Tag: Falken Tire

Formula DRIFT Round 8: O’Reilly Auto Parts “Title Fight” Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 8: O’Reilly Auto Parts “Title Fight” Results;

Piotr Wiecek Takes the Event Victory and James Deane is Crowned Champion

FD-RD8-Podium

FD-Champ

Long Beach, Calif. – October 14, 2017 – Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras returned to Irwindale Speedway for Round 8: O’Reilly Auto Parts “Title Fight”. Piotr Wiecek in the Worthhouse / Falken Tire Nissan 240 takes home his first Formula DRIFT victory and clinches Rookie of the Year honors, while his teammate James Deane in the Worthhouse / Falken Tire Nissan 240 clinches his first Formula DRIFT Championship.

Deane completed an impressive season with four event victories and a third place finish at tonight’s finale to secure the championship. His sponsor Falken Tire swept the podium and won the Tire Manufacturer championship for their second consecutive time. Toyota wins their fourth consecutive Manufacturer championship.

“It’s been such an intense weekend at the biggest event I’ve ever competed in with the championship on the line at one of the craziest tracks I’ve ever driven,” said James Deane, 2017 Formula DRIFT champion. “It is also my birthday today so there was just so many emotions and with so many fans coming in from Ireland and Poland, I just wanted to put on a good show. It’s just been a dream season.”

The sold out crowd came for one last Formula DRIFT finale at Irwindale Speedway, which is often referred as the birthplace of US drifting. The Livestream drew over 1 millionviews over the course of the event.

“This was an incredible season that saw the rise of two exceptional international drivers. It’s a testament of the talent in the Series having the best drifters in the world choosing Formula DRIFT to compete,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “We look forward to our 15th season and have some exciting things planned for next year.”

In the Top 4, Vaughn Gittin in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR faced off against Daijiro Yoshihara in the Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ. In his chase run, Gittin made contact with the wall giving the win to Yoshihara to move him into the Finals. While in the Great 8, Deane and Aurimas Bakchis, made contact, which Bakchis was deemed at fault. Deane failed to get his car fixed in the allotted time giving his Worthouse teammate the win to put him into the Finals. In the Finals, Yoshihara and Wiecek had a very close battle, but the speed and proximity of Wiecek was too much to overcome. Wiecek takes his first Formula DRIFT victory and secured his Rookie of the Year honors

“I feel amazing,” said Piotr Wiecek, winner of Round 8: Title Fight. “It’s such a great atmosphere and such a great sport. I’d like to thank my whole crew and teammate James. What an unbelievable season.”

For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat – formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Round 8: O’Reilly Auto Parts “Title Fight”

1. Wiecek, Piotr

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan S15

Winner

2. Yoshihara, Dai

Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ

2nd Place

3. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan S15

3rd Place

4. Gittin, Vaughn

Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

4th Place

5. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

5th Place

6. Pawlak, Justin

Roush Performance Ford Mustang

6th Place

7. Bakchis, Aurimas “Odi”

Falken Tires / Drifz Wheels / ARK Performance Nissan 240SX

7th Place

8. Heilbrunn, Alec

Monster BMW E46

8th Place

9. Denofa, Chelsea

BC Racing / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

9th Place

10. Forsberg, Chris

NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z

10th Place

11. Essa, Michael

Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW E46

11th Place

12. Field, Matt

Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240SX

12th Place

13. Hohnadell, Alec

Urban Air / Hoonigan / Nexen Tire Nissan 240

13th Place

14. Bluss, Kristaps

HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E92

14th Place

15. Gushi, Ken

GReddy Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota 86

15th Place

16. Castro, Jhonnattan

Gerdau Metaldom / Nexen Toyota GT86

16th Place

2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Final Standings

1. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

651.00 Points

2. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

538.00 Points

3. Bakchis, Aurimas “Odi”

Falken Tires / Drifz Wheels / ARK Performance Nissan 240SX

418.00 Points

2017 Manufacturer Championship Final Standings

1. Toyota

923.00 Points

2. Ford

751.00 Points

3. BMW

367.00 Points

4. Dodge

311.00 Points

4. Nissan

294.00 Points

6. Infiniti

174.00 Points

2017 Tire Championship Final Standings

1. Falken

1255.00 Points

2. Nexen

979.00 Points

3. Achilles

877.00 Points

4. Nitto

781.00 Points

5. Hankook

705.00 Points

Deane x Więcek: One Step Closer by Speedhunters

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The speed at which the 2017 Formula Drift season is passing, is frightening. It feels like only a couple of weeks ago that James Deane and Piotr Więcek shared their plan to compete a full FD campaign in 2017, but in reality, it was 10 months back. By the time the Irwindale final comes around in October, it will have been over a year since the decision was made.

From the outside, expectations have been high for the newest team in the paddock. In particular, expectations for what James would achieve in his first season have been astronomical. It hasn’t been quite that straight-forward, but what the Worthouse Drift Team have achieved in what has only ever been intended as a learning year, has far exceeded even their own expectations.

2017 Formula Drift Seattle Speedhunters Worthouse by Paddy McGrath-1

When I caught up with the team in Monroe last week, James was narrowly leading the points standings with Piotr being miles ahead of his nearest rival for Rookie of the Year honours.

2017 Formula Drift Seattle Speedhunters Worthouse by Paddy McGrath-2

The cars had been transported from the previous round in Montreal, all the way back to the Bridges Racing workshop in Huntington Beach, California, before making the long drive north along PCH to Washington state. While at Bridges, both cars were checked over, and in Piotr’s case, repaired after his run in with the wall at the Autodrome St-Eustache.

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In The Moment: Throwdown For The Title Article by Speedhunters

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A championship isn’t won in the final rounds, but it most certainly can be lost.

We’ve just wrapped Thursday practice at the sixth round of the 2017 Formula Drift championship at Evergreen Speedway, north of Seattle. Going into this event, the title race is still technically wide open, but I think that in reality, there are three main contenders.

2017 FD06 - Thursday Practice Gallery by Paddy McGrath-6

 

At the top of the standings, in his first full Formula Drift season, is James Deane. With two wins so far in 2017, Deane has been top of the points standings since round three at Atlanta. It’s more than he ever could have dreamed of, considering that this year was intended as a recce year for the Worthouse Drift Team.

2017 FD06 - Thursday Practice Gallery by Paddy McGrath-14

 

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Deane x Więcek: How To Lose Properly By Speedhunters

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I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we’re already beyond the halfway point of the 2017 Formula Drift season.

It only feels like a few weeks ago that James Deane and Piotr Więcek informed me of their intention to contest a whole FD season for the first time. It was actually September of last year, and the months since have been an absolute whirlwind. From the highest of highs, to some pretty significant lows, it has been a rollercoaster so far.

2017 FD05 Formula Drift Montreal Worthouse Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-4

For the fifth round, the traveling circus headed north and to the only stop outside of the United States. Autodrome Saint-Eustache probably isn’t the first venue you think of when it comes to drifting, but the Montreal-based circuit is a haven for drifting talent.

2017 FD05 Formula Drift Montreal Worthouse Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-25

The family run facility might be modest, but it more than makes up for it in character while also supplying a demanding course for the Formula D roster.

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