Formula DRIFT Announces 2-Year Title Sponsorship with Link Engine Management for the PRO2 Championship

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Formula DRIFT Announces 2-Year Title Sponsorship with Link Engine Management for the PRO2 Championship

Long Beach, Calif. – December 13, 2017 – Formula DRIFT has announced a 2-year sponsorship agreement with Link Engine Management for the Formula Drift PRO2 Championship.

Link Engine Management provides drivers from around the globe with world-class engine management technology. With a race proven range of WireIn ECUs, PlugIn ECUs, and more, Link has provided a winning formula for champions from various series. Link’s ECUs are sold in 65 countries by over 1,500 dealers.

“We’re excited to bring Link Engine Management to US. For years, we’ve supported drift around the world including such series as the British and Irish Drift Championships, ADGP Australia, D1NZ, and D1GP China, plus many of the top drift drivers in the world,” said Torry Skurski, North American Sales Manager for Link ECU. “With our new US based teams, we are excited to be supporting the most watched drift Series in the world, Formula DRIFT. Our product has proven itself with drivers such as James Deane and Piotr Wiecek, and we look forward to providing the support needed for more championships to be won.”

The sponsorship will allow expanded Livestream coverage and dedicated social media for the PRO2 Championship.

“It is great that we have found a company that believes in our vision of the PRO2 Championship as the breeding ground for the next generation of Formula DRIFT stars,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Their strong global network especially with the many series that are in alliance with Formula DRIFT will also aid the growth of the Series and the Sport.”

2018 Formula DRIFT Link ECU PRO2 Championship Schedule

Round 1:
May 11 – 12 – Atlanta, GA

Round 2:
August – St. Louis, MO

Round 3:
September 14 – 15 – Dallas, TX

Round 4:
October 12 – 13 – Las Vegas, NV

*Subject to Change

Formula DRIFT Makes a Series of Announcements at SEMA;

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Formula DRIFT Makes a Series of Announcements at SEMA;
Black Magic® Signs 2-Year Extension as Series Title Sponsor, PRO 2 Exclusive Tires and 2018 Provisional Schedule

Long Beach, Calif. – November 1, 2017 – Formula DRIFT has announced that ITW Global Brands has extended their support of the Series with Title Sponsor Black Magic and Official Sponsor Gumout for 2018 and 2019 season. Formula DRIFT also announced the addition of ITW Global Brands, Permatex and Fast Orange as Official Sponsors for the 2018 Pro Championship.

Additionally, Formula DRIFT announced that it has entered into an exclusive relationship with two tire manufacturers, Achilles Radial and Nexen Tire, who will serve as the Official Tire Suppliers of Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Championship. The partnership will help with team cost containment, company inventory management and competition parity. These steps will help continue to serve the development of the next generation of PRO drivers.

Formula DRIFT has announced the provisional schedule for the 2018 Championship Season. Notable changes include moving the final round of the season, which was previously Irwindale Speedway (now closed), to Las Vegas. Additionally, St. Louis and Montreal are in contention for venue prospects for the July event.

The Black Magic Formula DRIFT Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras will begin in April at Round 1: Streets of Long Beach for the 2018 season. 2018 provisional schedule below:

2018 Black Magic Formula DRIFT Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras Provisional Schedule*

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach
April 6 – 7 – Long Beach, CA

Invitational: Super Drift Challenge at the Grand Prix of Long Beach**
April 13 – 14 – Long Beach, CA

Round 2: Invasion
April 27 – 28 – Orlando, FL

Round 3: Road to the Championship
May 11 – 12 – Atlanta, GA with PRO 2

Round 4: The Gauntlet
June – Wall, NJ

Round 5: Throwdown
July – Monroe, WA

Round 6: TBD
August – St. Louis, MO with PRO 2 or Montreal, CANADA

Round 7: Showdown
September 14 – 15 – Dallas, TX with PRO 2

Round 8: Title Fight
October 12 – 13 – Las Vegas, NV with PRO 2

*Subject to Change
**Non-Championship Points Competition

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 4 Texas Results

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Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Round 4 Texas Results;

Kevin Lawrence Does the Impossible to Win the Event and the Championship

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Long Beach, Calif. – September 8, 2017 – The Formula DRIFT PRO 2 season came to a dramatic conclusion at Texas Motor Speedway. Florida native Kevin Lawrence in the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Hankook Tire Nissan 240 defies the odds and wins the event and the PRO 2 Championship.

PRO 2 returned to Texas Motor Speedway for the final event of the season. Fans witnessed the biggest comeback in Formula DRIFT PRO 2 history as Kevin Lawrence entered the event in 5th place overall with an 81 point deficit to win the event and ultimately the championship.

“What a way to end the PRO 2 season,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. ”In what was the largest comeback in PRO 2 history, Kevin Lawrence did the impossible, and ended the season in dramatic and exciting fashion.”

The championship was up for grabs when the top 4 drivers failed to move past the Top 16 bracket giving a small mathematical chance to Lawrence. In the semi-finals, Norwegian driver, Ola Jaeger in the Japan Auto Toyota Supra faced Alec Robbins in the KoruWorks Nissan 350Z. In the second run of their battle, Robbins went off line to give the win and his first podium to Jaeger. In the second semi-final battle, Lawrence met Riley Sexsmith piloting a Subaru BRZ. Sexsmith made a major mistake by going off-course on the first run to give Lawrence the advantage and eventual win to move him into the Finals to meet Jaeger. Sexsmith finished the event in third place. In the Finals, both drivers made mistakes in the first battle in which the judges called a “One more time.” In the second run of the battle, Jaeger fell dramatically behind creating a large gap that proved to be his downfall, which gave Lawrence the event victory and the championship by a mere 2 points. The PRO 2 championship finished with Travis Reeder in second place and Matt Vankirk in third place.

“It hasn’t really set in yet and it’s just amazing that I was able to battle to the first position and win the championship by 2 points. I never thought this would happen, ” said Kevin Lawrence, winner of PRO 2: Texas and the 2017 PRO 2 champion. “I want to thank everyone on board from Enjuku Racing, Hankook Tire, BC Racing, Competition Clutch, Vibrant Performance, Konig wheels and everyone that has been part of the team over the years I really couldn’t have done it without any of them.”

Formula DRIFT continues to Round 8: Title Fight on October 13-14, 2017. 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.

Formula DRIFT PRO 2: Texas Results

1. Lawrence, Kevin

Winner

2. Jaeger, Ola

2nd Place

3. Sexsmith, Riley

3rd Place

4. Robbins, Alec

4th Place

5. Hately, Andy

5th Place

6. Gyorgy, Szilveszter

6th Place

7. Meeks, Austin

7th Place

8. Waters, Randall

8th Place

9. Beechum, Trenton

9th Place

10. Reeder, Travis

10th Place

11. Vankirk, Matt

11th Place

12. Robinson, Josh

12th Place

13. George, Danny

13th Place

14. Schmidt, Brandon

14th Place

15. Kiriakopoulos, George

15th Place

16. Brockway, Donovan

16th Place

Formula DRIFT PRO 2 Championship Final Standings

1. Lawrence, Kevin

Champion

2. Reeder, Travis

2nd Place

3. Vankirk, Matt

3rd Place