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Tag: ryan kado
Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge – Event Info and Drivers List
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
Sunday, 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.
Gryphon AutoLab, Ryan Kado and Karl Osaki sign with Yokohama Tire for the 2014 Formula Drift season
Gryphon AutoLab, Ryan Kado and Karl Osaki sign with Yokohama Tire for the 2014 Formula Drift season
Huntington Beach, Calif – March 17, 2014 – The newly formed Gryphon AutoLab team is proud to announce today that they have signed a deal with Yokohama Tire to be the team’s official tire sponsor for the 2014 Formula Drift season. Gryphon AutoLab will be campaigning a two car team for the 2014 season with drivers Ryan Kado and Karl Osaki. Ryan Kado will be driving the DNA Motoring/Yokohama Tire Nissan 350Z. And Karl Osaki will be the driver for the DNA Motoring/Yokohama Tire Nissan 240SX(S14).
“We are very excited to have Yokohama Tire join our program” commented Matt Perkins, Gryphon AutoLab team manager, “With their commitment to motorsports and providing high performance street tires, as well as being the tire supplier of returning 2013 champion Michael Essa, we feel Yokohama Tire will be a major asset in helping our team climb the ranks in Formula Drift.”
Formula DRIFT Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Last Thursday night (12/13/12), our special charity event to benefit the American Red Cross’s Hurricane Sandy relief efforts at Irwindale Speedway helped raise over $7,000! Fans that purchased ride-along tickets were treated to the ride of their life by Mauricio Orneles Jr., Jeff Jones, Patrick Mordaunt, Dai Yoshihara, Justin Pawlak, Odi Bakchis, Danny George, Kyle Mohan and Ryan Kado. Many thanks to these drivers for coming out and partcipating.
Throughout the night, other current and former drivers such as Ken Gushi, Alex Pfeiffer and Tanner Foust were on hand to take photos with fans and show their support.
We’d like to thank the following supporters for their generous donations to the raffle that took place.
ACT, K&N, M7, Lucas Oil, Fatlace, Keep Drifting Fun, Falken, HPI, Discount Tire, Yoshihara Design, Motegi, Nitto Tire, Electric, Alpinestars, Tony Angelo, Vaughn Gittin Jr., LA Racing, Source Interlink, Modified Magazine, Import Tuner, Super Street, EBC Brakes, K1 Speed, Racers Edge, Scion, Scion Racing and Beach City Mustang Club.
We’d also like to show our appreciation to:
The Irwindale Events Center for donating the facility, Emergency Hookers, Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, ECO Boards, Everything Under The Sun and Belle-1 Racing Communications.
Thank you to all of our fans, drivers, teams and sponsors for helping making this event a great success!
Visit our All Access gallery for images from the event.
[VIDEO] FD Washington 2012 ‘Unstoppable’
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