Top 32 Play-by-Play: Formula Drift Rd 3 Orlando Speedworld By Driving Line
Orlando Speedworld is the third different Florida race track that Formula Drift has visited in the past three years, but it definitely has its own character. While Palm Beach International Raceway (2011 / 2012 / 2013) and Miami-Homestead Speedway (2014) both raced on modified road courses, Orlando Speedworld is a 3/8-mile banked oval that is bigger than Wall Speedway’s 1/8-mile oval (that will be the fourth stop on the Formula Drift circuit) and smaller than Irwindale’s 1/2-mile oval that will finish the season. The course is only two turns, but the uneven pavement on the infield that some have referred to as a ‘WOOPS‘ section similar to a motocross track is an added hazard drivers will need to plan for. The first banked turn is piloted clockwise with an outer zone along the wall for the entire bank. As the drivers exit the bank, an inner clip sits at the start of the infield. Drivers will transition from one direction to the other across the infield, stabilizing their car through the ‘WOOPS‘ section and hitting a second inner clip before ridding the second outer clipping zone around via the apron of the opposite turn in counter-clockwise rotation.
Ken Gushi topped a field of 38 drivers in qualifying in his GReddy Racing Scion FR-S with Matt Field earning second qualifier and missing the top position by only a single point. Ryan Tuerck, Justin Pawlak, and Tyler McQuarrie earned third, fourth and fifth qualifiers respectively, all also only earning one less point than the driver ahead of them.
In case you missed the event or the live Formula Drift Driftstream, here’s a play-by-play of how the top 32 tandem battles shook out.
Fast forward to the Ford Top 16 or Nitto Final 4.
Continue reading Top 32 Play-by-Play: Formula Drift Rd 3 Orlando Speedworld By Driving Line
THURSDAY NIGHTS GO “SLIDEWAYS” at IRWINDALE Speedway June 11, 2015
Thursday night June 11, Irwindale’s own Formula DRIFT open practice sessions will resume on the course that the entire civilized world now knows as the legendary “House of Drift” … aka: Irwindale Speedway right at the top of the 605 freeway.
2015’s action-packed Thursday night under-the-lights practices will be held monthly with events now set for:
- June 11
- July 9
- August 13
- September 10
- October 1
- November 12
- December 10
Each of the Thursday night sessions will start with a (public invited) technical inspection for the competition vehicles at 4PM and drift practice will run flat out from 5 to 8PM. The fan gates open at 4PM and there’s plenty of close-free parking.
Open to the public (fans can watch from the stands and visit the pits as well) admission is only $10 per person. These will be nights when fans can see some of the best of the best getting tuned-up for the 2015 season as well as catching the acts of some of new, upcoming Drift talent as they test their driving skills and machines against the established pros.
Anyone can run their properly-equipped* car for $75 and they can register right at the track on Thursday night.
Thursday Night Drift Requirements
Group C Requirements:
- Helmet: No open face, SA2010, SA2005
- No loose items: Interior, trunk
- Fire Extinguisher: secure mount, 2lb min
- Fluid Leaks: No Fluid Leaks
- Catch cans: Coolant, Oil if non OEM
- Gas Cap: Present and sealed
- Fuel line: check hose clamps and fittings
- Battery: Secure mount, positive covered
- Brake light: Min 2 functioning
- Brake pedal: good feel maintain pressure
- Key or Master cutoff operation, location marked
- Lug nuts: Present and secure
- Steering: Smooth, no binding
- Tow hooks: Front and rear (OEM at own risk)
- Hood and Trunk: Securely latched
- Windshield: OEM or Lexan secure mounting
- Seat: OEM with stock belts or FIA with harness
Group B Requirements: plus listed above
- Suspension: Coilovers or Non OEM suspension
- Differential: Welded or clutch type
- E-Brake: Functioning, cable or hydro
Group A Requirements: plus listed above
- 6 point roll cage: 5”x0.095 DOM
- Door Bars: Nascar or X on both doors
- Harness bar and Diagonal
- Seat belts: 5 point minimum required
- Fire Suit: SFI 3-2A/5 with fire resistant gloves and shoes
For Technical Inquiries: [email protected]
Updated Formula DRIFT Round 3: Unchartered Territory Results
Formula DRIFT Round 3: Unchartered Territory Results;
Ryan Tuerck Takes the Victory
Long Beach, Calif. – June 6, 2015 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro entered Orlando Speed World for the first time for Round 3: Unchartered Territory. Ryan Tuerck in the Retaks / Maxxis Scion FR-S takes the event victory and moves into second place in the standings.
Round 3: Unchartered Territory lived up to its moniker as the Series entered Orlando Speed World for the first time. 637,000 viewers tuned into the Driftstream during the weekend and were not disappointed. Despite the inclement weather, the action on track was very competitive. The new track would prove to be challenging even for the most seasoned of veterans.
“We were happily surprised with the at capacity crowd attendance for our first time at Orlando Speed World,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Florida has always been a key demographic for the Series and now I think we have found a sweet spot in Central Florida.”
The event was full of upsets and surprises. The semi-finals was a rematch from the last event with defending champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z and Ken Gushi in the GReddy Racing / Hankook Tire Scion Racing FR-S going head to head. On Forsberg’s lead run contact was made that was ruled to be Gushi’s fault giving him a zero. During the same run, but unrelated to the cars’ contact, Forsberg’s vehicle caught on fire which forced Forsberg to utilize his fire suppression system. That then led to his car being non-operational from that point forward. Forsberg was awarded the win over Gushi and was set to meet Tuerck in the Finals, but unable to continue through the competition due to the complications with his car, Forsberg was forced to bow out giving Tuerck the victory to move him into second place in the standings. Gushi moves up to fourth place and Forsberg into third place overall while securing both their second consecutive podium finishes.
“The weekend had its ups and downs. We barely moved on in the Top 32 and then moved on against Yokoi when his car caught on fire. The only battle we then had was in the semi-finals against Matt Field. Then against Forsberg’s car caught on fire and he couldn’t continue and I got the win on a technicality,” said Ryan Tuerck, winner of Round 3: Unchartered Territory. “A wins a win. Thanks to my team they worked hard regardless and it feels good to secure a little bit of a points gap.”
The 2015 Formula DRIFT season will continue to Round 4: The Gauntlet on June 26-27 at Wall Speedway in New Jersey. 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.
Round 3: Unchartered Territory Event Results | ||
1. Tuerck, Ryan | Ryan Tuerck Racing / Retaks / Maxxis Scion FR-S | Winner |
2. Forsberg, Chris | NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z | 2nd Place |
3. Gushi, Ken | GReddy Racing / Hankook Tire Scion Racing FR-S | 3rd Place |
4. Field, Matt | CX Racing / Yokohama Tire Nissan S14 | 4th Place |
5. Mordaunt, Pat | DriftPaddock.com / Falken Tire Nissan 350Z | 5th Place |
6. Gittin, Vaughn | Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR | 6th Place |
7. Yokoi, Masashi | D-Max Nissan S15 | 7th Place |
8. Hohnadell, Alec | 11 Racing Nissan S14 | 8th Place |
9. McQuarrie, Tyler | GoPro / Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro | 9th Place |
10. Bakchis, Aurimas | Feal Suspension / ARK Performance / Nitto Nissan 240SX | 10th Place |
11. Whiddett, Mike | Red Bull Mazda MX-5 | 11th Place |
12. Nishida, Robbie | Achilles Radial Infiniti G37S | 12th Place |
13. Evans, James | SIKKY Racing Nissan 350Z | 13th Place |
14. Moen, Kenny | Bridges Racing / Achilles / Gatebil Nissan S14 | 14th Place |
15. Kearney, Dean | Oracle Lighting / Achilles Motorsports Dodge Viper | 15th Place |
16. Castro, Jhonnattan | E3 / Hankook / Progreso Nissan 370Z | 16th Place |
2015 Formula DRIFT Championship Presented by GoPro Top 3 Standings After Three Events | ||
1. Bakchis, Aurimas | Feal Suspension / ARK Performance / Nitto Nissan 240SX | 223.00 Points |
2. Tuerck, Ryan | Ryan Tuerck Racing / Retaks / Maxxis Scion FR-S | 208.00 Points |
3. Forsberg, Chris | NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z | 189.00 Points |
Manufacturers Championship Standings After Three Rounds | ||
1. Scion | 471.00 Points | |
2. Nissan | 261.00 Points | |
3. Ford | 234.00 Points | |
4. Chevrolet | 179.00 Points | |
5. Mazda | 125.00 Points | |
6. Toyota | 87.00 Points | |
7. Infiniti | 85.00 Points | |
8. Dodge | 70.00 Points | |
9. BMW | 52.00 Points | |
Tire Championship Standings After Three Rounds | ||
1. Hankook | 449.00 Points | |
2. Nitto | 362.00 Points | |
3. Maxxis | 188.00 Points | |
4. Falken | 278.00 Points | |
5. Achilles | 272.00 Points | |
6. Yokohama | 259.00 Points | |
7. GT Radial | 143.00 Points |
Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Orlando Speed World Results
Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Orlando Speed World Results;
Alex Heilbrunn Takes the Victory
Long Beach, Calif. – June 5, 2015 – Formula DRIFT PRO 2 began the season at Orlando Speed World with the first of four rounds of competition. Alex Heilbrunn in the IMR BMW 3-Series takes the victory and the lead in the standings.
PRO 2 kicked off the season with the first event at Orlando Speed World. This marks the first PRO 2 event to be held at the venue.
“In its second year, PRO 2 has proven to be a great way for drivers to get acclimated to the tracks and the level of competition,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Alex Heilbrunn is a great example of an international driver, hailing from Lima, Peru, who made his way through the Pro-AM Series and now has found success in PRO 2.”
Heilbrunn met Andy Gray in the DriftEbisu.com / Achilles Tire Toyota Chaser, a regular of Formula DRIFT Japan, in the Finals. Heilbrunn remained consistent throughout the night and out drove his opponents to gain his first victory in Formula DRIFT PRO 2 and gain the lead in the standings in the first of four events for the season. Rounding out the podium was Jeff Jones in third place in the DNA Motoring Nissan S14.
“We are super excited to be here at Formula DRIFT PRO 2 for the first time,” said Alex Heilbrunn, winner of Round 1 of 4 events of PRO 2 Championship. “We qualified first and got the win, so it was a perfect weekend for me. I want to thank my team and everyone that made it possible.”
The 2015 Formula DRIFT season will continue to Round 4: The Gauntlet on June 26-27 at Wall Speedway in New Jersey. 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.
PRO 2 – Round 1 of 4 – Orlando Speed World Event Results |
||
1. Heilbrunn, Alex | IMR BMW 3-Series | Winner |
2. Gray, Andy | DriftEbisu.com / Achilles Tire Toyota Chaser | 2nd Place |
3. Jones, Jeff | DNA Motoring Nissan S15 | 3rd Place |
4. Briggs, Dave | Briggs Racing Nissan S14 | 4th Place |
5. Wolfson, Jeff | Scion FR-S | 5th Place |
6. Wicknick, Brandon | Chase Bays / RUN2JZ Nissan S13 | 6th Place |
7. Patterson, Brandon | Damascus Apparel Nissan S14 | 7th Place |
8. Rintanen, Juha | Nissan S14 | 8th Place |
9. Evans, James | Sikky Racing Nissan 350Z | 9th Place |
10. Lawrence, Kevin | Nissan S13 | 10th Place |
11. Cleef, Tommy Van | Van Cleef Motorsports Toyota Supra | 11th Place |
12. Goble, Brody | Indy Speed Shop V8 Nissan 240SX | 12th Place |
13. Hull, Taylor | Nissan S14 | 13th Place |
14. Kugay, Faruk | Nissan S14 | 14th Place |
15. Litteral, Ryan | Nissan S14 | 15th Place |
16. Rowlings, Kelsey | Nissan S14 | 16th Place |
2015 Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Top 3 Standings After One Event |
||
1. Heilbrunn, Alex | IMR BMW 3-Series | 107.00 Points |
2. Gray, Andy | DriftEbisu.com / Achilles Tire Toyota Chaser | 83.00 Points |
3. Jones, Jeff | DNA Motoring Nissan S15 | 67.00 Points |