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Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 21, 2013 – Formula DRIFT hosted the inaugural Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge during the 39th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Powers in the Fatlace / Nitto Tire Nissan S14 took the event victory.

The inaugural Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge brought motorsports action under the lights for the first time in 39 years during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Sixteen of the top Formula DRIFT drivers competed for a $25,000 prize purse.

“To have been able to bring professional drifting competition to the masses during the 39th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is remarkable,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “To do it for the first time under the lights of the famous Long Beach street course is something special.”

The action under the lights gave a new dynamic for the drivers with ever changing track temperatures along with the plumes of white smoke under the fluorescent lights proved to be challenging. Fredric Aasbo in the Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC in the Final 4 battle hit the outside of clipping zone 2 damaging his vehicle and failing to continue in the competition taking home fourth place. Walker Wilkerson in the Achilles Radial / Fueled Racing Nissan S14 automatically took the third spot with Aasbo out in the Top 4. Powers battled the number one qualifier Michael Essa in the GSR Autosport / Yokohama Tire BMW M3 in an exciting Finals match and edged out Essa to take home the inaugural victory.

“The final battle with Essa was super sick,” stated Matt Powers, winner of the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge. “I would have been happy with second place, but am stoked and looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The Formula DRIFT Pro Championship presented by GoPro continues at Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta on May 10-11, 2013.

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results

Winner – Matt Powers
2nd Place – Michael Essa
3rd Place – Walker Wilkerson
4th Place – Fredric Aasbo

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Qualifying Results

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Qualifying Drivers – Top 16

Driver: Car #: Speed Score:
1 M. Essa #101 101 51.4 91.9
2 M. Powers #665 665 50.4 90.9
3 R. Nishida #31 31 52.3 89.3
4 F. Wang #808 808 50.6 85.6
5 O. Bakchis #723 723 51.7 85.2
6 F. Aasbo #151 151 52.4 77.4
7 J. Jones #29 29 53.1 75.6
8 T. Yoshioka #104 104 56.1 75
9 R. Kado #614 614 51.2 67.7
10 J. Castro #717 717 51.9 65.4
11 P. Mordaunt #90 90 50 58.5
12 W. Wilkerson #95 95 49.9 52.4
13 C. DeNofa #88 88 0 0
14 D. Saito #1 1 0 0
15 K. Mohan #99 99 0 0
16 P. Goodin #46 46 0 0

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Kicked Off the Tenth Season of Formula DRIFT Presented by GoPro to a Sold Out Crowd

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Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Kicked Off the Tenth Season of Formula DRIFT Presented by GoPro to a Sold Out Crowd;
Daijiro Yoshihara Takes the Victory and Leads the Championship Points Chase

Long Beach, Calif. – April 13, 2013 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro begins the tenth season of competition with Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. Daijiro Yoshihara in the America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 takes the victory and leads the championship points chase.

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach started off the tenth season of Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro to a sell out crowd. Fans were treated to a vendor village, Slammed Society car show, a display of vehicles from the Targa Trophy and a skateboard demo from the Action Sports Kids Foundation of Long Beach.

“To start our ten year anniversary season in front of a sell out crowd sets a great tone for the season to come,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “We owe it all to our drivers, sponsors and the fans for helping to make the Series what it is today. We look forward to another exciting season.”

Experience became the deciding factor with all three spots on the podium being found by ten-year veterans who also are past champions of the Series. The 2009 Champion Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z was too much for Chelsea DeNofa and earned third place. The final battle pitted 2010 Formula DRIFT champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang against the 2011 champion Daijiro Yoshihara who also was the number one qualifier. On their first run Gittin made a small mistake at the hairpin giving Yoshihara the edge. A consistent second run by Yoshihara secured his victory giving him the first victory of the season.

“This was my first time to win in Long Beach. I’ve been on the podium a few times, but winning here was one of my goals and I was able to achieve that today, “said Daijiro Yoshihara, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. “I also qualified first so this was the best way to start off the season, but it is still a long way to another Championship. I hope to win another Championship this season.” Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro continues at Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta on May 10-11, 2013.

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship Presented by GoPro 2013 Standings After One Event
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 112 Points
2. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang 92 Points
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z 79 Points
4. DeNofa, Chelsea BC Racing BMW 3 Series 75 Points
5. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 64 Points
6. Tuerck, Ryan Team Retaks Scion FR-S 64 Points
7. Gushi, Ken Greddy / Hankook Scion FR-S 62 Points
8. Essa, Michael GSR Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 62 Points
9. Moen, Kenneth Nexen Tire Nissan 240SX 58 Points
10. Saito, Daigo Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 57 Points
11. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 56 Points
12. Bakchis, Aurimas Nexen Tire Nissan S14 56 Points
13. Kado, Ryan DNA Motoring / Nexen Tire Nissan 350Z 55 Points
14. Powers, Matt Nitto Tire / Fatlace Nissan S14 55 Points
15. Mordaunt, Patrick Apexi / PM Racing / Diamond Lexus SC430 54.50 Points
16. Pawlak, Justin Falken Tire Ford Mustang 54.50 Points

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 Winner
2. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Ford Mustang Second Place
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z Third Place

Manufacturers Championship Standings After One Event
1. Ford 146.5 Points
2. Nissan 137 Points
2. BMW 137 Points
4. Scion 126 Points
5. Lexus 111 Points

Tire Championship Standings After One Event
1. Falken 176 Points
2. Nitto 167 Points
3. Hankook 141 Points
4. Yokohama 116.5 Points

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach – Ticket Update

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Formula DRIFT fans,

As a courtesy to those that have not purchased tickets to this weekend’s event, please be advised that less than 500 unreserved grandstand seats remain available for the event. If you are planning on attending the event and would like to have a seat, please purchase your tickets as soon as possible. Once those tickets are sold out, there will be no more seats available, HOWEVER Formula DRIFT has received approval from the city of Long Beach to sell a limited quantity of general admission tickets with access to the entire event and a grass standing and seating area on the marina green side of the venue, next to grandstands 24, 25 and 26. You may bring your own folding chairs for this area. These tickets will go on-sale immediately following the last ticket sold for the grandstands. These tickets will be available online and the Long Beach Convention Center box office.

If you have any questions you may call our office or email us at [email protected]. Also, this link may help you navigate more efficiently as you enter downtown Long Beach. It has parking locations and points of interest.

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