Category: Featured

Round 4: The Gauntlet at Wall Speedway Results

News

Posted on


Daigo Saito Takes the Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – June 22, 2013 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro returned to Wall Speedway in New Jersey for Round 4: The Gauntlet. Daigo Saito the driver of the Achilles / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 increases his Championship point lead with his second victory of the season.

For the second year in a row, Round 4: The Gauntlet showcased action in front of a sold out crowd in New Jersey. This event marks the half-way mark for the season with the championship in the sights of a few of the top drivers.

“We are happy to return to New Jersey for the ninth time,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “After Hurricane Sandy devastated the area last year, we are proud to be able to contribute and bring some economic stimulus to the region with our Series. On top of that we were treated to world class action in front of a capacity crowd.”

The new course configuration at Wall Speedway proved to be challenging and exciting for the drivers. A few of the top teams were taken out early in the competition opening the door for others to move ahead in the event. In the consolation round with Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z against Darren McNamara in the Falken Tire Nissan 240SX the action heated up when McNamara had a mistake that gave Forsberg the third place finish. The final battle pitted the number one qualifier Justin Pawlak in the Falken Ford Mustang against champion Daigo Saito. Pawlak on his chase run went a little too hard and spun out giving the victory and increasing the Championship point lead to Daigo Saito.

“I’m very happy to have this win and remain in 1st place,” said Daigo Saito, winner of Round 4: The Gauntlet. “It feels like I won a championship tonight going against some of the top competition in the Series with Vaughn, Fredric, Darren and Justin and I look forward to the next event.”

Formula DRIFT continues to Round 5: Throwdown at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA on July 19-20, 2013.

Round 2: Road to the Championship Results

News

Posted on

May 11, 2013

Round 2: Road to the Championship Results;
Daigo Saito Takes the Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – May 11, 2013 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro continued to Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta. Defending 2012 champion, Daigo Saito in the Achilles / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 takes the victory.

Round 2: Road to the Championship returned for the tenth consecutive season to the home of the inaugural Formula DRIFT competition at Road Atlanta. This is the only course on the circuit that has paved a custom section of the track specifically for drifting. Despite the intermittent rain, the fans in Atlanta came out in force and stayed through to the end of the event. Road Atlanta has the largest attendance for the Series outside of California.

“Drifting is chaotic and unpredictable,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Today showed the ability of the Formula DRIFT drivers to adapt to the changing conditions while still performing.”

The rain slicked track proved to be a challenge as the event entered into the Top 16 portion of the competition. Heading into the competition, Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan 240SX held the points lead, but surprisingly failed to make it into the Top 16, opening the opportunity for other drivers in the point standings. Michael Essa in the GSR Autosport / Yokohama Tire BMW M3 faced Vaughn Gittin, Jr. in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR in the consolation round. Gittin won third place and takes the lead in the 2013 Pro Championship point standings. The final round pitted Darren McNamara in the Falken Tire Nissan 240SX against returning champion Daigo Saito. McNamara on the first run misjudged the speed of Saito and ran into his car causing damage and giving up the advantage, which his team was not able to overcome. Saito earned his first victory of the season and moves into second place overall.

“This almost feels like revenge from Long Beach since I was only able to make it into the Top 16 at Round 1,” said Daigo Saito, winner of Round 2: Road to the Championship. “The track conditions were horrible and it could have been anyone that won, but I am happy that I was able to pull off the victory. Thanks to the team and Achilles for helping make this all possible.”

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship Presented by GoPro 2013 Standings After Two Rounds
1. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR 172 Points
2. Saito, Daigo Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 161 Points
3. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 156 Points
4. Essa, Michael GSR Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 141 Points
5. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 137 Points
6. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 136 Points
7. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z 135 Points
8. Tuerck, Ryan Team Retaks / Maxxis Scion Racing FR-S 125.50 Points
9. Moen, Kenneth Lutz Performance / Falken Tire Nissan 350Z 120 Points
10. Powers, Matt Nitto Tire / Fatlace Nissan S14 119 Points
11. Pawlak, Justin Falken Tire Ford Mustang 116.50 Points
12. Bakchis, Aurimas Nexen Tire Nissan S14 112 Points
13. DeNofa, Chelsea BC Racing BMW 3 Series 105 Points
14. Mohan, Kyle Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix RX-8 86 Points
15. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Labs Nissan 240SX 82 Points
16. Field, Matt CX Racing / Blacktrax Nissan 240SX 81.50 Points

Round 2: Road to the Championship Event Results
1. Saito, Daigo Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 Winner
2. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 Second Place
3. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Ford Mustang RTR Third Place

Manufacturers Championship Standings After Two Rounds
1. Ford 288.50 Points
2. Scion 261.50 Points
3. Nissan 248 Points
4. BMW 246 Points
5. Lexus 239.75 Points

Tire Championship Standings After Two Rounds
1. Falken 330 Points
2. Nitto 311 Points
3. Hankook 270 Points
4. Achilles 243 Points
5. Nexen 228.50 Points

Formula DRIFT Asia Debuts New Website & Round 1 TV Schedule

News

Posted on

With RD 1 of the 2013 Formula DRIFT Asia Series taking place this weekend in Australia, they also debuted a redesigned website to match the current Formula DRIFT site. The design and functionality of the site has been completely updated to allow for a more user-friendly, faster and integrated approach to this season.  Visit http://formuladriftasia.com/

Tickets for this event are still available and can be purchased here by visiting the Round 1 event page.

For fans who are unable to attend but have access to these international channels, here is the television broadcast schedule to watch Round 1: Achilles Formula DRIFT Australia 2013.

ASIA

NOTE: All times are based on Singapore & Hong Kong times. Bold airings are the LIVE broadcast

AUSTRALIA

LIVE broadcast will be on at Speed TV HD (Ch. 512) from 4 to 6pm Eastern Australian Time. Speed TV is a combined package with Fox Sports Australia. For more information, visit: www.foxsports.com.au/tvguide

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results

News

Posted on

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

News

Posted on

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