Category: Press Releases

Formula DRIFT Announces Kevin Wells as Technical Manager

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photo courtesy of Larry Chen

Long Beach, Calif. – November 9, 2011 – Formula DRIFT announced during the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas last week that Kevin Wells would take over the duties of Technical Manager for the Series, replacing Tony Angelo.

Wells brings to Formula DRIFT a wealth of experience as the former crew chief of Chris Forsberg Racing. During his tenure there, he received such honors as Crew Chief of the Year 3 times, 10 podiums, 5 wins, and 1 Formula DRIFT championship.

“We are eager to have Kevin Wells as our new technical manager,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Kevin brings a ton of mechanical and technical knowledge to Formula DRIFT and we welcome him to this side of the Series.”

Wells will replace former technical manager Tony Angelo, who will be returning to the Series as a driver. His primary duties will include the writing and enforcement of the technical regulations, develop new regulations, work together with a soon to be created technical committee, and more. Wells will travel with the Series and various FD international events including the Formula DRIFT Asia Championship to uphold the Formula DRIFT technical standards.

“I am excited and honored to take on this new role and set of responsibilities,” said Kevin Wells, new Formula DRIFT technical manager. “I’ve been involved with this emerging motorsport for a long time and will use my knowledge and expertise to help grow it even further to create a competitive, fair, and safe competitive field for the Series.”

Wells will begin his duties immediately as the teams begin preparing for the 2012 season, which begins on April 6-7, 2012 on the Streets of Long Beach. Wells will have dedicated tech hours at the Formula DRIFT office and can be reached via email at [email protected].

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Title Fight Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 7: Title Fight Results;
Daijiro Yoshihara Wins the Championship and Tyler McQuarrie Takes the Event Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – October 8, 2011 – Formula DRIFT returned to the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for the final event of the 2011 season. Daijiro Yoshihara in the America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 won the championship, while Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z took the event victory.

Round 7: Title Fight concluded the most successful season in Formula DRIFT history. The sold out crowd eclipsed attendance records for the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale and is now the largest Formula DRIFT event in history.

“First of all we would like to congratulate Dai on his first championship. He has worked hard for over 8 years and has consistently had good results and its awesome to see it pay off for him,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “You couldn’t script the finals to be any better capping off the season with excitement and drama and ending on a high note to a sell out crowd to be the largest drifting event we have ever produced.”

With the championship decided in the Final 4 competition, the event was far from over. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z defeated Darren McNamara in the consolation round to secure third place for the event and also move him up into third place overall. The final battle of the evening pitted Rhys Millen in the Redbull / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe against Tyler McQuarrie. After an intense battle McQuarrie took the victory moving himself up to finish in the fifth standing position for the season.

“To win in Irwindale is massive for any driver and to do it under the circumstances surrounding this week is incredible,” stated Tyler McQuarrie, winner of Round 7: Title Fight. “This victory paints a better picture and gives me the momentum heading into the off-season.”

The results of the event could only be described as the ultimate finish to crown a champion. This event was the closest and most competitive chase for the championship in Formula DRIFT history, with 5 drivers entering with a chance at the title. Rookie of the year honors went to Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis. Many scenarios played out with such a close gap in the point standings. Daijiro Yoshihara entered with the point lead and was taken out early in the Top 16 opening the door for the others to take the championship. Yet, the stars were aligned for Yoshihara and by a narrow margin he was able to hold onto the lead to win the 2011 Formula DRIFT Championship along with the Tires.com Triple Crown. Marking the first time in Series history that the champion also wins the bonus prize.

“It’s a great feeling and a dream come true,” said Daijiro Yoshihara, 2011 Formula DRIFT champion. “After 8 years of driving it finally paid off. I owe a lot to my team and sponsors. My new goal will be to defend the championship and win it outright during the event.”

FD Round 7: Title Fight Ticket Buyers Have Chance to Win Prizes

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Formula DRIFT Tickets On-Sale for Finale;
Round 7: Title Fight Ticket Buyers Have Chance to Win Prizes

Long Beach, Calif. – September 14, 2011 – Formula DRIFT prepares for what many are anticipating as the largest event in Formula Drift history with the finale at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. Round 7: Title Fight ending one of the most exciting seasons to date on October 7-8. Tickets are on-sale now.

“Round 7: Title Fight is slated to be the largest drift event in our history and we are on pace for another capacity crowd,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “To encourage fans to purchase their tickets early and guarantee their spot at the Finale we have partnered with a few of our sponsors to give away some great prizes to lucky pre-sale ticket buyers.”

Along with the purchase of tickets, Formula DRIFT will be holding a contest for all pre-sale ticket buyers.

For those that purchase 2-day Reserved Grandstand Tickets, the following prizes will be raffled off:

– Twenty five (25) individuals will receive one (1) Trident mobile phone or iPad case each.
– One (1) individual will receive a Falken Tire/HPI R/C drift car
– One (1) individual will receive a set of four (4) Enkei Fujin wheels plus one (1) set of matching Nitto Tires.

For those that purchase VIP Tickets:

– One (1) individual will receive two (2) tickets to the Formula DRIFT Awards Banquet being held on October 9, 2011 with one (1) night hotel stay at the official banquet hotel. Winner must be 18 or older to qualify.
– One (1) individual will receive an $800 credit toward any set of Falken Tires redeemable at any America’s Tire / Discount Tire location. Labor costs not included.

Winners will be announced on September 26 on the Formula DRIFT website, www.formuladrift.com. Prizes have no cash value. More prizes to be announced at a later date. Each ticket purchased counts as one raffle ticket.

Tickets are available for Round 7: Title Fight on October 7-8, including reserved seating, 2-day ticket packages, and VIP tickets. Tickets can be purchased through www.formuladrift.com. Ticket prices start at $26 online.

Formula DRIFT Round 6: After Dark Results

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August 28, 2011

Formula DRIFT Round 6: After Dark Results;
Rhys Millen Takes the Victory while Daijiro Yoshihara Retains the Points Lead

Long Beach, Calif. – August 28, 2011 – Formula DRIFT returned to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 6: After Dark. Rhys Millen in the Red Bull / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe takes his first victory of the season. The chase for the championship tightens up heading in the final event of the season.

The results of Round 6: After Dark at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway set-up what will be the most competitive finals in the history of the Series. Five drivers have a chance for the championship staying within in 52 points of one another.

“The events that unfolded in today’s competition prove that anything can happen in this sport,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The level of competition continues to provide action and excitement to the Series. With the championship up for grabs Round 7: Title Fight will be one of the most anticipated events in Formula DRIFT history.”

The competition was full of surprises as many of the point leaders were taken out of the Top 16 competition opening the door for other drivers to tighten the gap in the point standings. Underdog and current leader for “Rookie of the Year,” Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Forged Racing Nissan 240SX surprised everyone moving into the Top 4 and to face Matt Powers in the Need for Speed / Nitto Nissan S14. After a hard fought battle Powers took third place and secured his chances to have a shot at the title. The Finals pitted Darren McNamara in the Falken Tire Saturn Sky against Rhys Millen in the Red Bull / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe. With consistent driving throughout the weekend Millen proved why he is a former champion taking the victory and moving into 11th Place overall in the Championship Point Standings.

“This is kind of a milestone for us. This was the first venue that we debuted the Hyundai Genesis and we failed to qualify,” stated Rhys Millen, winner of Round 6: After Dark. “Now 2 years later we are standing on top of the podium and it feels fantastic.”

It all comes down to the final event of the season. The Formula DRIFT Championship continues for Round 7: Title Fight at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on October 7-8. Tickets are currently on-sale online and are expected to sell out quickly.

Formula DRIFT Launches “Formula DRIFT Insider” Web Show

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Formula DRIFT Launches “Formula DRIFT Insider” Web Show;
Weekly Web Show to Debut Today

Long Beach, Calif. – August 11, 2011 – Formula DRIFT has announced the launch of a new web program, “Formula DRIFT Insider.” The premiere episode will debut today, August 11, 2011 on the website, www.formuladrift.com.

Formula DRIFT has teamed with Ubiquity Studios to produce a weekly web show that will provide viewers with more in-depth coverage on the sport of drifting and the Series. Coverage will include event reviews, exclusive interviews with key figures of the Series, trending topics on-going in the Series, and custom segments.

“We are very enthusiastic about this new venture with Ubiquity,” said Ryan Sage, vice president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Formula DRIFT has always been on the progressive front with new media, especially social media and this web show is just another extension of that.”

The weekly web show will run in a 5-7 minute format and will air throughout the remainder of the season. Formula DRIFT Insider can be viewed on all Formula DRIFT social media platforms including the website, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo pages.

“Ubiquity Studios is excited to partner with Formula DRIFT on this exciting project to create and produce Formula DRIFT Insider. This content is extremely dynamic and is a perfect fit for our award winning team and state of the art digital production studio,” said Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation CEO Chris Carmichael. “We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with FD and see this as one of many exciting franchises we will be developing with them over the coming months.”