Formula D Rd.1 Streets of Long Beach

 

Rd.1 is in the books and boy was it an amazing round as always. The first event of the year is always one with  much anticipation and excitement, from drivers showing of their new rides and sponsors for the year to just plain new faces in the FD series. The excitement started early on during media day the Tuesday before the event.  With a few cars getting a little dinged up and having to have some work done on them before Fridays Qualifying. you can check out some pics we have from then HERE.

Friday started out with Practice session for the drivers. The first Run group of the practice consisted of the lowr ranked Drivers as well as the New rookies to the FD series, and this would be their first taste of blasting off the start and throwing it sideways towards the k-rail maze that is Long Beach.  The second groupe consisted of the top drivers in FD and all were on point as always pushing the limits of their cars close to the walls. Qualifying had gone back to original format requiring all drivers to make two runs. Micheal Essa showed that he was ready to defend his 2013 championship in his new Essa Autosports BMW by throwing down a Qualifying score of 96. Vaughn Gittin Jr. was in 2nd place with a score of 94 and Tyler McQuarrie in 3rd. with a score of 93.  One of the big talking points of qualifying was not eving seeing Matt fields and his new build for this year. Him and his team were fighting engine problems all week.  We wish them the best of luck on getting it ready for Rd.2

Saturdays main event was yet another packed house with a great fan turn out. Some of the highlights from the day would have to been Pat Goodin Eliminating Daigo Saito in Top 32 and giving Forsberg a real battle in top 16. And the over all event highlight and stunner Kenny Moen. Moen drove like a man on a mission the entire event and was surely a pick to take the win at Rd.1. He faced long Beach local Kyle Mohan, and defeated the Norwegian Hammer Fredric Aasbo. In the final 4 battles he would take on the 2013 champ and #1 qualifier. In dominating fashion and throwing down good lines and nice smoke he would go on to Face Chris Forsberg in the Finals.  Chris was able the put down two amazing runs and take the win. Moen made his first FD podium appearance in 2nd and Essa was determined to be the 3rd place finisher based on his qualifying order. Since this year the consolation round had been done away with. Which got many boo’s from the fans.   Now the series heads off to Road Atlanta to where it all started. This looks to be yet another amazing  year of competition, the fight is now on for the 2014 Championship.

 

To Check out all our coverage from Formula D Rd.1 Streets of Long Beach Head on over to out full Gallery HERE.