A draw party was held tonight for the Red Bull Drifting World Championships at Smooth’s in Long Beach, where qualifying order was drawn out of a hat. All 32 cars were guided by police escort from the race track to Pine Ave on the city streets, and paraded back after the event. Those of us living in SoCal know how difficult it can be to drive a modified car in California, this escort was monumental!
Qualifying order, from First to Last:
1 Ken Gushi (FD / Japan)
2 Mike Whiddett ( FD Singapore / NZ)
3 Robbie Nishida (FD / Japan)
4 Marcos Santos (DMCC / Canada)
5 Tanner Foust (FD / US)
6 Gittin Jr (FD / US)
7 Carl Ruitterman (D1NZ / NZ)
8 Tim Marshall (EDC / UK)
9 Paul Vlasblom (Netherlands)
10 Darren McNamara (FD / Ireland)
11 Michihiro Takatori (FD / Japan)
12 Leighton Fine (Drift Aus / Aus)
13 Kazuhiro Ueo (D1 / Japan)
14 Luke Fink (Drift Aus / Aus)
15 Ryuji Miki (FD / Japan)
16 Bill Sherman (FD / US)
17 Tengku Djan (FD Singapore / Malaysia)
18 Sam Hubinette (FD / Sweden)
19 James Deane (ProDrift / Ireland)
20 Ben Broke-Smith (EDC / UK)
21 Kyle Mohan (FD / US)
22 Justin Pawlak (FD / US)
23 Steph Verdier (FD / France)
24 Freddie Aasbo (Norway)
25 Conrad Grunewald (FD / US)
26 Rhys Millen (FD / NZ)
27 Robbie Bolger (Drift Aus / Aus / Ire)
28 Dai Yoshihara (FD / Japan)
29 Gaz Whiter (D1NZ / NZ)
30 Remo Niezen (Netherlands)
31 Eric O’Sullivan (ProDrift / Ire)
32 Chris Forsberg (FD / US)