For Immediate Release
September 8, 2008
The Red Bull Drifting World Championships Announces Preliminary International Invitees
Long Beach, Calif. September 8, 2008 The Red Bull Drifting World Championships has invited the top drivers in the world to compete for the largest prize purse in drifting history. 32 drivers from 12 nations will battle to become the first ever World Champion on November 15-16.
Invitations have been sent to the top drifting organizations in the world including Pro Drift European Series, Drift Australia, European Drift Championship, Drift Mania Canadian Championship, Nordic Drifting Championship, Formula DRIFT Singapore, and D1 Grand Prix. The top 16 in Formula DRIFT Championship points at the end of the season will also receive an invitation to participate.
“We have invited the best drifters in the world to compete at the Red Bull Drifting World Championships,” says Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. Current and past champions from the top series in the world will have the chance to show who is the world’s best drifter.
The list of invited drivers as of September 8, 2008. The list may change as confirmations and standings will change leading up to the event. A list of alternates have also been created.
Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Sweden / USA | |
2. Tanner Foust | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
3. Dai Yoshihara | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan |
4. Rhy Millen | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
5. Chris Forsberg | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA / New Zealand |
6. Michihiro Takatori | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan |
7. Ryan Tuerck | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
8. Darren McNamara | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Ireland |
9. Conrad Grunewald | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
10. Robbie Nishida | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan / USA |
11. Ryuji Miki | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan |
12. Vaughn Gittin, Jr. | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
13. Steph Verdier | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | France / USA |
14. Ken Gushi | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan / USA |
15. Kyle Mohan | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | USA |
16. Kazu Hayashida | Formula DRIFT (as of RD 5) | Japan |
17. D1 New Zealand 2008 Champion | D1 New Zealand | New Zealand |
18. Drift Mania Canadian 2008 Champion | DMCC | Canada |
19. Drift Australia 2008 Champion | Drift Australia | Australia |
20. Drift Australia 2008 Runner-up | Drift Australia | Australia |
21. EDC 2008 Champion | European Drifting Championship | UK |
22. Tengku Djan 2008 Podium | Formula DRIFT Singapore | Malaysia |
23. Mike Whiddet 2008 Podium | Formula DRIFT Singapore | New Zealand |
24. Pro Drift Winner 2008 Champion | Pro Drift | Ireland |
25. Pro Drift Runner-up 2008 Runner-up | Pro Drift | Ireland |
26. Fredric Aasbo | Nordic Drifting Championship | Norway |
27. D1GP Past Champion | D1GP | Japan |
28. D1GP Past Champion | D1GP | Japan |
29. D1GP Past Champion | D1GP | Japan |
30. D1GP Past Champion | D1GP | Japan |
31. D1GP Past Champion | D1GP | Japan |
32. D1GP 2008 Champion | D1GP | Japan |
The Red Bull Drifting World Championship will take place on November 15 -16 in Long Beach, CA. More information to follow including the official announcement of the unique venue, ticket availability, and the official drivers list.
For more information contact:
John Pangilinan
The ID Agency
562.491.7503
john@theidagency.com
Jordan Miller
Red Bull North America
310.460.5040
jordan.miller@us.redbull.com
I really, REALLY, like the idea of inviting champions from the recognized professional world drifting organizations. A question:
What about overlap? For instance, Ryuji Miki is already a former D1GP champion. Darren McNamara may earn a european championship as it’s already going.
I wish they would release more then just the dates and attendees. I want to take my girlfriend to her first big event. She realy enjoys watching drifting here(on a grassroots level), and I think she would love the pro’s. So RedBull and FD need to get some more info out there.