Category: Press Releases

Formula DRIFT Japan Round 2: Ebisu Results

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Formula DRIFT Japan Round 2: Ebisu / Formula DRIFT Round 3: World Championship Results; Mad Mike Whiddett Wins Big In Japan

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Long Beach, Calif. – May 25, 2016 – G-Shock presents Formula DRIFT Japan headed to the mountaintops of the famed Ebisu Circuit for the second round of the Formula DRIFT Japan Championship and third round of the Formula DRIFT World Championship. Mike Whiddett takes the victory in a Mazda RX-7.

A capacity crowded at the heralded jewel of Japan drifting came to the Ebisu Circuit to witness world-class competition from the top drivers in the sport.

“What an amazing event! To be here with the Formula DRIFT Japan team to witness this wonderful event and amazing competition was something any fan of drifting could only dream of,” said Ryan Sage, Vice-President of Formula DRIFT. “Today I saw some of the best drifting in the world and I am proud to see all these drivers, from different walks of life, live out their dream at this legendary track.”

The finals saw Mike Whiddett take on famed Japanese drifter, Masashi Yokoi. Both drivers went door-to-door on both runs, but it was Whiddett’s lead run that sealed the victory with a perfectly executed backwards entry. Yokoi lost his positioning as Whiddett accelerated to the final clip, which ended with the judges unanimously favoring Whiddett giving him the victory.

“This is my first Formula DRIFT victory since 2009 in Thailand, but the level now is at an all-time high, so words can’t begin to describe the feeling right now,” said Mike Whiddett, winner of the event. “In drifting you can’t win by pushing 115 percent or by 98 percent. You have to be really focused.”

The 2016 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue to Round 3: Unchartered Territory on June 3-4 at Orlando Speedworld. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaD, and snapchat formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Formula DRIFT Japan Round 2: Ebisu Circuit
1. Whiddett, Mike RX-7 FD3S Winner
2. Yokoi, Masashi S15 Silvia 2nd Place
3. Hayashi, Kazuki S15 Silvia 3rd Place
4. Tanaka, Seimi S15 Silvia 4th Place
5. Gray, Andrew JZX100 Chaser 5th Place
6. Oshiro, Daichi JZX100 Mark II 6th Place
7. Kasahara, Masaki S15 Silvia 7th Place
8. Horino, Jin 180 SX 8th Place
9. Imamura, Yoichi Lexus LFA 9th Place
10. Nian, Sheng JZX100 Chaser 10th Place
11. Suenaga, Naoto S15 Silvia 11th Place
12. Yamashita, Koichi JZX100 Mark II 12th Place
13. Yamanaka, Kenji JZX100 Mark II 13th Place
14. Fukada, Tadahiro JZX100 Mark II 14th Place
15. Mekuwa, Kojiro S15 Silvia 15th Place
16. Taguchi, Kazuya S15 Silvia 16th Place

Formula DRIFT World Championship Standings after 3 events
1. Whiddett, Mike 188 Points
2. Field, Matt 101 Points
3. Gray, Andrew 66 Points

Formula DRIFT Round 2: Advance Auto Parts Road to the Championship Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 2: Advance Auto Parts Road to the Championship Results;
Vaughn Gittin Wins the Event and Takes Over Lead in the Standings

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Long Beach, Calif. – May 7, 2016 – Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue returned to Atlanta for Round 2: Advance Auto Parts Road to the Championship sponsored by Gumout. Vaughn Gittin in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR takes the victory to move into the lead in the Pro Championship standings.

The Advance Auto Parts Road to the Championship sponsored by Gumout returned to the home of the inaugural Formula DRIFT event. The event weekend featured both the PRO 2 championship and Pro Championship with a full schedule of on-track action.

“Road Atlanta is not only the first track to host Formula DRIFT, 13 years ago, but also a driver favorite course,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “The action is always exciting and the crowd’s energy help make this one of the best events on the circuit.”

The Pro Championship point standings were shaken up with the top three point leaders being knocked out in the Top 32 competition. Experience proved to be a factor with the Top 4 including three past champions, who also have competed at every Formula DRIFT event at Road Atlanta since the beginning. Two-time champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z faced off against 2010 champion and the number one qualifier, Vaughn Gittin. Gittin outperformed his close friend, Forsberg, in a close battle to move into the Finals. 2011 champion, Dai Yoshihara in the Falken Tire / Turn 14 Subaru BRZ faced against the young gun, Alec Hohnadell in the Hohnadell / Enjuku / Get Nuts Lab Nissan S14. Yoshihara advanced to meet Gittin in the Finals. Gittin was no match for Yoshihara and completed the perfect weekend, earning both the top qualifying spot and the victory, while moving into the Pro Championship points lead. Yoshihara notably saw his first podium since 2013, while Forsberg finished in third place.

“To have a perfect event with our brand new Ford Mustang RTR that my team has been working their butts off during the off-season to get ready I’m just pumped.” said Vaughn Gittin, winner of Round 2: Road to the Championship. “It doesn’t get any better than this. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the year.”

The 2016 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue to Round 3: Unchartered Territory on June 3-4 at Orlando Speedworld. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaD, and snapchat formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Round 2: Road to the Championship Event Results

1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR Winner
2. Yoshihara, Dai Falken Tire / Turn 14 Subaru BRZ 2nd Place
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z 3rd Place
4. Hohnadell, Alec Hohnadell / Enjuku / Get Nuts Lab Nissan S14 4th Place
5. Bakchis, Aurimas Ark Performance / Feal Suspension / Falken Hyundai Genesis 5th Place
6. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire VW Passat 6th Place
7. McQuarrie, Tyler Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro 7th Place
8. Essa, Michael Loudmouth Exhaust / Achilles Tire BMW M3 8th Place
9. Whiddett, Mike Red Bull / Nitto Tire Mazda MX5 9th Place
10. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab / Hankook S15 10th Place
11. Stoneback, Geoff CFR / Hankook Nissan 370Z 11th Place
12. Mordaunt, Patrick Drift Paddock Nissan 350Z 12th Place
13. Moen, Kenny Team Boost Lock BMW E46 13th Place
14. Rintanen, Juha PP Design and Art Nissan S15 14th Place
15. Kugay, Faruk Raze’til! MFR Nisssan S14 15th Place
16. Jones, Jeff DOC Racing Nissan S14 16th Place

2016 Formula DRIFT Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 2 Events

1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR 155.00 Points
2. Denofa, Chelsea BC Racing / GT Radial BMW 119.00 Points
3. Bakchis, Aurimas Ark Performance / Feal Suspension / Falken Hyundai Genesis 116.00 Points

2016 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 2 Events

1. BMW 202.00 Points
2. Ford 191.00 Points
3. SR by Toyota 185.00 Points
4. Nissan 151.00 Points
5. Mazda 101.00 Points
6. Chevrolet 83.00 Points
7. Dodge 51.00 Points
8. Infiniti 48.00 Points
9. Lexus 34.00 Points

2016 Tire Championship Standings After 2 Events

1. Nexen 262.00 Points
2. Falken 248.00 Points
3. Nitto 222.00 Points
4. Hankook 199.00 Points
5. GT Radial 153.00 Points
7. Achilles 149.00 Points

Formula DRIFT Round 1 of the PRO 2 Championship Results

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Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Championship Results at the Advance Auto Parts Road to the Championship Presented by Gumout; Jeff Jones Takes the Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – May 7, 2016 – Formula DRIFT PRO 2 entered Road Atlanta for the first round of the PRO 2 championship. Jeff Jones in the DOC Nissan S14 takes the victory and the lead in the standings.

The inaugural event for PRO 2 at Road Atlanta kicked off the PRO 2 championship season. The course proved to be challenging and for many of the PRO 2 drivers as it was their first time drifting at Road Atlanta.

The top four qualifiers coincidentally also ended in the Top 4 of the competition. In the semi-finals, Ryan Litteral in the Ryan Litteral Racing Nissan S14 went head to head with Jeff Jones in one of the best battles of the evening. Litteral made contact with Jones, which ultimately gave Jones the win placing him in the Finals. Number one qualifier, Marc Landreville, in the Perry Performance Nissan S14 faced off against Dan Burkett in the RAD Dan Toyota Supra in unique circumstances due to a collision on course with fault given to Burkett. Landerville was given the win into the Finals, but with his car being unrepairable he was unable to continue in competition giving Jones the victory.

“I’m totally ecstatic to get first place,” said Jeff Jones, winner of Round 1 of the PRO 2 championship. “It was amazing and I’d like to thank DOC for helping me out to get the car ready. It was a blast and I can’t wait for the next round.”

The 2016 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue to Round 3: Uncharted Territory on June 3-4 at Orlando Speedworld. For more information visit,www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebookwww.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaD, and snapchat formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Formula DRIFT Signs VP Racing Fuels as Official Fuel Partner

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 29, 2016 – Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue announced that it has signed VP Racing Fuels as the Official Fuel of Formula DRIFT. VP Racing Fuels will be on-site at each round of competition distributing fuel to teams that need fuel service.

“We are very pleased to bring VP Racing Fuels into the Formula DRIFT family,” said Ryan Sage, Vice President and Co-Founder of Formula DRIFT. “They are a brand we have aspired to work with and now with this partnership we can better serve the needs of drivers and ensure the convenient availability of top quality fuel.”

“The growing popularity of Formula DRIFT is remarkable and this partnership presents a great opportunity to help build awareness of VP’s brand and our expanding product lines,” said Chris Wall, VP’s Chief Marketing Officer. “For years, racers have relied on VP blends like C16™ or VP Import™ for the consistency, increased horsepower and torque necessary to satisfy the unique demands that drifting places on fuel, however, for those racers committed to an ethanol blend, we now offer new X85™ and X98™. We look forward to introducing competitors to these new blends and servicing the fuel needs of Formula DRIFT for years to come.”

VP Racing Fuels is best known as the World Leader in Race Fuel Technology™, fueling champions in virtually every form of motorsport on land, sea and air since 1975. VP is the Official Racing Fuel of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, AMA Supercross, NMRA, NMCA, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and Late Models, Pirelli World Challenge, PDRA and Rally America, among more than 60 VP-sponsored series and sanctioning bodies.

As part of a retail branding program, gas stations and convenience stores across the U.S. are being branded as VP Racing Fuels, with each providing distribution for VP’s other product lines, including ethanol-free VP Small Engine Fuels, formulated for 2- and 4-cycle outdoor power equipment; VP Madditive® performance chemicals; VP PowerWash™ and more. VP also markets VP PowerMaster® hobby fuels for R/C racing. More information is available online at VPRacingFuels.com, VP-SEF.com or PowermasterFuels.com.

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results

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Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results;
Matt Field Takes the Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – April 17, 2016 – Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue returned to Long Beach to host the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge as part of the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Field in the Falken Tire / Drift Cave Nissan S14 takes the victory.

The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge for the fourth consecutive year brought motorsports action under the lights during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with a filled capacity within Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous street course. Select Formula DRIFT drivers competed for a $25,000 prize purse.

“This was a landmark year as the tenth consecutive year for us to bring drifting as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Since 2013, we have been the only Series to compete under the lights in the Grand Prix’s 42-year history and we are happy to make this an ongoing tradition.”

The Top 4 pitted Odi Bakchis, the number qualifier, against Michael Essa, in an exciting battle. Essa outdrove his opponent to move into the Finals. Matt Field then faced Dean Kearney and capitalized on his opponent making a mistake to meet Essa in the final battle. On his lead run Essa spun giving the advantage to Field and ultimately the event victory.

“First off thank you to my crew, they gave me an amazing car. My parents for always being there and for cheering louder than anyone back home,” said Matt Field, winner of the Motegi Super Drift Challenge. “And my sponsors, Casino M8trix, Lucas Oil, Drift Cave, and of course to Falken Tires for giving me the grip I need to stick it to the hard charging boys in this Formula DRIFT field.”

The 2016 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue to Round 2: Road to the Championship on May 6-7 at Road Atlanta. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Motegi Super Drift Challenge Results

1. Field, Matt Falken Tire / Driftcave Motorsports Nissan S14 Winner
2. Essa, Michael Loudmouth Exhaust / Achilles Tire BMW M3 2nd Place
3. Bakchis, Aurimas Feal Suspension / ARK Performance / Falken Tire Hyundai Genesis 3rd Place
4. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper 4th Place
5. Mohan, Kyle GT Radial / Mazdatrix Mazda MX5 5th Place
6. Jones, Jeff DOC Racing Nissan S14 6th Place
7. Litteral, Ryan Ryan Litteral Racing Nissan S14 7th Place
8. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire SR by Toyota tC 8th Place
9. Pawlak, Justin Roush Performance Ford Mustang 9th Place
10. Beechum, Trenton Falken Tire / Joy Hollywood Ford Mustang 10th Place
11. Heilbrunn, Alex RTS Monster BMW 11th Place