[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPxnE726X5k&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube]
Formula DRIFT started their 2011 Pro Championship season with a bang on a beautiful weekend in April. A record-breaking crowd came out to Long Beach to watch the best drift drivers in the world tear up the streets. Check out all the action on and off the course as Arley Elizabeth and the Bite Me TV crew take you up close and behind the scenes of Formula DRIFT: Streets of Long Beach.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJpt3dO105c&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]
In this episode Dai competes in the final tandem battles of Long Beach. Watch how he does against his rivals and how his crew supports him throughout the day. Behind the Smoke gives a look into the real life of professional Formula Drift driver, Daijiro Yoshihara. GTChannel’s cameras will follow Dai throughout the 2011 FD season both on and off the track giving current and new drifting fans an exclusive look into what it’s really like to compete in the top drifting series of N.America.
Long Beach, Calif. – April 21, 2011 – Formula DRIFT made history during the first event of the 8th season of competition, as Round 1: Streets of Long Beach became the most attended drift competition in the history of the Series. Over 16,000 fans came to the near capacity event, outdrawing previous events.
Previously, the 2010 Formula DRIFT season finale, the Red Bull Drifting World Championship held by Formula DRIFT, and the original D1 Exhibition Match produced by Formula DRIFT co-founders Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage were some of the most attended drifting events.
“The first event of the 2011 Formula DRIFT Championship season was a tremendous success, and we thank the fans for their enthusiastic support of the Series,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Formula DRIFT is dedicated to providing the best drifting competition and entertainment in the world and we look forward to the rest of the season.”
Adding to the success of the first event, DriftStream, Formula DRIFT’s live webcast, reached over 289,000 unique IPs over the Friday and Saturday broadcast. DirecTV also captured the event in 3D with an air-date to be announced. The FD TV team filmed all the action in HD for the Formula DRIFT television program that will air on the VERSUS network in the US and various international networks starting August 14.
Tickets are still available to purchase for Tomorrow’s Round 1: Streets of Long Beach event. Save money and make your purchase online. Today’s Qualifying Round was just a glimpse of the excitement to come when the Top 32 drivers battle to take the first victory of the season.
Saturday Main Event Tickets can be purchased HERE.
VIP Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Formula DRIFT and DIRECTV Go For Round Two With 2011 Season Opener in 3D
First-Ever Drifting Street Event to be Produced in 3D, Available Exclusively on n3D, Powered by Panasonic
Long Beach, Calif. – April 6, 2011 – Following last year’s successful 3D broadcast of Formula DRIFT’s “Round 7, Title Fight” event, DIRECTV and Formula DRIFT take another spin around the track with the production of Formula DRIFT’s 2011 season opener, Round 1: Streets of Long Beach. The race will be the first-ever drifting street race to be produced in 3D and will be available exclusively on n3D, powered by Panasonic, this summer.
The season opener will be held in Long Beach, Calif., on April 8-9 and is the only drifting event on the circuit to legally utilize real city streets. The race will debut a new suite of cars and drivers to the Formula DRIFT series and will be co-hosted by DIRECTV Red Zone Channel host, Andrew Siciliano, actress and TV host, Mayleen Ramey, and co-founder of Formula DRIFT, Ryan Sage.
DIRECTV will also test new production techniques for this event, including new camera angles of the course and in-car cameras that will give viewers the driver’s perspective of the track. Last year’s final round in Irwindale, Calif., was rated the most watched original 3D program on DIRECTV and continues to be re-aired in 3D on the n3D channel, as well as in 2D on The 101 Network.
“The 2010 Final Fight 3D event was a great success for our n3D channel and we are excited to continue our partnership with Formula DRIFT, as well as our support for the sport of drifting,” said Chris Long, senior vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. “Filming on the streets in Long Beach versus on a track will give the broadcast a completely different feel and we are looking forward to testing new production techniques that will truly make 3D fans feel like they are in the driver’s seat.”
“DIRECTV captured the excitement on the high banks during the 2010 season finale at the birthplace of American professional drifting at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder, Formula DRIFT. “Now, DIRECTV will be able to capture the unique and intense setting that is the season opener, through the only legal professional drift competition on city streets.”
DIRECTV offers more 3D programming than any other television provider in the country. n3D, powered by Panasonic (Ch. 103), the nation’s first 24/7 3D network, is available at no additional cost to millions of DIRECTV HD customers. In addition to exclusive 3D coverage of special events such as the 2010 MLB All-Star Game and the 2010 U.S. Open Tennis Championship, the n3D channel also gives customers access to exclusive, original 3D programming such as DIRECTV’s award-winning series Guitar Center Sessions and Guy’s Big Bite in 3D. The 3D programming available both on n3D and DIRECTV CINEMA are all powered by Panasonic. DIRECTV also offers 3net and ESPN 3D as part of its 3D programming platform.
DIRECTV HD customers, who received a free software upgrade that enabled them to access 3D channels on DIRECTV, will need a 3D television set and 3D glasses to view the programming on DIRECTV. For more information on n3D, powered by Panasonic, please visit www.DIRECTV.com/3D.
For more information contact:
John Pangilinan
The ID Agency for Formula DRIFT
213.802.0863
[email protected]
Robert Mercer
DIRECTV
310.964.4683
[email protected]
