Formula DRIFT Speeds into Texas with Ford Mustang Teams in Contention for 2014 Championship

•Ford competing for its first Formula DRIFT manufacturer’s cup

Former DRIFT champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. and past winner Justin Pawlak competing in Ford Mustangs for the driver’s championship

Ford continues sweepstakes for custom EcoBoost®-powered Fiesta ST in final two 2014 Formula DRIFT events

Long Beach, Calif. – September 4, 2014 – With just two races left in the 2014 Formula DRIFT season, Ford Motor Company heads to Texas Motor Speedway looking to regain the lead in the Formula DRIFT manufacturer’s cup standings. Vaughn Gittin Jr. in third place and Justin Pawlak, sixth will compete in customized Ford Mustangs in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 12-13, in round six of the seven-event series.

Ford has supported drivers in Formula DRIFT since 2005, when the sport triggered a successful Ford Racing Performance Parts engine development program for a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 crate engine.

“This has been an exciting season for Ford in Formula DRIFT,” said Mickey Matus, Ford Racing marketing communications manager. “Vaughn and Justin have performed consistently well to put Ford in the hunt for the 2014 manufacturer’s cup and driver’s championship .We’re confident Vaughn and Justin will continue to show the Formula DRIFT world that Ford and Mustang are winners in all form of motorsports.”

Amidst the excitement of North America’s foremost professional drifting championship, Ford is giving fans the opportunity to enter to win an EcoBoost®- powered Fiesta ST. The sweepstakes winner will receive personal drift lessons from DRIFT champion, Gittin Jr., a trip to Ford’s ST Octane Academy, and a visit to Hoonigan Racing headquarters. Anyone can enter the contest online while watching the hot action each weekend at www.formulad.com.

“The Fiesta ST featuring the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is a huge hit, especially among Formula DRIFT fans,” Said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “We collaborated with Formula DRIFT to create an innovative way to give one to a lucky fan. We added Lowering springs, an exhaust from Ford Racing Performance Parts, Rotiform 18-inch VCE wheels, Nitto NT555 ultra high performance tires, and a K&N intake system to make this a true, one-of-one car. We displayed this hot new Fiesta ST at the season opener in Long Beach and will have it at the series finale in California in October.”

“With only two events remaining in the 2014 season, Ford trails Scion by just 34 points in the fight to win its first manufacturer’s cup,” said Ryan Sage, Formula DRIFT vice president and cofounder. “Formula DRIFT fans can get in on the action by entering to win a custom Ford Fiesta ST during the final two events this season.”

The first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Highly-skilled drivers maneuver high-powered cars into controlled slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on speed, execution and style rather than fastest time, drifting is a crowd pleaser that’s often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

The 2014 Formula DRIFT season will continue with Round 6: Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway on September 12-13. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift

For more information contact: 

John Pangilinan
213.802.0863
[email protected]

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

In its eleventh season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges each driver’s driving ability and vehicle control. Formula DRIFT provides a forum for professional drifters to compete nationwide for the coveted Formula DRIFT Championship crown. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the world-wide leader for the Sport. For a competition schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.