Tag: Round 1

[COVERAGE] Drift: Dai Yoshihara Victorious at Formula Drift Round 1 By: What Monsters Do

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Formula Drift kicked off it’s tenth season in Long Beach, California. It was another amazing event with over 50 drivers competing to a sold out crowd! Competition was fierce with Dai Yoshihara not only qualifying in first place but coming out victorious – with Vaughn Gittin JR in second and Chris Forsberg in third. More Formula Drift Round 1 action after the jump!

 

Matt Powers S14 Fatlace Formula Drift Round 1 2013

Top 16 competition included Matt Powers going against the 2011 champ Dai Yoshihara in an S14 vs S13 battle. After two good run’s Dai took the win.

Aasbo Scion TC vs Daigo Saito Lexus Formula Drift Long Beach

Both Aasbo and 2012 FD champion Daigo Saito were on top of their game with very close runs. They ended up going “One More Time” twice… so two more times. After 3 almost perfect battles, Daigo had a correction on the last clipping point and it cost him the win. Aasbo moved on to the Great Eight.

Continue reading [COVERAGE] Drift: Dai Yoshihara Victorious at Formula Drift Round 1 By: What Monsters Do

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Kicked Off the Tenth Season of Formula DRIFT Presented by GoPro to a Sold Out Crowd

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Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Kicked Off the Tenth Season of Formula DRIFT Presented by GoPro to a Sold Out Crowd;
Daijiro Yoshihara Takes the Victory and Leads the Championship Points Chase

Long Beach, Calif. – April 13, 2013 – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro begins the tenth season of competition with Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. Daijiro Yoshihara in the America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 takes the victory and leads the championship points chase.

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach started off the tenth season of Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro to a sell out crowd. Fans were treated to a vendor village, Slammed Society car show, a display of vehicles from the Targa Trophy and a skateboard demo from the Action Sports Kids Foundation of Long Beach.

“To start our ten year anniversary season in front of a sell out crowd sets a great tone for the season to come,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “We owe it all to our drivers, sponsors and the fans for helping to make the Series what it is today. We look forward to another exciting season.”

Experience became the deciding factor with all three spots on the podium being found by ten-year veterans who also are past champions of the Series. The 2009 Champion Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z was too much for Chelsea DeNofa and earned third place. The final battle pitted 2010 Formula DRIFT champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang against the 2011 champion Daijiro Yoshihara who also was the number one qualifier. On their first run Gittin made a small mistake at the hairpin giving Yoshihara the edge. A consistent second run by Yoshihara secured his victory giving him the first victory of the season.

“This was my first time to win in Long Beach. I’ve been on the podium a few times, but winning here was one of my goals and I was able to achieve that today, “said Daijiro Yoshihara, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. “I also qualified first so this was the best way to start off the season, but it is still a long way to another Championship. I hope to win another Championship this season.” Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro continues at Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta on May 10-11, 2013.

For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship Presented by GoPro 2013 Standings After One Event
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 112 Points
2. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang 92 Points
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z 79 Points
4. DeNofa, Chelsea BC Racing BMW 3 Series 75 Points
5. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 64 Points
6. Tuerck, Ryan Team Retaks Scion FR-S 64 Points
7. Gushi, Ken Greddy / Hankook Scion FR-S 62 Points
8. Essa, Michael GSR Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 62 Points
9. Moen, Kenneth Nexen Tire Nissan 240SX 58 Points
10. Saito, Daigo Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 57 Points
11. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 56 Points
12. Bakchis, Aurimas Nexen Tire Nissan S14 56 Points
13. Kado, Ryan DNA Motoring / Nexen Tire Nissan 350Z 55 Points
14. Powers, Matt Nitto Tire / Fatlace Nissan S14 55 Points
15. Mordaunt, Patrick Apexi / PM Racing / Diamond Lexus SC430 54.50 Points
16. Pawlak, Justin Falken Tire Ford Mustang 54.50 Points

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro America’s Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 Winner
2. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Ford Mustang Second Place
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z Third Place

Manufacturers Championship Standings After One Event
1. Ford 146.5 Points
2. Nissan 137 Points
2. BMW 137 Points
4. Scion 126 Points
5. Lexus 111 Points

Tire Championship Standings After One Event
1. Falken 176 Points
2. Nitto 167 Points
3. Hankook 141 Points
4. Yokohama 116.5 Points

JR Hildebrand to Race Formula Drift Series for TylerMcQuarrie Racing

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JR Hildebrand to Race Formula Drift Series for Tyler McQuarrie Racing

(Carlsbad, CA) – IndyCar Series racer JR Hildebrand to include Formula Drift to his schedule for the 2013 season.

Tyler McQuarrie Racing is proud to announce Hildebrand to drive the No. 6 Chevrolet Camaro at select rounds of the Formula D series. Hildebrand, who will also run fulltime in the IZOD IndyCar series, joins McQuarrie as a second part time driver in the 2-car team.

“This will be my 10th year in Formula Drift and my 2nd year as a team owner,” said McQuarrie. “To partner with JR Hildebrand, and to have him compete as our 2nd driver is huge for our team and a big step for Formula Drift. This is something JR and I have been working on for some time now, so to see it become a reality is awesome!”

Hildebrand drives the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing Chevrolet in the IZOD IndyCar Series and his best IndyCar finish of 2nd came in 2011 at the Indianapolis 500, after which Hildebrand was named Indy 500 Rookie of the Year.

“I’m pumped to join Tyler with his Mobil1/GoPro/Hankook Camaro program to get into Formula D,” said JR. “Since as early as 2004 I’ve thought drifting was an awesome and unique area of Motorsport, so I’m very excited to finally get involved myself.”

Conrad Grunewald Racing also joins Tyler McQuarrie Racing as technical partner for the 2013 season. “I’m very pleased to be a part of the technical partnership with Tyler McQuarrie Racing. We both have the same goal of winning events and bringing GM a Manufactures Championship in Formula Drift. By working in unison we will have a stronger effort towards our goals,” said Grunewald

“Joining forces with Conrad only adds to that, as we all work together to develop our larger program,” said Hildebrand. “For sure I’ll be leaning on

those guys throughout the year, hopefully just not too much on the racetrack!”

“Our number one goal is to win events and Championships and our new technical partnership with CGR will help us while working with GM to develop the most competitive Drift Camaro in Formula Drift,” said McQuarrie.

Tyler McQuarrie Racing is proud to welcome our newest sponsor Hankook Tires as the Official Tire of Tyler McQuarrie Racing as well as the continued support from Mobil 1 Racing, GoPro, Chevrolet, GM Performance Parts, BC, ACT, Forgestar, K&N, Wilwood, Ignite, OMP, Car West Auto Body, SPY Optics, GoPuck Battery, Panther Graphics, and Enterprise.