Category: Featured

Formula DRIFT Announces exclusive partnership with Livestream on Driftstream property

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 4, 2013 – Formula DRIFT has announced a new partnership with Livestream to take the Driftstream property to new heights. The deal includes Livestream becoming the exclusive player on the “Live” page of the Formula DRIFT website. The player is a full-feature embed that will stream in high definition, have full connectivity applications to Facebook and Twitter, chat feature, live photo and text updates, real-time DVR and is also fully customizable. In addition, Formula DRIFT will also become a marketing partner within the Livestream.com community and benefit from a robust viewership of over 30 million unique visitors per month.

“As the premier player in the live streaming space, Livestream will be a great partner for us. The Driftstream property is one of our most popular and most cherished parts of the series and this progression is a no-brainer for us,” says Ryan Sage, Co-Founder of Formula DRIFT

“We’re excited to add Formula DRIFT to our growing list of live sporting events available on our ad-free, award-winning platform,” said Jeff Varnell, Executive Vice President, Business Development. “ By leveraging Formula DRIFT’s passionate fan base, coupled with Livestream’s vast community, we’re connecting fans worldwide to all the action in real-time.”

Livestream and Formula DRIFT will begin this relationship starting at Round 1 in Long Beach on April 12-13, 2013. .

For more information on Formula DRIFT, visit: www.formulad.com.

To watch Formula DRIFT on Livestream visit: http://new.livestream.com/FormulaDrift

To watch Round 1: Streets of Long Beach visit: http://new.livestream.com/FormulaDrift/LongBeach

Formula DRIFT Announces Partnership with Dailymotion to create web series, Battle Tested

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For Immediate Release 

March 29th, 2013 

Formula DRIFT Announces Partnership with Dailymotion to create web series, Battle Tested

Long Beach, Calif. – March 29th, 2013 – Formula DRIFT has announced a new partnership with Dailymotion via the creation of a web series called, Battle Tested. The series will highlight the search for a Formula DRIFT championship through the eyes of each rounds winner and showcase behind the scenes exclusive footage that has not been seen before.

“This is going to be a very cool project. Along with Dailymotion’s continued support with broadcasting our live stream, we have now added this web series as an additional part of the story for race to the Championship in 2013,” says Ryan Sage, Co-Founder of Formula DRIFT.

“Dailymotion is very excited to be partnering with Formula DRIFT. Between live streaming the events and co-producing the exclusive behind-the-scenes series, Battle Tested, we feel Dailymotion can be an integral component in helping to grow the popularity of this thrilling new sport,” says Anthony Layser, Senior Editor of Dailymotion.

Battle Tested will debut on Dailymotion the week leading up to the first event in Long Beach, April 12-13th and will feature 2011 series Champion, Daijiro Yoshihara.

For more information on Formula DRIFT, visit: www.formulad.com.

GoPro Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of Formula DRIFT Championship

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Long Beach, Calif. – March 12, 2013 – Formula DRIFT is proud to announce that GoPro has signed on to be the presenting sponsor for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Championship seasons. GoPro will be the exclusive and official camera partner for the Series for this term and be deeply integrated in the Series as the premier camera brand.

“We are very proud to partner with the Formula Drift Series, and look forward to helping present a unique perspective to an already exciting series,” says Rod Rojas, GoPro Motorsports Marketing Manager.

GoPro, makers of the world’s most versatile cameras, will become the exclusive on-car and in-car camera during official competition. In addition to GoPro adding a technological jump into the TV and live stream production of Formula DRIFT, Formula DRIFT will also have access to GoPro’s media distribution and promotional channels.

“Having GoPro as our presenting sponsor for the next three seasons is a big deal for us,” stated Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “A brand like GoPro is any event series dream and this partnership fits right in with our directional planning of the series.”

Formula DRIFT Announces Entry List for Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge

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Formula DRIFT Announces Entry List for Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge;
Inaugural Nighttime Event to Take Place April 19-20 at Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Long Beach, Calif. – March 1, 2013 – Formula DRIFT has announced the entry list for the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge on April 19-20, part of the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend. Sixteen drivers and two alternates have been named to compete for the $25,000 prize pool.

“We are excited to bring the action and excitement of a drifting competition at night for the first time in the 39-year history of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge will feature the top drivers in the world competing for a large prize pool.”

The sixteen drivers and two alternates include:

Driver /Hometown /Nationality

Forsberg, Chris / Doylestown, PA / American
Powers, Matt / Pacific Beach, CA / American
Bakchis, Odi / Kaunas, Lithuania / Lithuanian
Yoshioka, Toshiki / Hiroshima, Japan / Japanese
Grunewald, Conrad / Houston, TX / American
Essa, Michael / Los Angeles, CA / Indian/American
Saito, Daigo / Tokyo, Japan / Japanese
Nishida, Robbie / Tokyo, Japan / Japanese
Tuerck, Ryan / Derry, NH / American
McQuarrie, Tyler / Walnut Creek, CA / American
Yoshihara, Daijiro / Hachiouji Tokyo, Japan / Japanese
Aasbo, Fredric /Ski, Norway / Norwegian
Mohan, Kyle /Anaheim, CA / American
Angelo, Tony / Doylestown, PA / American
Denofa, Chelsea / Philadephia, PA / American
Kado, Ryan / Sacramento, CA / Japanese/American

Alternate Drivers:

Wilkerson, Walker / Snohomish, WA / Japanese
Jones, Jeff / San Fernando Valley, CA / American

Ticket holders for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will be able to watch the competition taking place in Turns 9,10 and 11 of the world-famous street course from Grandstands 16, 18, 24, 25 and 26 on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6:30 PM. The drifting course will be the same one used by Formula DRIFT in its first event of the season the weekend before the Grand Prix.

Practice and qualifying heats for the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge will take place Friday night, April 19, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Final eliminations will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.

In addition to the Super Drift Challenge, the 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature racing from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Pirelli World Challenge and the Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER Trucks.

Ticket prices range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $130 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can select and pay for their seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Tickets can also be ordered by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED, and callers can request a printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information. Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, downloadable ticket brochure and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.

Fans can also follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB and on Twitter @ToyotaGPLB.

Formula DRIFT Announces Competition Changes for 2013 Season

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Formula DRIFT Announces Competition Changes for 2013 Season;
New Changes to Be In Effect at Round 1: Streets of Long Beach

Long Beach, Calif. – February 12, 2013 – Formula DRIFT has announced competition changes for the 2013 Pro Championship Season. The new changes will be in effect starting at Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 12-13, 2013.

“To better inform our fans of competition changes that will be relevant to the live viewing and live stream, we have announced a few new changes to the competition format that will begin at the season opener in Long Beach,” stated Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “These adjustments will bring new excitement to the Series and keep downtime to a minimum with the end goal of enhancing the fan experience.”

The main revisions to the competition format and rulebook are as follows:

1. “Knock-out” style Qualifying.
Qualifying will now begin with the number one ranked driver first and seed the Top 16 after the first run through the whole field. Positions 17-32 will now be filled after the second run from the remaining drivers in the field, who will advance with the best score of their two runs.

2. 5-minute rule renamed and adjusted.
The “5-minute rule will has been changed to a new term, “Competition Timeout.” The time frame will remain at five (5) minutes for the competitor to use, however the competitors vehicle may no longer leave the hot area of competiton to go back to the paddock. All changes done to the vehicle must be done on grid unless otherwise specified.

3. Qualifying criterion points adjustment.
Style, line and angle criteria categories will now be judged using whole numbers. Speed will be the only category that uses 1/10 numbers and will based on a median speed of all the drivers field during practice.

4. Specific issues identified as zeros (0) in qualifying and tandem.
Formula DRIFT has identified specific terms that would receive a judging zero (0) in both qualifying and tandem.

Qualifying:
– Spinning out
– Loss of drift
– Two tires off course
– Hood, hatch and/or doors open during a run
– Resulting contact causes an abrupt change in the vehicles drift and/or causes a spin

Tandem:
Two or more of the following items constitute and automatic zero in tandem:
– One wheel off course
– Straightening
– Hitting a cone or course marker
– Double entry
– Abrupt stop
– Stalling

5. Updated verbiage on passing.
Formula DRIFT has adjusted the passing verbiage in the rulebook to make it more broad and open. The purpose of this will be to give drivers a chance to attack a lead driver who is making noticeable mistakes and also for the public to be more deeply engaged in the competition.

Passing is allowed in Formula DRIFT. Passing is allowed anywhere on course as long as the lead car is clearly off the line the judges have specified. Any passing that occurs outside the scope of the aforementioned criteria will be deemed illegal and constitute an equivalence to a zero (0) run.

“We made these changes to make judging specific criteria less ambiguous and more defined, which will keep us accountable for consistency,” said Andy Yen, judge for Formula DRIFT. “The new changes will help define the judging without sacrificing the essence of drifting, subjectivity.”