Formula D Kicked off its 2017 season down in Long Beach CA on the world famous street course. This event is always such an fun and exciting time, Checking out all the new builds, paint schemes as well just catching up with good friends and enjoying the sport we all love.
Some of the headlines for the event was the anouncment of Chelsie Denofa teming up with Vaughn Gittin Jr. and piloting a secong RTR Mustang for the RTR Drift team, As well as James Dean making his Formula D return with team mate Piotr Więcek under Bridges Racing and Fredric Aasbo making the switch to a 2017 Toyota Corolla iM. There was also a few faces missing in the pits this year including Tyler McQuarrie and Forrest Wang. And weather was so nice all weekend compared to last years soggy Qualifying day.
Team Falken also made a resurgence this year having the cars of Odi Backchis and Matt Field back in the classic signature teal and blue Paint scheme. And boy did it bring back so good drifting memories.
Aasbo was able to have a good outing with his new Corolla iM and Qualified 4th
Alex Heilbrunn sure knows how to smoke them Nitto tires up.
Qualifying Results
#1 Qualifyer Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Qualifying Day Gallery
Main Event Day
Vaughn Gittin Jr. and teammate Chelsea DeNofa throwing down some awesome tandems during Saturday morning practice.
Yes you are seeing double ha ha lol. James Dean and Piotr Więcek were defiantly picks to be contenders for the win. Every single practice run they put down was very amazing.
Cameron Moore’s new ride looking very good and boy does the camera like it.
Piotr Więcek getting up close and personal with Odi Bakchis’s door and boy was the crowd super excited. Going to be a blast seeing him compete this year.
The Finals would see Alex Heilbrunn take on James Deane battle it out. Heilbrunn put down a great run but just couldn’t shake Deane and his amazing following run.
Top 32 Bracket
Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results
1. Deane, James – Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240
2. Heilbrunn, Alex – IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3
3. Tuerck, Ryan – Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86
4. Bakchis, Aurimas – Falken Tires / Drifz Wheels / ARK Performance Nissan 240
5. Aasbo, Fredric – Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM
6. Coffman, Matt – Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240
7. Forsberg, Chris – NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z
8. Kearney, Dean – Oracle Lighting Dodgle Viper
9. Gittin, Vaughn – Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR
10. Wiecek, Piotr – Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240
11. Gushi, Ken – GReddy Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota Racing 86
12. Field, Matt – Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240
13. Rintanen, Juha – STR Racing / Nexen Tire Nissan 240
14. Bluss, Kristaps – HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46
15. Pawlak, Justin – Roush Performance Ford Mustang
16. Essa, Michael – Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3
Main Event Gallery
Over all this was a fantastic kink off of the 2017 season. It was nice seeing some new faces on top. Now Formula D makes and detour this year and head onto Orlando Florida for the second stop of the series. Will we see some more new face’s on the podium or will the Veterans make a comeback? All we can say is it’s sure to be another great round.
For additional Information on round 2 or any future Formula D event be sure to check out www.formulad.com