Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge – Event Info and Drivers List

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The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, which will take place both nights on the eastern end of the race circuit – turns 9, 10 and 11 – will feature 16 of the sport’s top cars and drivers.

Friday’s action will include practice and qualifying runs, while Saturday will see the teams compete for a $25,000 prize purse. On Sunday, the Super Drift Challenge cars will drift the entire race circuit after the featured IndyCar Series race.

Grand Prix fans that purchase any admission ticket for Friday or Saturday racing activities will be able to see that night’s Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge. Seating for the Super Drift Challenge will be in Grandstands 16, 18, 24, 25 and 26 on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Last year’s Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge made history as the first night racing in the history of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Powers took the victory after a close-fought Finals match with top seed Michael Essa, to the delight of more than 10,000 spectators.

In addition to the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, the 2013 Grand Prix will again be headlined by the IndyCar Series.  Also featured will be the Tequila Patrón TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Pirelli World Challenge and more races to be announced.

Race weekend’s festival of family entertainment includes free Friday and Saturday night concerts and the Lifestyle Expo featuring a huge Family Fun Zone with racing simulators, kids’ racing cars, computer games and action sports. Also in the Expo will be the ever-growing Green Power Prix-View, featuring the latest in environmentally conscious products for the car and home. Add to that multiple driver autograph sessions, special events and exhibits highlighting the Grand Prix’s 40 years, the popular Food Truck Experience and Sunday’s Mothers Exotic Car Paddock, it’s a weekend that will be packed full of activity.

Ticket prices for the three-day event range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $135 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can select and pay for their 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED.  A printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information can be obtained by calling the hotline.

Friday, April 11
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:40 a.m. TUDOR United SportsCar Championship practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:30 a.m. Pro/Celebrity Race practice
12:15 p.m. Indy Lights practice
2:00 p.m. INDYCAR practice
3:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity qualifying
4:00 p.m. INDYCAR All-Driver Autograph Session in INDYCAR Paddock (open to all spectators)
4:00 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge practice
5:00 p.m. TUDOR Championship qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert on Concert Stage Starring Kinky
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge practice (Turns 9-10-11)
7:45 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge qualifying

9:00 p.m. End of day’s activities

Saturday, April 12 
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:45 a.m. Indy Lights practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:00 a.m. Indy Lights practice
11:00 a.m. Autograph session with racing legend Mario Andretti (Promenade Atrium – 45 minutes)
12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Race (10 laps)
1:15 p.m. INDYCAR qualifying and Firestone Fast Six
2:40 p.m. TUDOR Championship Pre-Race Ceremonies
3:05 p.m. Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase featuring the TUDOR Championship (100 minutes)
5:15 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Saturday Rock-N-Roar Concert on Concert Stage Starring Paul Rodgers of Bad Company
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Finals (Turns 9-10-11) (Live Stream www.formulad.com/live)
9:00 p.m. End of day’s activities

S​unday, April 13
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:20 a.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Truck practice and qualifying
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
8:00 a.m. Pirelli World Challenge warm-up
9:00 a.m. INDYCAR warm-up
9:45 a.m. Indy Lights Pre-Race Ceremonies
10:15 a.m. Indy Lights Race (1 hour)
10:30 a.m. Autograph session with racing legends Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney and Al Unser Jr. (Promenade Atrium – 45 minutes)
11:30 a.m. Mothers Exotic Car Parade
12:00 p.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks Race
12:30 p.m. INDYCAR Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:43 p.m. “Drivers, Start Your Engines!”
1:50 p.m. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach INDYCAR Race (80 laps)
3:55 p.m. Formula DRIFT demonstration
4:30 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge Race (1 hour)
5:30 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
5:30 p.m. End of day’s activities

*All times subject to change without notice

Drivers List
Odi Bakchis
Fredric Aasbo
Daigo Saito
Ryan Kado
Mike Essa
Robbie Nishida
Dean Kearney
Brandon Wicknick
Forrest Wang
Dennis Mertzanis
Charles Ng
Jeff Jones
Kenneth Moen
Toshiki Yoshioka
Kyle Mohan
Kuniaki Takahashi

CLICK HERE for more information about the entire Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend.

CLICK HERE for coverage from Speedhunters of the 2013 Motegi Super Drift Challenge.

Achilles Radial Announces 2014 Formula DRIFT Roster

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Achilles Radial is proud to announce the roster of talented drivers that will compete on Achilles Radial 123S tires in Formula DRIFT during the 2014 season.  Anchored by 2012 Champion Daigo Saito and Formula DRIFT veteran Robbie Nishida, the team includes returning drivers and new faces, both within the PRO and PRO2 ranks.

“We are extremely excited to enter our third year of competition in the pinnacle drifting series, Formula DRIFT,” said Cheralyn Hale, Director of Marketing for Achilles Motorsports LLC. “We have an incredible group of drivers competing on Achilles rubber this season.  I cannot wait to see them create massive amounts of tire smoke in a few weeks at the season opener!”

The drivers that will be competing on Achilles Radial tires for the 2014 season are listed below:

PRO Series
Daigo Saito – Tokyo, Japan
Robbie Nishida – Tokyo, Japan
Kenny Moen – Oslo, Norway
Dean Kearney – Waterford, Ireland
Dave Briggs – Ontario, Canada
Marc Landreville – Quebec, Canada
Brandon Wicknick – Layton, UT
Rob Primozich – Seattle, WA
Enrique Mendoza – Moreno Valley, CA
Joshua Steele – Houston, TX
Charles Ng – Hong Kong
Alec Hohnadell – Miramar Beach, FL
Brad Heyl – Bradfordwoods, PA
Chris Mills – Los Gatos, CA
Dan Savage – Herndon, VA
Eric Hill – Westminster, CA
Erich Hagen – Olympia, WA
Geoff Stoneback – Huntingdon Valley, PA
James Evans – Baltimore, MD
Jeff Wolfson – San Jose, CA
Mike Pollard – Las Vegas, NV

PRO2 Series
Jeremy Lowe – Sarasota, FL
Tony Cisneros – Rancho Cucamonga, CA

You can see Team Achilles compete at the 2014 Formula DRIFT season opener in Long Beach, California on April 4th and 5th.  Formula DRIFT expects sell-out crowds at the 11th season opening event – one of only two drift events in the world to be held on city streets.

Charles Ng Pleased With WTCC Progress So Far

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Although Charles Ng won’t be competing in the 2012 Formula Drift Pro Championship, he is set to start his first race of the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) season in Monza, Italy on March 11. He’ll be piloting the Liqui Moly Team Engstler BMW 320TC. We’d like to wish him the best of luck throughout the entire season which is listed below.

 

March 11 – Monza, Italy

April 1 – Valencia, Spain

April 15 – Marrakech, Morocco

April 29 – Slovakia Ring, Slovakia

May 6 – Budapest, Hungary

May 20 – Salzburgring, Austria

June 3 – Estoril, Portugal

July 22 – Curitiba, Brazil

September 23 – Sonoma, USA

October 21 – Suzuka, Japan

November 4 – Shanghai, China

November 18 – Macau

 

For more information on Charles and the 2012 WTCC season, click here.

[Image: Touring-Cars.net]