Disc Brakes Australia Contingency Program for Formula DRIFT 2010

Disc Brakes Australia (DBA) would like to propose that for 2010 Formula DRIFT competitors this season, a $250.00 consolation prize for the driver/team that comes 33rd and does not qualify for the weekend of the Drift Event. We think that even though they have not had a great weekend, at least the money can help remove some of the disappointment of being last.

To be eligible the driver must have a DBA Sticker/Decal displayed on his vehicle.

A check will be presented after qualifying has been determined.

DBA looks forward to being part of this year’s Formula DRIFT Season.

Formula DRIFT and YoParts Announce Live Stream Partnership;
Interactive Live Stream Broadcast To Air During All Seven Championship Events

Long Beach, Calif. – March 1, 2010 – Formula DRIFT has announced the application of a new component at all seven rounds of Formula DRIFT, Live Stream. Formula DRIFT has partnered with YoParts.com to bring the first ever comprehensive interactive live stream broadcast to Formula DRIFT fans.

The Live Stream will feature hours of live Formula DRIFT action both on and off the track. The Live Stream will capture all the moments throughout the Formula DRIFT schedule and during practice, qualifying, Top 32 competition, and also a special presentation of Top 16 using Live Pack Technology. Live Pack Technology enables Formula DRIFT to do live remote coverage from anywhere on the track including in-pit, post-tandem battle, on-grid, and even live from the drivers’ seats. “This is a major announcement for Formula DRIFT. Tom and Zak at YoParts have made this possible and we are really excited to bring this technology to our events,” said Ryan Sage VP and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “This is a perfect technology for our demographic given the web savvy and knowledgeable nature of our audience.”

In addition, consumer viewing of the stream will be as comprehensive as the coverage. Fans will be able to watch the same camera shots and angles that are seen on the Formula DRIFT television show, enjoy chatting live with other fans with real-time messaging via Twitter and Facebook, and have the ability to select different available feeds both audio and visual. For fans on the road or at the show, there will also be a Live Stream application for web based cellular phones, such as the iPhone and Android. Another component of the Live Stream is the ability to watch segments of the race, “On Demand.”

“YoParts.com is excited about the opportunity to use these cutting edge technologies to bring the Formula DRIFT fans non-stop action during the Formula DRIFT weekends. Our main goal is to show the exciting, “behind the scenes, “ action of a Formula DRIFT weekend,” said Tom Masiero Co-Founder of YoParts.com. “YoParts would also like to thank Frank Maguire and the team at Race Day Media for making this all possible.”

The Live Stream is available for sponsors with both traditional advertising deliverables such as in-show units and features and non-traditional advertising such as moving graphics, banners, video widgets, and interactive polls. Teams and drivers also have the ability to give more recognition to their sponsors with strategically placed cameras in the teams’ pit area giving fans the ability to watch them behind the scenes on a specific channel of the Live Stream at anytime during the event weekend.

Formula DRIFT has created a built-in functionality on the home page of the website to host the Live Stream, and in addition, Formula DRIFT and YoParts will have the content made available via embed code to share on websites or social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook.

The first Live Stream broadcast will air during Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 9-10 on www.formuladrift.com.

Formula DRIFT driver, Rhys Millen will be featured on tonight’s show of “Last Call with Carson Daly”. Tuesday Nov. 17 at 1:35/12:35 CT on NBC.

The inaugural Formula Drift Thailand, presented by Goodyear, ended with a climactic battle as “Mad Mike” Whiddett, New Zealand’s champion drifter, and 2004 D1 Japan Grand Prix winner Ryuji Miki competed head to head in a final showdown last weekend.

Ultimately, Mad Mike was declared the winner after a heart-stopping three-round battle. Third place honors went to Malaysian drifter Tengku Djan, who was the 2009 Formula Drift Singapore champion last July.

“Mad Mike” Whiddett, drifting with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tires, overcame an equally gruelling knockout round with Tengku Djan in wet weather conditions as the rain poured before the Final Four began.

Thailand’s first and only world-class drifting ground, Wonderworld Park, Ramindra, was filled to capacity as drift fans flowed in to pack the racing ground during the two-day competition. The 7,000 strong venue was fully booked.

Intensity mounted on the second day when 32 qualifiers, including 23 Thai competitors, demonstrated their skills and techniques on the smoke-filled racing track, accompanied by the roar of powerful engines as the drifters revved up. The three American judges invited from Formula Drift lent an air of stringency to the proceedings as the organizers aimed to bring Formula Drift Thailand standards to a new, more professional level.

Thai drift king – Kiki Nana – was among the qualifying drifters and successfully sailed through to the final eight before being defeated and exiting from the competition. All Thai drifters taking part mentioned that this was the most impressive drift competition they had been involved in, and even though they were unable to bring the trophy home, the two days on the drifting ground with super drifters from across the region was an amazing experience. They also noted that they find international competing standards tough but very challenging.

The two drifters from New Zealand and Japan sweated it out in the final battle. Instead of two rounds of battle like the other competitions, the two drifters had to compete in three rounds since their skills were highly matched. Judges were put in the hot seat as they just could not agree on an unanimous winner. It was decided that the competition would be settled in a third round of battle.

Finally, it appeared that the third round had done the trick. Whiddett and Miki stood side by side on the stage. Tension rose to a peak as the third judge revealed his final score for Whiddett, and broke in a wave of emotion as the New Zealand drift hero was crowned the winner of Formula Drift Thailand with 2:1 score. The crowd went wild, cheering and clapping.

After the trophy presentation, the winners had to stay on stage for more than half an hour as drift fans kept coming onstage to congratulate them in person. The organizers also kept the crowd entertained with stunt shows and highly energizing percussion numbers.

Formula Drift now moves to Malaysia as Goodyear hosts the final competition in the ASEAN drift series, to be held in December 19-20 at the MAEPS (Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang) grounds.

Results:

1st Place – Mike Whiddet
2nd Place – Ryuji Miki
3rd Place – Tengku Djan

Click for more information about Formula DRIFT ASIA

2009 SEMA: Hankook, Conrad Grunewald Launch 2010 Camaro for Formula Drift
From Motor Trend

Let’s face it: The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is a hit with show car builders here at SEMA, the land of trends and all things cool when it comes to cars. So it’s only fitting that one of Formula Drift’s veterans, Conrad Grunewald, along with Hankook Tire and BR Racing, will be fielding a newly completed drift-spec Camaro for 2010.

Grunewald is accustomed to American Muscle. For the past few seasons, he’s been drifting in a bright red C5 Corvette. As he explained to us, after finishing the 2009 season, he expressed his desire to his sponsors of wanting to have a bigger role in team management. Unwilling to find a middle ground, Grunewald went his own way and landed a Camaro with Hankook Tire.

Finding a home under the carbon fiber hood is a fully modified GM Performance LSA crate engine. It’s supercharged to make in the range of 600 hp. Having enough grunt to kill tires, of course, is only half the equation when it comes to drifting. That’s where AEM and Eibach stepped in with their respective engine management and suspension setup.

Jump inside and BR Racing’s craftsmanship continues. The usual Sparco bucket seats and steering wheel dominate the driver’s side, while a bevy of gauges and switches on the dash allow Grunewald to better setup the car on the fly.

Preseason testing is planned for immediately after the SEMA Show. Expect big things to come from Hankook and Grunewald, so stay tuned to this channel for more.

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/6588146/motorsports/2009-sema-hankook-conrad-grunewald-launch-2010-camaro-for-formula-drift/index.html#ixzz0W7HOf6bj