Tag: Kyle Mohan

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge – Event Info and Drivers List

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MSD

The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, which will take place both nights on the eastern end of the race circuit – turns 9, 10 and 11 – will feature 16 of the sport’s top cars and drivers.

Friday’s action will include practice and qualifying runs, while Saturday will see the teams compete for a $25,000 prize purse. On Sunday, the Super Drift Challenge cars will drift the entire race circuit after the featured IndyCar Series race.

Grand Prix fans that purchase any admission ticket for Friday or Saturday racing activities will be able to see that night’s Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge. Seating for the Super Drift Challenge will be in Grandstands 16, 18, 24, 25 and 26 on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Last year’s Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge made history as the first night racing in the history of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Powers took the victory after a close-fought Finals match with top seed Michael Essa, to the delight of more than 10,000 spectators.

In addition to the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, the 2013 Grand Prix will again be headlined by the IndyCar Series.  Also featured will be the Tequila Patrón TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and more races to be announced.

Race weekend’s festival of family entertainment includes free Friday and Saturday night concerts and the Lifestyle Expo featuring a huge Family Fun Zone with racing simulators, kids’ racing cars, computer games and action sports. Also in the Expo will be the ever-growing Green Power Prix-View, featuring the latest in environmentally conscious products for the car and home. Add to that multiple driver autograph sessions, special events and exhibits highlighting the Grand Prix’s 40 years, the popular Food Truck Experience and Sunday’s Mothers Exotic Car Paddock, it’s a weekend that will be packed full of activity.

Ticket prices for the three-day event range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $135 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can select and pay for their 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED.  A printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information can be obtained by calling the hotline.

Friday, April 11
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:40 a.m. TUDOR United SportsCar Championship practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:30 a.m. Pro/Celebrity Race practice
12:15 p.m. Indy Lights practice
2:00 p.m. INDYCAR practice
3:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity qualifying
4:00 p.m. INDYCAR All-Driver Autograph Session in INDYCAR Paddock (open to all spectators)
4:00 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge practice
5:00 p.m. TUDOR Championship qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert on Concert Stage Starring Kinky
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge practice (Turns 9-10-11)
7:45 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge qualifying
9:00 p.m. End of day’s activities

Saturday, April 12 
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:45 a.m. Indy Lights practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:00 a.m. Indy Lights practice
11:00 a.m. Autograph session with racing legend Mario Andretti (Promenade Atrium – 45 minutes)
12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Race (10 laps)
1:15 p.m. INDYCAR qualifying and Firestone Fast Six
2:40 p.m. TUDOR Championship Pre-Race Ceremonies
3:05 p.m. Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase featuring the TUDOR Championship (100 minutes)
5:15 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Saturday Rock-N-Roar Concert on Concert Stage Starring Paul Rodgers of Bad Company
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Finals (Turns 9-10-11) (Live Stream www.formulad.com/live)
9:00 p.m. End of day’s activities

S​unday, April 13
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:20 a.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Truck practice and qualifying
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
8:00 a.m. Pirelli World Challenge warm-up
9:00 a.m. INDYCAR warm-up
9:45 a.m. Indy Lights Pre-Race Ceremonies
10:15 a.m. Indy Lights Race (1 hour)
10:30 a.m. Autograph session with racing legends Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney and Al Unser Jr. (Promenade Atrium – 45 minutes)
11:30 a.m. Mothers Exotic Car Parade
12:00 p.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks Race
12:30 p.m. INDYCAR Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:43 p.m. “Drivers, Start Your Engines!”
1:50 p.m. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach INDYCAR Race (80 laps)
3:55 p.m. Formula DRIFT demonstration
4:30 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge Race (1 hour)
5:30 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
5:30 p.m. End of day’s activities

*All times subject to change without notice

Drivers List
Odi Bakchis
Fredric Aasbo
Daigo Saito
Ryan Kado
Mike Essa
Robbie Nishida
Dean Kearney
Brandon Wicknick
Forrest Wang
Dennis Mertzanis
Charles Ng
Jeff Jones
Kenneth Moen
Toshiki Yoshioka
Kyle Mohan
Kuniaki Takahashi

CLICK HERE for more information about the entire Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.

CLICK HERE for coverage from Speedhunters of the 2013 Motegi Super Drift Challenge.

Formula DRIFT Veteran Kyle Mohan Joins GT Radial Team

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GTRadialRANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (March 28, 2014) – Just weeks after announcing its status as an official tire supplier for the 2014 Formula DRIFT series, GT Radial has added a second driver to the team, Kyle Mohan, who will be competing in a turbocharged Mazda RX-8.

An eight-year veteran of Formula DRIFT, Mohan joins fellow Mazda driver, rookie Tyler Wolfson, on the GT Radial roster.  An independent team based in Signal Hill, CA, Kyle Mohan Racing routinely qualifies in the top of the Formula DRIFT field, making regular appearances in the series’ main event, the top-16 tandem competition.  Competing against a field of V8 engines, Mohan’s turbocharged Mazda with its rotary engine regularly delights the fans as it screams around turns howling to nearly 10,000 RPM.

New for the team in 2014 is a three-rotor, 20B power plant which will produce in excess of 800hp.  Mohan’s Mazda RX-8, designed and developed with Mohan’s longtime sponsor, Mazdatrix, will run GT Radial Champiro SX2 265/35ZR18 tires on the rear and Champiro HPY 255/35ZR18 tires on the front.

The 32-year-old driver, who lives in Long Beach, CA, is a three-time winner of the Long Beach Team Drift Challenge.  He was also the 2010 Redline Pro Time Attack Drift Class Champion and was invited to the Red Bull World Championship in 2008 where he qualified in the top 10.

“It’s a thrill for me to partner with GT Radial for this year’s Formula DRIFT Pro Championship,” said Mohan. “Everyone at KMR has worked hard over the off-season to rebuild our Mazda RX-8 with a new, three-rotor engine and I can’t wait to see how we perform on our new GT Radials at Long Beach next weekend. We know based on their success around the world that the GT Radial Champiro SX2 is a great drifting tire, and we plan to showcase that in Formula DRIFT.”

The Champiro SX2, introduced recently to North America, was developed for driving enthusiasts who want higher levels of traction, response and driving control in dry and wet conditions.  An outstanding performer on the street and the track, the Champiro SX2 has already experienced considerable success in Formula DRIFT Asia, with drivers such as Josh Boettcher from Australia who placed 3rd overall in the 2013 championship.

“Kyle Mohan is a great addition to the GT Radial Formula DRIFT roster,” said Armand Allaire, vice president of marketing for Giti Tire USA, which markets and sells GT Radial tires in North America.  “He’s a proven competitor, and like Tyler, will be a great brand ambassador for demonstrating the world-class technology and performance of the GT Radial brand to North American drivers.”

This will be Wolfson’s rookie season in Formula DRIFT following back to back feeder series championship wins on GT Radial tires.  The San Diego driver and his GT Radial/SAE Motorsport Mazda RX-7 will compete in the full seven event calendar of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, as well as the four event calendar of the Formula DRIFT Pro2 Series.

Both teams will be ready for the kick-off of the 2014 Formula DRIFT season on April 4-5 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course.