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July 8, 2021

Formula DRIFT Heads to Its Second New Track: Lake Erie Speedway

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 10:08 pm

If you’ve never been to a Formula DRIFT event, the 2021 season would be a great time to start—either in-person at one of the remaining rounds, or on the free-to-view livestream available for both qualifying and competition heats at every round.

At the previous three rounds, spectators have turned out in record numbers to enjoy the fast and frantic action, which was punctuated by a visit to a brand new track facility last month. If you missed it, visit formulad.com to catch up on the action at the purpose-built drift arena built around what was an NHRA drag strip in Englishtown, NJ.


Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship takes place at another new track—Lake Erie Speedway—marking the first time the nation’s top drifting series has visited Erie, PA, and the Great Lakes region.

Hardcore drift fans will know Lake Erie Speedway has been holding grassroots drifting for a number of years, but this is the first time the world’s best drifting series will set up camp in the pits and paddock area.

Not only is Lake Erie Speedway within driving distance of many large cities in the area, but it’s also a great travel destination at this time of year. So pack a bag for the weekend and experience the inaugural event at what will become a regular fixture of Formula DRIFT for years to come.

With three rounds under their belts, the FD PRO Championship couldn’t be closer. In fact, the top 12 drivers are within 100 points of Championship leader, Matt Field (USA), who grabbed his first round win since 2016 in New Jersey. It also represented his first win with the Falken Tire / Drift Cave Chevrolet Corvette, which he’s been developing since 2018. With more than 1,000hp under his right foot, Matt had to work hard to cope with changing conditions on a wet track but proved to be the rain master and took away the maximum 100 points for the win, catapulting himself to the top of the driver’s table.


He wrestled the position from Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania), who led the FD PRO Championship since the opening round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, driving his V8-powered Falken Tires / Feal Suspension Nissan S15. Thanks to consistent performances, Odi sits in second place, with both drivers overdue a Championship title. Perhaps 2021 will finally be their year.

Neither driver should forget there are three former FD PRO Champions in the Top 12, who have a habit of mounting a sustained attack throughout the year. This includes 2015 FD Champion Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota GR Supra, who currently sits in third place.

Currently in ninth is 2010 and reigning FD Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA) in 1,200hp Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D. While three-time Champion Chris Forsberg (USA) is currently 10th in the NOS Energy / GT Radial Nissan 370Z, he finished second in Round 3.

Regardless of current form, Lake Erie Speedway will be new to all the FD PRO teams, so look for some new names to possibly climb the leaderboard before the end of the weekend.

If you want to attend the inaugural FD PA event at Lake Erie Speedway, we recommend you visit the Formula DRIFT website as soon as possible for event details, ticket purchases, and more.

If you can’t attend in person, hardcore Formula DRIFT fans and newbies can catch all the action on the popular free-to-view livestream broadcast. Available for both Friday qualifying and Saturday elimination heats, the livestream can be viewed via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page or FD Facebook page.

Formula DRIFT is an all-weather event—rain or shine we send it! A wet track, as experienced in New Jersey, won’t stop the drivers and adds a challenging variable to keep everybody on their toes.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

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May 17, 2021

Watch the Formula DRIFT Competition Heat Up at Orlando Speed World

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 6:47 pm

Formula DRIFT—America’s fastest-growing motorsport—heads to Orlando Speed World on May 21-22 for the second round of the premier PRO Championship and the first round of the PROSPEC Championship.


 

Many of the PRO teams didn’t get to return home after a punishing opening round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on May 7-8. With almost six months elapsing since the end of the 2021 season, Round 1 saw some teams overcome technical issues, as the drivers were thrown in the deep end with the challenging Road Atlanta drift course, making it an extremely exciting weekend.

The event was won by fan favorite, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania), driving his V8-powered Falken Tires/Feal Suspension Nissan S15. Second place went to Matt Field (USA) in the Falken Tire/Drift Cave Chevrolet Corvette in an incredibly hard fought Final, which saw these close friends repeat their runs before the judges could separate them.

With Nitto Tire dominating the 2020 season, it was interesting to see the two Falken Tire competitors rise to the top. However, third place went to 2010 reigning FD PRO Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA). The title defense began in his Nitto-shod 1200hp Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D, and with all five of the Formula DRIFT tire suppliers represented by the Top 16 drivers, rubber will continue to play an important part in the sport.


The uninitiated might assume tire performance isn’t that important in a motorsport series defined by wheel spin and smoking tires, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The drivers need consistently high levels of grip to perform the maneuvers, particularly when they transition from one direction to another. With higher steering angles than conventional race cars, Formula DRIFT drivers depend on front grip to tackle the course and massive horsepower to overcome the rear grip, getting the wheels spinning in order to slide through the turns.

With most Formula DRIFT cars developing more than 1000hp, every qualifying run and competition heat is an assault on the senses—screaming engines, cars sliding door-to-door, smoke filling the air. This is what attracted a capacity crowd to Road Atlanta for the opening round after fans had been heavily restricted throughout the 2020 season. And fans will next flock to Orlando Speed World on May 21-22, where attendees will not only witness the PRO teams dance with the devil, but witness the opening round of the 2021 FD Link ECU PROSPEC Championship.

PROSPEC is a feeder series for the PRO Championship, allowing up-and-coming drivers to learn the skills to compete at the highest level. Most PROSPEC cars have slightly less power but are no less spectacular to watch. And for the new drivers in both categories, Orlando will be their first experience of a banked track. The banking creates a unique challenge, as drivers have to apply more power to climb the bank, then control the speed as they accelerate off it, all while maintaining a consistent drift inches from the door of another car.

The banked Orlando track gives the best drivers the chance to shine, so we’ll see which of the FD ATL teams continue their momentum, and who rises to the top.

Visit the Formula DRIFT website for event details, ticket purchases, COVID requirements, and more. If you can’t attend in person but want to catch the action, Formula DRIFT has an extremely popular free-to-view livestream broadcast. Available for both Friday qualifying and Saturday elimination heats, the livestream is available via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page, or FD Facebook page.

Formula DRIFT is an all-weather event: A wet track won’t stop the drivers and adds another variable to keep everybody guessing who will win. Rain or shine, we send it!

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

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April 30, 2021

Start Your Engines: Formula DRIFT Kicks Off Its Season in Atlanta

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

Formula DRIFT—America’s fastest-growing motorsport—kicks off its 2021 season next weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on May 7-8 with the Royal Purple Road to the Championship presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

For those unfamiliar with the sport, drivers run in pairs through a series of turns. They’re judged on speed, line through the turns, proximity to the clipping points, and how close they can get to the other car. It’s a tire-burning, high-speed elimination sport using 1,200 horsepower cars that take no prisoners if mistakes are made.


The sport of drifting originated in Japan and was introduced at a professional level in 2003 by Formula DRIFT. The opening round of its first full season in 2004 was held at the famous Road Atlanta course, which remains a favorite for fans and drivers alike. In fact, it’s remained on the FD calendar every year, with the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The track has a number of unique characteristics. For example, it’s the only of the eight venues visited this year that has an elevation change equivalent to a six-story climb—something that forces drivers to adapt their drift style to accommodate as it rises and falls. At 650 feet, it also has the longest entry to the first turn, which means it has the highest entry speed. And with cars accelerating at full throttle, the drivers must be totally committed to initiate the first drift by throwing the car sideways at well over 100 mph.

Located in the green hills of Braselton, GA, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere, while the Formula DRIFT event has become legendary for its tailgating parties and festival atmosphere. It’s also one of the loudest crowds at any of the year’s venues, so fans always enjoy a great atmosphere. COVID-19 restrictions have limited crowd sizes somewhat, and social distancing is required, but it’ll be awesome to see fans back in the grandstands cheering for their favorite drivers again. And visitors will enjoy the incredible night-time atmosphere, which can only be described as “electrifying.” Visit the Formula DRIFT website for event details, ticket purchases, COVID requirements, and more.


Unlike some domestic motorsports, Formula DRIFT is an all-weather event—rain or shine, we send it! A wet track won’t stop the drivers, but it does add another variable to keep everybody guessing about who the winner will be.

Last time the teams visited, Fredric Aasbo (Norway) was the winner, putting his skills learned on frozen lakes to good use. As the runner-up for three consecutive years, the 2015 FD Champion is always a serious contender. This will be his first ATL outing in the 1,100 horsepower Rockstar Energy Drink/Toyota GR Supra he debuted last year and he always means business.

Another man to watch is the newly crowned 2020 Formula DRIFT Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA) in the Monster Energy/Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D. His battles with Aasbo have been legendary but Gittin never pulls his punches, even against teammate Chelsea DeNofa (USA) in the almost identical BC Racing / Nitto Tire / Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D. DeNofa finished 2020 in second place but not until they’d both received bloody noses in battles throughout the season.

With three other former FD Champions in the mix, there’s no such thing as an easy heat as the top 32 PRO category drivers are eliminated in head-to-head battles until the round winner is crowned.

Formula DRIFT fans can watch the opening round in person over the weekend of May 7-8 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA. Those who can’t attend can enjoy the free-to-view livestream broadcast, available on both days for qualifying and the elimination heats. With hundreds of thousands of spectators tuning in around the world, there’s always plenty of action and catch.

The livestream is available via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page or FD Facebook page. Check out the schedule on the homepage and we’ll join you online for the season kick off party!

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

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