Tag: Formula D

Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Results;

James Deane Makes His Return to the Series and Takes the Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 2, 2017 – Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras kicked off the 14th season with an exciting day of action at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. Irish driver James Deane returns to the Series and gets the win in the Worthhouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan S15.

“What a way to start the season,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “With not only a capacity crowd, record numbers on the Livestream, but proof that Formula Drift is truly an international series where the best of the best come to compete.”

The first event of the season commenced on the Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course. The highly anticipated event was action packed from start to finish and the capacity crowd witnessed many competitive battles throughout the day. The event also introduced new drivers to the field including Georgy Chivchyan from Russia and Piotr Wiecek from Poland and marked the return of Irish driver, James Deane. The event broke records with the Livestream with over 1 million viewers tuning in from around the world over the two-day event weekend making for the largest viewership for a single event in Formula DRIFT history

Deane returned to Formula DRIFT after a seven year hiatus from the Series in dramatic fashion. Deane proved to be a contender after qualifying in second position and making his way through to the finals by defeating both former champion Michael Essa and the reigning and 3-time champion, Chris Forsberg. Deane met with Ryan Tuerck in the Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86 in the semi-finals and with consistent driving all-day and a solid chase run he was able to advance to the Finals. On the other side of the bracket in the semi-finals, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Falken Tire / Drifz Wheels / Ark Performance Nissan 240SX faced off against Alex Heilbrunn in the IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3. After a hard fought battle that was too close to call, the drivers met in a One More Time battle and while chasing Heilbrunn, Bakchis made an error entering the hairpin giving Heilbrunn the win to put him in the Finals. Deane’s consistency and technical driving was no match for Heilbrunn in the Finals and Deane won his first Formula DRIFT victory to take the lead in the chase for the championship.

“Man, what a way to start back in Formula DRIFT after missing out on the last seven years,” said James Deane, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. “I owe a lot to my good friend and teammate, Piotr Wiecek, who came up with this whole idea to come back to the Series as a two-car team. To come out with the win is just mind blowing. What a feeling!

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 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results

1. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

Winner

2. Heilbrunn, Alex

IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3

2nd Place

3. Tuerck, Ryan

Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86

3rd Place

4. Bakchis, Aurimas

Falken Tires / Drifz Wheels / ARK Performance Nissan 240

4th Place

5. Aasbo, Fredric

Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM

5th Place

6. Coffman, Matt

Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240

6th Place

7. Forsberg, Chris

NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z

7th Place

8. Kearney, Dean

Oracle Lighting Dodgle Viper

8th Place

9. Gittin, Vaughn

Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR

9th Place

10. Wiecek, Piotr

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

10th Place

11. Gushi, Ken

GReddy Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota Racing 86

11th Place

12. Field, Matt

Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240

12th Place

13. Rintanen, Juha

STR Racing / Nexen Tire Nissan 240

13th Place

14. Bluss, Kristaps

HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46

14th Place

15. Pawlak, Justin

Roush Performance Ford Mustang

15th Place

16. Essa, Michael

Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3

16th Place

2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 1 Event

1. Deane, James

Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240

106.00 Points

2. Heilbrunn, Alex

IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3

84.00 Points

3. Tuerck, Ryan

Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86

69.00 Points

2017 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 1 Event

1. Toyota

121.00 Points

2. Ford

74.00 Points

3. Nissan

52.00 Points

4. Dodge

51.00 Points

5. BMW

35.00 Points

6. Infiniti 18.00 Points

2017 Tire Championship Standings After 1 Event

1. Falken

174.00 Points

2. Nitto

123.00 Points

3. Hankook

121.00 Points

4. Nexen

104.00 Points

5. Achilles

86.00 Points

ENEOS ANNOUNCES 2017 SPONSORSHIP OF DAIJIRO YOSHIHARA IN FORMULA DRIFT

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ENEOS ANNOUNCES 2017 SPONSORSHIP OF DAIJIRO YOSHIHARA IN FORMULA DRIFT

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ENEOS – the brand created by JX Nippon Oil & Energy, the world’s leading OE lubricant supplier for Asian automakers – is announcing an expansion to its North American sponsorship program. For 2017, the ENEOS roster is extended to Daijiro Yoshihara who competes in the Formula DRIFT series.

Entering the series in 2004, the Japanese-born drifter is one of only four drivers to have remained in the series throughout its meteoric global rise. Winning the championship outright in 2011, Dai has become a mainstay of the series as a consistent points figure and scorer over the past 12 years.

For 2017, Dai will again compete in his Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ. This is the fourth year in the same car, which has been consistently developed throughout its racing career. It is fitted with a turbocharged 454ci Chevrolet LSX engine boasting 962hp at the wheels, and 832 lb-ft of torque. As is essential in drift, the power is transferred to the rear wheels via a G-Force GSR four-speed transmission and Winters 10″ quick-change rear-end.

Drift professionals need huge amounts of horsepower to generate ferocious acceleration. This is designed to get them into the first turn at high speed. The driver then uses the power to overcome the grip at the rear wheels and control the drift with a high level of skill. Drivers score points for style and precision, but competition is fierce, with a packed field of high-powered machinery and exceptional drivers.

For 2017, the car is largely unchanged from last year, although Dai has focused on improving suspension set-up in the off-season as well as overall durability. Early testing showed plenty of potential, which will hopefully be realized as he enters the opening round of the 2017 season in Long Beach, CA this weekend.

Looking forward to the first race, Dai continues to have a positive approach. “Every year our team focuses on winning the championship and we have a very good chance this year. The car is the best it’s ever been and we’re in great shape to really fight for the championship in 2017,” said Daijiro Yoshihara.

As for the ENEOS sponsorship, Dai was delighted at the new relationship. “Growing up in Tokyo, I actually worked in an ENEOS gas station. The money I earned enabled me to start my racing career. Ever since then, I’ve been trying to work more closely with ENEOS and so I’m honored to finally be part of the ENEOS Racing family. This is more than just a regular oil company; it is very well respected and makes great product. I look forward to contributing to ENEOS Racing history this season.”

Motoshi Sunami, President & CEO of JX Nippon Oil & Energy, USA added, “We are delighted to have Daijiro Yoshihara join us for 2017. As the leading supplier of oil to the Japanese and Asian automakers, we are very happy to be involved in a sport that started in Japan and has spread across the US, finding a home in the USA, just as ENEOS and even Dai has done. For us, Dai was a natural choice and we look forward to a great partnership.”

For more information about ENEOS, visit eneos.us

For more information about Daijiro Yoshihara, visit daiyoshihara.com

For information about Formula DRIFT, visit formulad.com

For high resolution images click : HERE

Formula DRIFT Announces Partnership With App Developer Hopscotch

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Long Beach, Calif. – March 30, 2017– Formula DRIFT has announced the launch of a new app available now for iOS and to come on Android devices. The app will be an all-in-one hub for Formula DRIFT.

“We are excited to introduce this brand new mobile app that will include everything an FD fan would need right in their pocket,” said Ryan Sage, Vice-President and Co-Founder of Formula DRIFT. “The app will also provide easy ways to earn free stuff for, just being a fan!”

The mobile app will contain information from the Formula DRIFT website including FD news, stats, driver roster, standings, a social media hub in an easy to use, all-inclusive application.

Additional features include:

– Live scoring alerts and stats

– Exclusive Formula DRIFT content

– Breaking news alerts

– Ability to purchase tickets

– Geo-fencing to support on-site programs for sponsors

– The new Formula DRIFT fan rewards program

“Formula DRIFT has an incredibly passionate, young fan base, and we are excited to deliver a new and better way for Formula Drift to engage those fans,” said Laurence Sotsky, founder and CEO, Hopscotch. “Their new app will not only help activate their fans and sponsors directly on their mobile devices, it will also transform their fan’s race day experience.”

The Formula DRIFT app can be downloaded now in the App Store for iOS devices.

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.