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
Although Charles Ng won’t be competing in the 2012 Formula Drift Pro Championship, he is set to start his first race of the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) season in Monza, Italy on March 11. He’ll be piloting the Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320TC. We’d like to wish him the best of luck throughout the entire season which is listed below.