Tag: Toshiki Yoshioka

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 Teams to Drift for First Time During WTCC on Sept. 6-8 at Sonoma Raceway

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Formula DRIFT teams will drift for the first time during a WTCC weekend on September 6-8, 2013 at Sonoma Raceway adding to the long list of appearances for the Series during national and international motorsport events. This will also be the first time in 3 years that Formula DRIFT professional vehicles will return to the venue. Drivers from the Series to participate include Michael Essa, Toshiki Yoshioka, Pat Mordaunt and past Formula DRIFT pro Ryuji Miki.

See full press release below

Yokohama Tire Corporation’s Formula Drift Team To Perform Drift Exhibitions
during the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Race Weekend at Sonoma
Raceway, September 6-8 Cars will be drifting on will on Yokohama’s new ADVAN
NeovaR AD08 R tires

FULLERTON, CA. – (September 3, 2013) – Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC)
Formula Drift Team will show off the new Advan Neova AD08R in special
demonstrations during the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC),
September 6-8 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.

“It should feature some high-speed drifting action,” said Matt Johnson,
Yokohama performance marketing supervisor. “This is a great opportunity to
showcase drifting and Yokohama tires to WTCC fans. This is the only WTCC
race this season in the U.S. and the highly competitive global series also
features Yokohama tires.”

YTC’s drifting team is comprised of Michael Essa, driving the GSR Autosport
BMW E46, Toshiki Yoshioka (GTnet Tomei Subaru BRZ) and Pat Mordaunt (A’pexi
Lexus SC430). The drivers will compete on Yokohama’s new ADVAN NeovaR ADO8 R
tires.

“Another treat for fans is a special appearance by Ryuji Miki, a former D1
Grand Prix drift champion and Formula D competitor,” said Johnson. “Miki is
flying in from Japan to pilot the A’pexi Lexus SC430 during some of the
demonstrations. He is also competing on AD08 R tires with a Nissan S15
Silvia in Japan’s D1GP series.”

The Yokohama drifting demonstrations will take place at 9 a.m., 12:15 p.m.
and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, September 6; 9:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on
Saturday, September 7; and 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Sunday,
September 8.

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing
arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global
manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a
network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire
Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete
product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger
car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction
applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line,
visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:
www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp
www.twitter.com/yokohamatc
www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports

Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines
established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway
Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire
Safety” section at www.yokohamatire.com.

Yokohama Tire Corporation Slides into Action with 2013 Drifting Program

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Yokohama Tire Corporation Slides into Action with 2013 Drifting Program

Tire maker will partner with three Formula Drift teams this season and spotlight tires such as the ADVAN Neova® AD08 and S.drive®

FULLERTON, CA (March 5, 2013) – Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced today it will participate as a Formula Drift tire supplier for the second consecutive year and will partner with three teams for the 2013 season. Matt Johnson, YTC performance marketing supervisor, said drivers will run on ADVAN Neova® AD08 and S.drive® tires during the seven-event series, which starts April 12-13 at Round 1: Streets of Long Beach.

Two new teams will join the Yokohama family in 2013 – the GSR Autosport BMW E46 piloted by Michael Essa, and the GTNET Tomei Powered Subaru BRZ driven by Toshiki Yoshioka. The Apex-I Lexus SC430 returns from 2012 with Pat Mordaunt behind the wheel.

“Yoshioka is a veteran drift competitor who started with Yokohama in the D1 Grand Prix in Japan during 2003 and is back with Yokohama to contend for podiums once again,” said Johnson. “He is a past Formula D winner, and will compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for the third consecutive year.”

Nick Richards, president of GSR Autosport, said, “we have a long history with Yokohama tires that comes from years of running a broad array of road-racing programs. Yokohama has a well-earned reputation of winning at the highest levels of motorsport, and as the level of competition continues to rise in drifting, partnering with the best is critical to fielding a winning team.”

“We have a variety of marketing programs,” said Fred Koplin, YTC director of marketing communications, “from sports sponsorships to television, but Formula Drift gives us exposure to a passionate audience of young enthusiasts that may not see a lot of other marketing initiatives.”

Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes the all-new AVID Ascend®  –  the first mass-market tire using Yokohama’s breakthrough orange oil technology – as  well as tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.

Contact: Bill Groak, PCGCampbell, 424/903-3640, [email protected]

Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:

www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp

www.twitter.com/yokohamatc

www.youtube.com/user/yokohamamotorsports