Category: Press Releases

Formula DRIFT Announces the Inaugural Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition

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Formula DRIFT Announces the Inaugural Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition;
Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to Host Event on February 25, 2011

Long Beach, Calif. – November 18, 2010 – Formula DRIFT Holdings, LLC; operators of the Formula DRIFT Championship and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management; operators of the Yas Marina Circuit have announced a deal to bring the Inaugural Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 25, 2011.

“The partnership with Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management is a perfect fit to introduce the Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Even though drifting has been to the UAE before, we are excited to bring a world class combination of the world’s most advanced circuit along with the world’s leading drifting series.”

“I am delighted that motorsports fans in Abu Dhabi and the UAE will get to experience the spectacle of Formula DRIFT at Yas,” said Richard Cregan, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Marina Circuit. “Drifting will add a new dimension to the range of motorsports offered here and I believe it will attract a large following, just as drag racing has.”

Eight of the top drivers and cars from Formula DRIFT, will showcase world class drifting in competition format to the Persian Gulf region. The 8 drivers include 2-time Formula DRIFT champion and 3-time X-Games Gold Medalist Tanner Foust, 2010 Formula DRIFT rookie of the year and past Scandinavian champion, Fredric Aasbo, 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, Chris Forsberg, Darren McNamara, Ryan Tuerck, and Daijiro Yoshihara. The final two drivers will be announced at a later date.

As the premier professional drifting championship in North America, Formula DRIFT has helped bring drifting around world including South America, South East Asia, and now the Middle East. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Title Fight Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 7: Title Fight Results;
Tanner Foust Takes the Event Victory while Vaughn Gittin, Jr. is Crowned 2010 Champion

Long Beach, Calif. – October 10, 2010 – Formula DRIFT entered the final event of the 2010 season at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for Round 7: Title Fight. Tanner Foust in the Rockstar Energy Scion Racing TC takes the event victory and becomes the Tires.com Triple Crown winner, while Vaughn Gittin, Jr. in the Monster Energy / Falken Ford Mustang is crowned the 2010 Formula DRIFT champion.

The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale hosted the finale event to a sold out crowd. The action was non-stop all weekend featuring the Formula DRIFT ProAM championship, Fatlace One of One Showcase car show, and the Formula DRIFT championship. In addition this was the first drifting event to be filmed in 3D by DirecTV with an air-date to be announced. The event was also featured live online via the DriftStream to a global audience.

“It was another successful event to cap off an amazing season,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “To end the season at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale to a sold out crowd in one of the largest event markets in North America showcases the strength of drifting fans.”

The finale event did not fail to disappoint showcasing intense drifting action to determine a new champion. The battle for third place pitted Darren McNamara in the Falken Tire Saturn Sky against Michihiro Takatori in the BF Goodrich Nissan S15. McNamara pushed his car too hard hitting the wall taking himself out of the competition giving Takatori third place. The finale battle put 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust against Vaughn Gittin, Jr. After a close One More Time battle, Foust edged out Gittin to take the event victory and also secure his first Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize.

“This was one of the most epic Formula DRIFT events of all time,” said Tanner Foust, winner of Round 7: Title Fight. “This is the best track to drift and in front one of the biggest crowds. The drivers stepped it up from the Top 32 and on and gave everyone attending a great show. No one seemed to care about protecting their car and threw it all out there. I can finally close the door on my chase for the Triple Crown as I’ve been chasing it for years being so close multiple times and want to give it up to Tires.com for the opportunity.”

With his advancement into the Top 16, Vaughn Gittin, Jr. secured the 2010 Formula DRIFT championship. Gittin found the podium 6 out of the 7 events through the season on his way to his first championship.

“This is just simply unbelievable,” exclaimed Vaughn Gittin, Jr., 2010 Formula DRIFT Champion. “This has been a dream of mine for the past 7 years. It is a true accomplishment for my team and a testament to their commitment to the sport.”

For more information and details visit the Formula DRIFT website at: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2010 Point Standings

1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 632 Points
2. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 568.50 Points
3. Tuerck, Ryan Mobil 1 / Maxxis Tire / Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice 515 Points
4. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 514 Points
5. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Saturn Sky 477.50 Points
6. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / CFR Nissan 350Z 439 Points
7. Millen, Rhys RMR / Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe 417 Points
8. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Tire Nissan 350Z 396.50 Points
9. Takatori, Michihiro BF Goodrich / Exedy Nissan S13 374 Points
10. Hubinette, Samuel SHR-Dodge / BF Goodrich Dodge Challenger 357 Points
11. Pawlak, Justin Ford Racing / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 354.50 Points
12. Grunewald, Conrad Hankook Tire Chevy Camaro 295 Points
13. Aasbo, Fredric Japan Auto Toyota Supra 279.50 Points
14. Maeng, Joon Full Tilt Poker / Nitto Tire Mazda RX-8 271.25 Points
15. Gushi, Ken Scion Racing / RS*R Scion TC 252.50 Points
16. Powers, Matt Need for Speed / Nitto Tire Nissan 240 238 Points

Round 7: Title Fight Event Results

1. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 1st Place
2. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 2nd Place
3. Takatori, Michihiro BF Goodrich / Exedy Nissan S13 3rd Place

Tires.com Triple Crown Final Standings

1. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 273 Points
2. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 249 Points
3. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Saturn Sky 228 Points

Formula DRIFT and DIRECTV Team Up to Produce the World’s First Drifting Event in 3D

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Formula DRIFT and DIRECTV Team Up to Produce the World’s First Drifting Event in 3D

Long Beach, Calif. – Oct. 5, 2010 – Drift fans will want to buckle up for the DIRECTV broadcast of the world’s first drifting event in 3D. Produced by Formula DRIFT and DIRECTV, the program will focus on a series of battles from Formula DRIFT’s “Round 7, Title Fight” and will be aired exclusively on DIRECTV’s 3D channel, n3D™, Powered by Panasonic, later this year.

“Formula DRIFT has always been on the forefront of technology,” said Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “We were the first drifting series to provide HD television programming, live streaming event content via the DriftStream, and now we are adding 3D technology for our tech savvy audience.”

“3D is the perfect way to showcase what a Formula DRIFT event is all about,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Drifting is a very visual motorsport with high-horsepower vehicles sliding sideways with precision, often inches from the wall and each other in dramatic fashion. 3D technology will capture all of the action and excitement and bring it directly into the living rooms of the fans.”

“DIRECTV customers may need bucket seats and a good harness when they sit down to watch the Formula DRIFT event in 3D, because it will be an exhilarating viewing experience,” said Chris Long, senior vice president, Entertainment, DIRECTV. “The drifting race event is a great opportunity to engage viewers with our exclusive n3D™ channel and show them why we’re so committed to 3D TV, and whet their appetite for more.”

DIRECTV’s exclusive 3D channel ,n3D™ powered by Panasonic, is available at no additional cost to millions of DIRECTV HD customers. In addition to the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, the NASCAR Coke Zero 400, and ESPN’s 3D coverage of the Summer X Games 16, n3D customers also have access to exclusive, original 3D programming such as “Guitar Center Sessions” with Peter Gabriel and Jane’s Addiction.

DIRECTV HD customers received a free software upgrade that enables them to have access to the 3D channels on DIRECTV. DIRECTV HD customers will need a 3D television set and 3D glasses to view 3D programming on DIRECTV.

Formula DRIFT Round 6: Point of Impact Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 6: Point of Impact Results;
Championship to be decided at Finals on October 8-9

Long Beach, Calif. – September 11, 2010 – Formula DRIFT entered Sonoma, CA for Round 6: Point of Impact with Vaughn Gittin, Jr. taking his second victory of the season and increasing his points lead heading into the last round of the season on October 8-9 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

“It was another great event weekend to what has already been an intensely competitive season,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “With the championship on the line and only 1 event remaining in the season we are excited to see who will come out on top.”

The competition was fierce and made for another exciting event with the drivers putting it all on the line before heading into the Finals. The Top 4 competition consisted of a battle between current champion Chris Forsberg in his NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z against 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust in his Rockstar Energy Scion TC for third place. Foust took the victory and maintained his third place status overall in the point standings. The final match-up pitted Vaughn Gittin Jr. in his Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang against Ryan Tuerck in the Mobil 1 / Maxxis Pontiac Solstice. Gittin edged out Tuerck for his second victory of the season increasing his lead overall in the championship standings with only 1 event remaining in the season.

“Are you serious? Is this really happening,” stated Vaughn Gittin, Jr., winner of Round 6: Point of Impact. “My team is amazing and I’m simply beside myself for what we did on the track!”

With only 1 event remaining in the 2010 Formula DRIFT season the action heats up and a champion will be crowned at Round 7: Title Fight. Tickets are now on-sale online starting at $26. All seating is reserved with both main event day and 2-day ticket packages available. A limited amount of VIP tickets are also available for purchase online. Tickets are expected to sell-out, and it is advised to purchase tickets online early to guarantee your spot to witness the crowning of a new Formula DRIFT champion. For more information and details visit the Formula DRIFT website at: www.formuladrift.com

DriftStream.tv Marches Closer to 1,000,000 Viewers

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Long Beach, Calif. – June 25, 2010 – Formula DRIFT continued the new DriftStream.tv brought to you by Justin.tv at Round 5: After Dark registering over 80,000 unique viewers watching the event live. This puts a total of over 750,000 unique viewers so far this season for the innovative DriftStream.tv program.

Formula DRIFT partnered with Justin.tv to distribute the LiveStream of Round 5: After Dark at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Over 128 countries tuned in to watch the over 450,000 minutes of action streamed in a 24-hour period. This event featured over 10 hours of streaming of night time drifting action and included an exclusive “crane” camera.

“Round 5 was definitely our most challenging broadcast yet! This event we had multiple camera angles for Round 5: After Dark,” said Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “This event would not have been possible without our sponsors Nitto Tires, Advanced Clutch, Motegi Wheels, Clutchmasters, Mishimoto, Need for Speed and Belle-1 Communications. We are looking forward to Round 6: Point of Impact, with even more great new features for the Formula DRIFT Fan base including a live mobile cam and a new for the first time the ability to watch the event on any Android based phone that has the Froyo “FRG22D” update (Note you have to download Adobe Flash in the marketplace) . We would also like to thank out media partners motoiq.com,speedhunters.com, pasmag.com, motormavens.com, drifting.com, streetimportonline.com,gtchannel.com, livesockets.com , streetfire.net, deathmachines.net for hosting and promoting DriftStream2010.”

The Drift Stream will continue at Round 6: Point of Impact on Sep 10-11 in Sonoma, CA when Formula DRIFT returns to Infineon Raceway.