[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_1TkP9qJBM[/youtube]
Tag: Ken Gushi
Autoblog: How the V8 became drifting’s engine of choice
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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udhvbSQn1p0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
[RESULTS] Daigo Saito reigns supreme at Achilles Formula Drift Singapore 2012
1 JULY 2012 (SINGAPORE): Achilles Formula Drift Singapore 2012 came to a pulsating end with reigning champion Daigo Saito from Japan, hoisting the trophy once again here at the Changi Exhibition Centre in front of more than 9,000 fans over the two-day competition.
The fans in the stands were clearly up for some thrilling drift action, and the drivers did not disappoint as they pushed themselves to the limit in the Round of 32 on the new course. Saito, who finished top of the Qualifying Round with a score of 92 on Saturday, received a bye and dispatched Malaysia’s Muhammad Zaiham Hamdan in his 2001 Nissan Silvia in the Round of 16. He followed up with convincing wins against Emmanuel Adwitya Amandio from Indonesia in the quarter-finals and Robbie Nishida in the semi-finals.
The surprise of the day was Indonesia’s Rio Saputro Budihardjo driving in his Nissan Cefiro A31 who gave notice to the competition as the second seed going into today’s Round of 32. Budihardjo continued his superb form, storming into the Final after taking out Malaysia’s Ser Ming Hui and crowd favourite Ken Gushi from the USA in the Round of 16 and top eight respectively.
With a roaring crowd behind them, Saito and Budihardjo revved up their engines for the Final. In the first tandem run, the Indonesian spun out and the reigning champion put himself in the lead. However, in the reverse run, Daigo was penalized for straightening out at the final clipping point, forcing the finalists to a One More Time.
In the second run, Daigo jumped out to take his line early to put a sizable lead ahead of Rio, leaving the Indonesian with too much distance to catch up. With the pressure on the rookie, Rio spun out and the Japanese claimed his second Achilles Formula Drift Singapore title after his success last year.
A humble Saito said: “I am pleased to win the Achilles Formula Drift Singapore for a second time and it was a tough final against Budihardjo. He has been in great form all weekend and I had to focus and give it my best shot to retain the title. I have always enjoyed the event here in Singapore as the crowd is always cheering us on and I will definitely be back for more.” “Of course I am very happy and thrilled to have made it all the way to the Finals. I have always looked up at Daigo as a role model and he is one of the strongest competitors in the world. I had to push my car to the limit just to match him and as a result, I spun out. But the result is still a great one for me and my team.” chirped Budihardjo.
Malaysia’s Hanizam Bin Hamzah finished on the podium after beating Robbie Nishida of the USA in a tight battle for third place.On the local front, only Singapore’s Jansen Tan advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Malaysia’s Rocker Loh Swee Hwa. However, he had the unenviable task of going against a one of the event favourites Ken Gushi in the Round of 16 where the American star flexed his muscles to seal his spot in the top eight.
Speaking after his run, Tan said: “I am definitely happy to have made it to the Top 16. At the first leg held in Malaysia, I had a lot of problems with my car. So having managed to address these issues and do well on my own home ground, it was a great result. The home crowd was absolutely fantastic and I am thankful to hear their applause and support throughout my runs.”
The Achilles Formula Drift Singapore 2012 also saw Team USA comprising of Ken Gushi and Robbie Nishida winning the first ever Canon Nations Cup in Singapore ahead of Daigo Saito and Manabu Orido from Team Japan. Singapore’s duo of Jansen Tan and Ivan Lim finished in third place to close out a very successful second leg of the Asian Drift Series 2012.
The Achilles Formula Drift Series will now move on to the third leg of the series in Bangkok, Thailand with the final leg set to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia where stars like Saito, Orido and Nishida are set to thrill the drift fans once again with some pulsating drift action.
Results:
1.Daigo Saito
2. Rio Saputro Budihardjo
3. Hanizam Bin Hamzah
4. Robbie Nishida
Ken Gushi Teaches Joey Logano of Toyota Racing How To Drift
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM52F_ggGX8[/youtube]
Casio Announces Inaugural Sponsorship of Formula Drift Star, Ken Gushi, and His Team in the 2012 Singapore leg to be held in June
Casio Announces Inaugural Sponsorship of Formula Drift Star, Ken Gushi, and His Team in the 2012 Singapore leg to be held in June.
Limited-edition G-Shock watch will be launched to celebrate Casio’s first sponsorship of a race team in Singapore.
Singapore, May 2012 – Casio Singapore Pte Ltd is proud to be the main sponsor of Ken Gushi, one of the top competitors in the drifting arena, and his team, the G-Shock – Kumho Tires Drift team, in the upcoming 2012 Formula Drift Asia race which will see the Singapore leg flag off on 30 June 2012 at Changi Exhibition Center. In conjunction with the first sponsorship of a race team for the leading timepiece brand, Casio Singapore is excited to commemorate this collaboration with the launch of a limited edition G-Shock, the Casio G-Shock DW-6900CB-4DRIFTDS.
“Casio G-shock is thrilled to make our inaugural sponsorship to support Ken Gushi and his team in the Asian series of the 2012 Formula Drift competition, as we believe that he is a brilliant representation of the G-shock brand identity, as an up and rising young personality displaying absolute tenacity to beat the odds in his career. We have strong faith that he will be able to outdo himself in this year’s race and Casio is glad to be a partner in his climb to the top spot on the podium”, said Mr Takaya Hideki, Managing Director of Casio Singapore Pte Ltd.
“We are really excited about this unique collaboration between Formula Drift Asia and G-Shock. G-Shock has always been the leader in combining fashion forward wristwear with on-track athletic performance, a combination that is very much in line with the Formula Drift lifestyle. It is also fitting that one of our top pro drivers, Japanese-American Ken Gushi will be representing G-Shock as their brand ambassador for Formula Drift Singapore. Ken’s cool California cred and aggressive driving style on the track embodies all the values that have made G-Shock the clear choice among extreme athletes today. I am sure that the collaboration model will be a sure-fire hit among Formula Drift fans worldwide as we celebrate our fifth year in Asia”, enthused Mr Marcus Lim, Co-Founder of Formula Drift Asia (Driftpac).
“I am very excited and honoured to have Casio’s support in the Formula Drift Asia race this year as I have always found the brand’s G-Shock watches to be an ideal accessory for sportsmen and those frequently on the go, like myself, as the timepieces are strong in withstanding rough situations and are known for their water/shock-resistance and durability. Their trendy and vibrant designs are also very attractive, allowing for a tough watch with practical qualities without compromising on style”, said Mr Ken Gushi, on this partnership with Casio.
Ken Gushi, armed with almost a decade of experience as a Formula Drift driver, launched his professional driving career at the age of 15 and has made his mark in prominent races such as the D1 Grand Prix of Japan and the Formula Drift Championships of the United States. Having seen his fair share of wrong turns on the race track, Ken’s stellar performance at the Formula Drift Asia series in Singapore in 2011 landed him a spot on the podium as the second runner-up and displayed his resilience as a professional driver, a quality that is reflective of the G-shock brand positioning of portraying toughness and durability.
Likewise, recognised for its strength, adaptability and water/shock-resistant qualities, the Casio G-shock complements the fast-paced and active lifestyle of Ken and his team, cementing the relationship between the brand and the drivers both on and off the race track.
To mark the partnership, a Casio G-shock DW-6900 piece, specially designed by local streetwear label, Flesh Imp, will be introduced to the market for fans and collectors alike.
Keeping with the red, black and white colour theme of the Formula Drift race, the straps of the digital timepiece feature the Formula Drift and Driftpac logo prominently. Inspired by the “stickerbomb” sports culture whereby many different stickers are pasted on a car over a period of time to create a random yet one-of-a-kind design, the watch design by Flesh Imp combines elements of drifting and street culture to create a unique timepiece for the occasion.
[Photos: Driftpac/Adrian Wong]
