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Formula DRIFT Announces 2015 World Championship Details; $300,000 Prize Purse Up for Grabs

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For Immediate Release

November 4, 2014

Formula DRIFT Announces 2015 World Championship Details;
$300,000 Prize Purse Up for Grabs

Long Beach, Calif. – November 4, 2014 – Formula DRIFT has announced the 2015 World Championship schedule. Ten rounds of competition will consist of seven US Pro Championship rounds and three International rounds of competition beginning in March. In addition, drivers will now be competing for a total prize purse of up to $300,000 that will include the championship earnings, per round earnings, and new $100,000 Triple Crown bonus.

Entering its twelfth year of competition, Formula DRIFT will be the first professional drifting series to hold a true world championship. The world championship will consist of seven Pro Championship rounds in the United States and three international rounds of competition. Japan, Canada, and China will host the international events. All ten competition round points earned will go towards the inaugural World Championship.

“After 11 seasons of Formula DRIFT, we are excited to launch the World Championship,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “There is a ton of anticipation to take on this new challenge and raise the global standard for drifting by continuing to grow the Series domestically and internationally. We are here for the long run and thus laying this foundation for the future growth of drifting.”

All current Formula DRIFT Pro licenses holders are eligible to compete and aggregate points toward the World Championship. However, to be eligible to aggregate points toward the overall World Championship, drivers must attend at least one non-domestic US round. Additionally, each individual event round winner plus the top eight drivers in the series following the conclusion of the event in Montreal, Canada will qualify for a vehicle transportation and subsidy to the final round of the overall World Championship in China, where the World Champion will be crowned.

The Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue with seven rounds of competition with a champion to be crowned at the Irwindale event in October. The Pro 2 Series will also continue in 2015 within four of the seven US rounds of competition with events in Orlando, FL, Seattle, WA, Fort Worth, TX, and Irwindale, CA. Each of the ten rounds of the World Championship will be live streamed globally.

Drivers will now compete for a prize purse of up to $300,000 that includes championship, per round, and the new triple crown bonus. The triple crown bonus of $100,000 will be awarded to the driver that can win at three select rounds of competition within the World Championship. These rounds of competition will be announced soon. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift.

2015 Formula DRIFT World Championship Schedule

April 10-11, 2015         Streets of Long Beach, USA              World / Pro
April 17-19, 2015         Streets of Long Beach, USA              Invitational Event
May 8-9, 2015              Road Atlanta, USA                          World / Pro
June 5-6, 2015             Orlando Speedworld, USA                World / Pro / Pro2
June 26-27, 2015         Wall Stadium, USA                           World / Pro
July 11-12, 2015           Fuji Speedway, JAPAN                     World
July 24-25, 2015           Evergreen Speedway, USA               World / Pro / Pro2
August 21-22, 2015      Texas Motor Speedway, USA             World / Pro / Pro2
September 6-7, 2015    Autodrome St. Eustache, CANADA     World
October 9-10, 2015       Irwindale Speedway, USA                 World / Pro / Pro2
November, 2015           CHINA                                             World

*schedule subject to change

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Entering its twelfth season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges each driver’s driving ability and vehicle control. Formula DRIFT provides a forum for professional drifters to compete nationwide for the coveted Formula DRIFT Championship crown. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the world-wide leader for the Sport. For a competition schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.

Formula DRIFT Asia Championship, Round 3, Sydney Motorsports Park Results

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Formula DRIFT Asia Championship, Round 3, Sydney Motorsports Park Results;
Australian Levi Clarke Takes Competition Victory in an all Australian Finals

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Long Beach, Calif. – October 22, 2014 – Formula DRIFT Asia Championship returned to Australia by making a stop at Sydney Motorsports Park for the first time as part of the World Time Attack Challenge weekend. Australian Levi Clarke in the Exedy Drift Team Nissan Silvia S15 takes the win.

The HiTec Oil Formula DRIFT Australia presented by Achilles Tire was the third stop in the seven year old Formula DRIFT Asia Championship. The Series returns to Australia by bringing the sport to a new venue, Sydney Motorsports Park, as part of the World Time Attack Challenge weekend. The South Circuit section that was used provided an unique and challenging, almost hill climb like, all uphill drift course. This 3-day event was an international spectacle with drivers from all over the world.

The Semi-Finals / Top 4 paired up Norwegian Aasbo against Australian Levi Clarke and New Zealander Whiter against Australian Nic Coulson. Aasbo had to forfeit to Clarke after one run due to mechanical issues and Coulson topped Whiter setting up an all Australian final. In the Finals, neither driver let up and drove aggressively but cleanly. At the end, top Australian drifter Levi Clarke stood on top of the podium to be the first Australian win to any Formula DRIFT competition.

“It’s good to be on top at Formula DRIFT,” said Levi Clarke, winner of Formula DRIFT Asia Championship, Round 3. “We had some great battles with Fredric Aasbo and the rest of the drivers.”
Formula DRIFT Round 4 | Sydney Motorsports Park | Competition Results:
1. Clarke, Levi (AUS) Exedy Drift Team / Nissan S15 Winner
2. Coulson, Nic (AUS) Team Xforce Performance Exhaust / Holden Commodore Ute 2nd Place
3. Aasbo, Fredric (NOR) RS-R / Toyota FT-86 3rd Place

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Final Fight Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 7: Final Fight Results;
Daigo Saito Wins Finale and Chris Forsberg is Crowned Champion

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Long Beach, Calif. – October 11, 2014 – Formula DRIFT returned to Irwindale Speedway for the 2014 Pro Championship season finale. Daigo Saito in the Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 takes the event victory. Chris Forsberg in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z wins his second career championship.

Round 7: Final Fight held at Irwindale Speedway did not disappoint the sold out crowd with an action packed weekend that featured the Pro Championship, PRO 2 Championship, Offset Kings car show and more. The Driftstream had over 200,000 unique viewers to the live stream for the event weekend.

“What a way to end the 2014 Pro Championship season,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “We could not have asked for a more climatic ending with the championship determined at the very last battle of the season. The competitive rivalry that Aasbo and Forsberg had all season could not have been any more exciting.”

Entering the event, Forsberg lead the Pro Championship chase by a mere 26 points. As the competition progressed through the night both Aasbo and Forsberg would meet in the Top 4 to control their championship destiny. Aasbo in one of the tightest battles of the evening got the better of Forsberg for the fourth time this season in head to head battles, yet he needed to win the entire event to win the championship.

“A wild season for us. We wanted the championship so bad after last year,” said Chris Forsberg, 2014 Formula DRIFT champion. “Taking the win in Long Beach and holding the lead throughout the season to the Finals only to basically lose to Aasbo every time we went up against him. He was our kryptonite all season long. We were able to hold him off just enough to take the championship home and we are super pumped and very proud of our team for giving us the best car we ever had.”

The number one qualifier, Forrest Wang in the Get Nuts Lab / Hankook / STR Racing Nissan S14 went against Daigo Saito in the Top 4. In a close battle, Saito edged out Wang to make it into the Finals against Aasbo. In another closely fought battle, Saito beat out Aasbo, to win his third consecutive victory at Irwindale Speedway, having won the event in 2012 and 2013, and helping to award Forsberg with his second Pro Championship. Forsberg is only the third driver in Formula DRIFT history to hold two championships with his 2009 championship and now 2014 championship.

“This year we have had a very hard time with our results and ranking,” said Daigo Saito, winner of Round 7: Final Fight. “We are excited to earn a win to end the season here at Irwindale Speedway. This is also the third win for us in a row here and I am very happy.”

In addition to the 2014 Championship, both the Tire and Manufacturer Championships were determined at Round 7: Final Fight. Hankook Tire won the Tire Manufacturer Championship, while Scion won the Manufacturer Championship.

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship Presented by GoPro 2014 Final Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z 561.50 Points
2. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 550.00 Points
3. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR 393.00 Points
4. Bakchis, Aurimas “Odi” Feal Suspension / Nitto Tire Nissan 240SX 364.50 Points
5. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab / Hankook Tire / STR Racing Nissan S14 331.50 Points
6. Moen, Kenneth Bridges Racing Nissan 240SX 310.50 Points
7. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 298.00 Points
8. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper SRT 287.00 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Falken Tire Ford Mustang 277.00 Points
10. Grunewald, Conrad Megan Racing / Top 1 Oil / BRE Chevrolet Camaro 262.50 Points
11. Nishida, Robbie Achilles Radial / Bridges Racing Lexus SC300 261.00 Points
12. Tuerck, Ryan Retaks Maxxis Tires Air Force PSI Scion FR-S 235.00 Points
13. Gushi, Ken GReddy Performance / Scion Racing Drift FR-S 227.50 Points
14. Saito, Daigo Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 224.00 Points
15. Field, Matt CX Racing Nitto Tire Nissan 240SX 221.50 Points
16. Essa, Michael Essa Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 218.50 Points
Round 7: Final Fight Event Results
1. Saito, Daigo Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 Winner
2. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 2nd Place
3. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab / Hankook Tire / STR Racing Nissan S14 3rd Place

Manufacturers Championship Final Standings

1. Scion 843.00 Points
2. Nissan 721.00 Points
3. Ford 670.00 Points
4. Lexus 485.00 Points
5. Chevy 471.50 Points

Tire Championship Final Standings

1. Hankook 1119.50 Points
2. Nitto 836.00 Points
3. Achilles 801.00 Points
4. Falken 681.50 Points
5. Maxxis 386.50 Points

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 4 at Irwindale Speedway Results

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Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 4 at Irwindale Speedway Results;
Jeff Jones Takes Competition Victory and Dan Savage is Crowned PRO 2 Champion

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Long Beach, Calif. – October 10, 2014 – Formula DRIFT PRO 2 finished the season at Irwindale Speedway with final round of 2014. Jeff Jones in the CX Racing Nissan S14 takes the event victory, while Dan Savage in the Sikky Manufacturing Mazda RX-8 is crowned PRO 2 champion.

PRO 2 finished its inaugural season at Irwindale Speedway. PRO 2 was introduced as an intermediary series between the Formula DRIFT Pro-Am and Pro Championship to help drivers get acclimated to the competition level and venues, while gaining valuable experience. As the first year of the PRO 2, drivers that are eligible include both licensed Pro-Am and Pro Championship drivers. Drivers were also given the option to compete in both PRO 2 and the Pro Championship.

The finals pitted Jeff Jones against Dan Savage. Savage on his chase run crashed giving Jones his first ever competition victory. Brandon Wicknick in the Driftmotion D-Spare Nissan 2JZ S13 rounded out the podium in third place.

“This is not only my first time qualifying for the Pro Championship and for PRO 2 we were on fire,” said Jeff Jones, winner of Round 4 of PRO 2. “This is just killer to have the car dialed in. I just wish we could reset this season, but I can not wait for next year.”

In a tightly fought championship chase, Dan Savage edged out the point leader, Geoff Stoneback with his second place podium finish to win the PRO 2 championship by a mere 5.50 points.

“Its surreal knowing that it was that close coming into it,” says Dan Savage, 2014 PRO 2 Champion. “Being here at Irwindale ten years ago and seeing what drifting was for the first time that it is numbing knowing that I made it here at this track.”

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift.

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 2014 Final Standings

1. Savage, Dan Sikky Manufacturing Mazda RX-8 286.50 Points
2. Stoneback, Geoff GSR Nissan S14 281.00 Points
3. Lowe, Jeremy Enjuku Racing Mazda RX-7 259.00 Points
4. Jones, Jeff CX Racing Nissan S14 246.00 Points
5. Evans, James Sikky Manufacturing Nissan 350Z 226.00 Points
6. Hamilton, Nate ONE44 Motorsports / Enkei Wheels Nissan 240SX 220.00 Points
7. Coffman, Matt Coffman Racing / PSI Nissan S13 182.00 Points
8. Wicknick, Brandon Driftmotion D-Spare Nissan 2JZ S13 173.00 Points
9. Parsons, Will NonStop Tuning AutoComp Racing Toyota AE86 157.50 Points
10. Cisneros, Tony 116 Motorsports Nissan 240SX 121.00 Points
11. Rydquist, Carl Road Race Engineering / Berk Nissan 350Z 109.00 Points
12. Rintanen, Juha Juha Rintanen Motorsport Nissan S14 109.50 Points
13. Hill, Eric Achilles Radial Fueled Racing 240SX 109.50 Points
14. Mertzanis, Dennis Vision Buddyclub BRE Scion FR-S 106.50 Points
15. Hateley, Andy Hately Motorsports BMW E30 325i 87.50 Points
16. Wolfson, Tyler GT Radial SAE Motorsport Mazda RX-7 86.00 Points

PRO 2 Round 4 Event Results

1. Jones, Jeff CX Racing Nissan S14 Winner
2. Savage, Dan Sikky Manufacturing Mazda RX-8 2nd Place
3. Wicknick, Brandon Driftmotion D-Spare Nissan 2JZ S13 3rd Place

Ford Mustang Teams Gear Up for Final Fight of 2014 Formula DRIFT Season at Irwindale Speedway

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Ford Mustang Teams Gear Up for Final Fight of 2014 Formula DRIFT Season at Irwindale Speedway

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• Ford Mustang driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. battling for podium finish in Formula DRIFT series

• Along with former champion Gittin Jr., past winner and Mustang driver Justin Pawlak also competing

• Ford will announce “Drift with Ford” sweepstakes winner of custom EcoBoost®-powered Fiesta ST after final 2014 Formula DRIFT event

Long Beach, Calif. – September 23, 2014 – With only one race left in the 2014 Formula DRIFT season, Ford Motor Company heads to Irwindale Speedway in California looking to finish strong in the season finale there. Vaughn Gittin Jr., in third place, and Justin Pawlak, in seventh, will compete in customized Ford Mustangs Oct. 10-11, in the final fight of the seven-event series.

“I’m really pumped to be heading into the final fight of 2014 at Irwindale Speedway,” said Gittin Jr. “While we are no longer battling for the championship, we plan to hold our ground and take third overall in the series.”

“This is something I’m really excited about, given the challenges we had to overcome this season,” he added. “The progression of drifting never ceases to amaze me, and this year has been insane with regard to the level of competition. Our Ford Mustang RTR has been fully up to the task and continues to be a performance bar-setting machine, round after round. We are looking forward to fighting hard and ending the season on the top step.”

Ford has supported drivers in Formula DRIFT since 2005, when the sport triggered a successful Ford Racing Performance Parts engine development program for a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 crate engine.

“This has been a thrilling season for Ford in Formula DRIFT,” said Mickey Matus, Ford Racing marketing communications manager. “Vaughn and Justin consistently had Ford in the hunt for the manufacturer’s cup and driver’s championship. We’re confident they will continue to show that Ford and Mustang are serious competitors, not only in the world of Formula DRIFT, but in all form of motorsports.”

Amidst the excitement of North America’s foremost professional drifting championship, Ford continues to give fans the opportunity to enter to win an EcoBoost®-powered Fiesta ST. The sweepstakes winner will receive personal drift lessons from Gittin Jr., a trip to Ford’s ST Octane Academy, and a visit to Hoonigan Racing headquarters. The last day to enter the contest online is Oct. 13 at 11:59 a.m. EDT. Anyone can enter at www.formuladrift.com while watching the hot action over the final weekend.

“Fiesta ST featuring the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is a huge hit, especially among Formula DRIFT fans,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “We collaborated with Formula DRIFT to create an innovative way to give one to a lucky fan. We added lowering springs, an exhaust from Ford Racing Performance Parts, Rotiform 18-inch VCE wheels, Nitto NT555 ultra-high-performance tires and a K&N intake system to make this a true, one-of-one car. We had this hot new Fiesta ST at the season opener in Long Beach and will have it at the upcoming finale in California.”

The first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme – attracting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Highly skilled drivers maneuver high-powered cars into controlled slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on speed, execution and style rather than fastest time, drifting is a crowd pleaser that’s often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

The 2014 Formula DRIFT season will continue with Round 7: Final Fight at Irwindale Speedway on October 10-11. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift.