As is traditional, round one of the 2018 Formula DRIFT series took place on the Streets of Long Beach last weekend, with Frederic Aasbo climbing to the top step of the podium. Following the event, the city streets remain closed for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which hosts the Motegi Super DRIFT invitational challenge on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Fredric Aasbo, Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla
With new cars, drivers and teams attacking the corners for the long-awaited opening round of Formula DRIFT, the Streets of Long Beach promised a great deal of excitement and did not disappoint.
Highlights among the 2018 field included 2016 FD champion, Fredric Aasbo, driving his Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire 2019 Toyota Corolla, unveiled days earlier at the New York International Auto Show. Matt Field also debuted his Wish / Borla / Falken Tire Chevrolet Corvette, while Federico Sceriffo would bring his unique Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Drift Spec (aka Fiorella) to the Californian street circuit.
With a number of brand new cars and almost every team carrying out modifications and upgrades during the off-season, the first round always brings a degree of trepidation as the drivers get to grips with a “green” track. However, the front runners started to emerge during practice, and qualifying highlighted the drivers to watch. Continue reading
LONG BEACH, CA – Team Falken celebrated with a third place podium finish for Piotr Wiecek Saturday night at the 2018 Black Magic Formula Drift season opener held on the streets of Long Beach. Wiecek, who qualified first, had a strong car all night, but succumbed to eventual race winner Fredric Aasbo. Formula D Defending Champion and Falken Tires teammate James Deane qualified second and ultimately finished fourth during an extremely competitive night. Five Team Falken drivers finished in the Top 10 for the evening and in the current standings after one round.
Formula Drift proved that its draw as a spectator sport continues to grow as Saturday night saw the largest attendance ever recorded at FD Long Beach. The fans were treated to the debut of Team Falken veteran Justin Pawlak’s 2018 Ford Mustang in new Falken livery, as well as teammate Matt Field’s Chevrolet C6 Corvette also dressed in the brand’s familiar teal and blue colors.
“It was an important event for Falken Tires,” stated Jonathon Bradford, Falken’s Motorsports and Events Manager. “We had a great crowd and they were able to connect with our drivers during the autograph session, which is such a good experience for everyone. We’ve got a very strong team and though our competition has ‘upped’ its game, we’re happy with a podium from our home track and a celebration for Piotr. We’ll move forward in great shape for Orlando.”
Continue reading
Formula D Kicked off its 2018 season on the historic Street course down in Long Beach CA. , with a new year comes a handful of new builds and new Drivers and even a returning fan favorite. Defending champion James Dean returns with his Worthouse S15 and is sure to be a contender for the championship.
I’ve shot at a lot of tracks over the last few years, Silverstone, Mondello, even indoors at Green Glens arena in Ireland for an IDC event but there was something special driving into 500 Speedway Drive for round 8 of this years Formula Drift. For the last 14 years the House of Drift has played an important role in bringing Drifting to the USA and the global stage but the iconic track has had an axe hovering over it for the last couple of years after being purchased by a property developer to build a mall on the site, and now it appears to have fallen and this is billed as its final event.
Adding to the buzz this weekend Irish driver James Deane has the title in the bag just needing points from qualifying in the top 32. With a bye run, normally qualifying would have been good enough but FD moved the goal posts after Texas meaning to score the points James had to complete his top 32 run as well. While on paper that should be a celebration lap this is motorsport and things can go wrong.
Continue reading
Another year of Formula D action is In the books and it was all caped out with the Final Round out at Irwindale Speedway for it’s last professional drifting event before it closes next year. Irwindale has always been able to bring the very best out of drivers and deliver an amazing show and this year sure didn’t disappoint.