The Formula Drift Championship Explained
Entering its second season, Formula Drift Championship, produced and owned by Irvine, Calif.-based Formula Drift, Inc., continues to expand into new markets as the first and only sanctioned and recognized North American professional drifting championship series (sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing). This high-skilled, high-powered motor sport where drivers intentionally maneuver their cars into well executed, controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course, has more than 30 professional drivers competing in all six competitions this year. A well established sport in Japan for more than a decade, Formula Drift, Inc. and its sister company Slipstream Global Marketing, Inc. had the vision and were instrumental in bringing the first official competition to the United States in 2003 at Irwindale Speedway. The unanticipated fan interest led to the rapid formation of the first ever, sanctioned and recognized drifting circuit, Formula Drift, which had its roots firmly grounded in Southern California, a hotbed for incoming Japanese-influence automotive trends. An important part of the program involves community outreach. Drivers and Formula D serve as the ambassador for the sport of drifting bringing exhibitions to traditional or mainstream motor sports events across the country which have included: Bridgestone Monterey Grand Prix/Champ Car Race, USAC, NASCAR Busch North & Featherlite Southwest and the SPEED World Challenge, among others.
In addition another 100-200 local team drivers will join in local markets to test their skills and techniques with the pros. Judged on execution and style, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time, Drifting is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and is often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.
Drivers and Formula Drift also serves as ambassadors for the sport of drifting bringing exhibitions to traditional or mainstream motor sports events across the country which have included: Bridgestone Monterey Grand Prix/Champ Car Race, USAC, NASCAR Busch North & Featherlite Southwest and the SPEED World Challenge, among others.
More Formula Drift Fast Facts
Formula D has the largest number of tire manufactures involved that any other motorsport series in the world. First drifting championship to be featured in a major video game with title sponsor EA Games First drifting championships to be sponsored by non-endemic companies including EA Games and Circuit City First drifting championship to have works teams (auto maker supported).
“The Formula DRIFT Team Drift competition is very exciting as the fans were able to participate in the judging process, making for a very interactive and entertaining time at the track. With all the cars drifting on the entire 1.968 mile street course and over 180,000 fans during the weekend there was never a dull moment,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT.
Six teams of three or more drivers competed over the three days of the race weekend. The winning team, “Fast & Furious 3” consisting of Samuel Hubinette, Rhys Millen, and Tanner Foust received the most “text” votes by the fans on Saturday. The team name was a result of the 3 drivers working together on the movie, The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift, on which they have also been nominated for a prestigious Taurus World Stunt Award for “Best Work with a Vehicle.”
Judging was based 75% by the judges and 25% by text vote. The judges looked for the teams to drift in unison, the distance between cars, and the cars to switch positions while maintaining a drift. Fans were asked to “text” their vote for their favorite teams throughout the weekend.
Other teams participating in Team Drift consisted of: Team Super Ramen All Stars (Nishida, Petty, and Ly), Team Drift Alliance (Gittin, Tuerck, and Forsberg), Team Shake and Bake (Yoshihara, McQuarrie, and Yamanaka), Team Drift Pro (Shuyama, Sumida, and Aono), and Team Milano (Milano, Young, and Pina).
The Formula DRIFT Team Drift competition continues this season in Portland on June 10, Cleveland on June 24 and San Jose on July 29, with a fifth and finale event to be announced at a later date.