point Results;
Chris Forsberg Takes the Victory and Maintains the Championship Points Lead

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Long Beach, Calif. – August 10, 2009 – Formula DRIFT returned to Evergreen Speedway for Round 5: Breaking Point in Monroe, WA. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Maxxis Tires Nissan 350Z takes the victory and maintains the lead in the Formula DRIFT Championship Points race. Forsberg also maintains the lead for the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize.

“What an unbelievable finish to a great weekend,” said Chris Forsberg, winner of Round 5: Breaking Point and Formula DRIFT Championship Points leader. “We were leading the points chase for the series and the Tires.com Triple Crown and just wanted a strong finish. We could not have asked for a better turnout this weekend.”

The 2-day weekend event treated the fans to both Formula DRIFT Championship action and a Pro Am competition. The drivers came prepared for any weather conditions at Evergreen Speedway as this venue hosted the first rain event in Formula DRIFT history last season, but the event remained dry all weekend with cool weather. With only 3 events remaining in the season the pressure was on for the drivers to make their mark and didn’t fail to disappoint the excited crowd.

Vaughn Gittin in the Falken Tires Ford Racing Mustang GT and Eric O’Sullivan in the Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX put on an exciting match, which had O’Sullivan moving on to the Finals, but would fail to run due to damage from the previous round giving Forsberg the victory. Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tires Nissan 350Z and Gittin fought for 3rd place and after an intense battle McQuarrie would come out on top of his Falken Tires teammate. Entering the event with the points lead, Chris Forsberg was a marked man and battled through the tough competition meeting McQuarrie in semi-finals and proved to be one of the most entertaining match-ups of the evening with both drivers putting it all on the line with their fast entry and great angle along the banking of the course. Forsberg got the best of McQuarrie in the battle of the 350Z and took home his second victory of the season, which also was the 2nd event of the Tires.com Triple Crown in which he also won the 1st event at Road Atlanta.

“It’s hard to describe the Seattle event in words. I can only say that with all the excitement and drama that unfolds on track its hard to imagine the story we are seeing could even come out of Hollywood,” said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The championship is on and there are more than a few drivers that can still take the championship going into Round 6: Locked and Loaded at Infineon Raceway.”

Formula DRIFT returns to Infineon Raceway for Round 6: Locked and Loaded later this month on August 21-22. This is a special event with Formula DRIFT joining the IndyCar weekend. The best drifters in the world will share the track with the best drivers in the world including Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, and Scott Dixon. Ticket packages are available now.


Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 410 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 363 Points
3. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 347 Points
4. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 338 Points
5. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 336.50 Points
6. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 316 Points
7. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 314 Points
8. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 303.50 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 298 Points
10. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 282 Points
11. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 280.75 Points
12. Maeng, Joon Maxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 275.75 Points
13. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 273 Points
14. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 268.25 Points
15. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 263 Points
16. Yoshihara, Daijiro Falken Tire / Discount Tire Lexus IS350 260 Points

Round 5: Breaking Point Event Results
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z
2. Eric O’Sullivan Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX
3. Tyler McQuarrie Falken Tires Nissan 350Z

Tires.com Triple Crown Point Standings after 2 of 3 events
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 205 Points
2. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 150 Points
3. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 149 Points

Formula DRIFT RD 5: Breaking Point – Qualifying Results

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Qualifying just finished – instead of a top 32 we will have top 30, since some drivers didn’t make it to Evergreen Speedway and some cars broke down.

Qualifying Drivers – Top 30
Driver: Car #: Score:
1 R. Tuerck 44 80.3
2 R. Petty 808 79.3
3 S. Hubinette 77 77.7
4 J. Pawlak 13 77.3
5 D. Yoshihara 9 74.6
6 T. McQuarrie 17 74.6
7 C. Forsberg 64 73
8 T. Foust 1 73
9 V. Gittin 25 71.4
10 D. McNamara 8 70.8
11 T. Aono 86 70.8
12 T. Brakohiapa 18 69
13 E. O’Sullivan 35 68.1
14 K. Gushi 5 67.9
15 S. Verdier 12 67.4
16 R. Nishida 31 67.1
17 J. Maeng 51 66.8
18 M. Takatori 23 63.6
19 R. Millen 6 63.5
20 K. Yamanaka 7 59.4
21 K. Mohan 99 58.7
22 Y. Kondo 52 57.4
23 M. Essa 101 55.6
24 A. Pfeiffer 88 53.5
25 T. Suell 777 50.9
26 C. Wan 3 50.6
27 R. Ewerth 27 43
28 R. Miki 26 42
29 J. LeJeune 333 34
30 P. Mordaunt 90 20

Ryan Tuerck – Round 5 – #1 Qualifier
Ryan Tuerck

Rhys MillenKen Gushi
Ryuji MikiJoon Maeng

Justin Pawlak getting super sideways while riding the bank

Justin Pawlak

Darren McNamara cars is running very well – can he pull himself back to the #1 spot?

Darren McNamara

stay tuned for more updates

j.martinez

Great SEMA News Article on Formula DRIFT

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Despite Economy, Businesses Still Spending in Motorsports
by Dan Frio

It may be the worst economy seen in several generations, but companies are still spending money marketing their brands in motorsports. It’s an idea that might give most CEOs insomnia. Slashing marketing budgets in downturns is custom. But to then spend those fewer dollars in motorsports sponsorships, never a cheap arena to begin with?

Foolhardy.

Not so, say some marketers. For companies that can stomach the risk, downturns provide an opportunity to capture market share at the expense of cautious rivals.

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“Motorsports is a very important avenue for us,” says Nick Fousekis, Falken Tire Senior Manager Consumer Marketing. “It’s another opportunity to get in front of people that already know, or may not know, our brand. They can see that we’re not just a tire manufacturer peddling black, round objects. We’re out there. We’re active.”

As 2009 opened, the motorsports headlines were not encouraging.

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