For Immediate Release

February 9, 2010

Formula DRIFT Tickets On-Sale for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach;
Seventh Championship Season Set to Begin

Long Beach, Calif. – February 9, 2010 – Formula DRIFT prepares to begin the seventh professional championship season. Tickets are now available for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 9 and 10, including reserved seating, 2-day ticket packages, and VIP tickets.

“What has turned into one of the most anticipated events annually in Long Beach, Formula DRIFT, has put tickets online today for the first round of the seven stop national championship,” said Ryan Sage, executive vice president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Now in our 4th year at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course, over 50 of the world’s top drifters will be in action at what has turned into a sell-out event year after year.”

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach tickets are available via the Formula DRIFT website at www.formuladrift.com, Ticketmaster outlets, and the Long Beach Convention Center box office. Ticket prices start at $27 online with reserved tickets available for Saturday’s competition day. 2-day packages are also available along with VIP ticket packages.

The action begins on April 9th in Long Beach, California and will be held on Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach street course. New cars and drivers will be entering the Series and will make for another exciting season. Current champion Chris Forsberg looks to defend his title against returning past champions Tanner Foust, Rhys Millen, and Samuel Hubinette and top drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr., Ryan Tuerck, and the rest of the talented roster of drivers.

Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Results;
Tuerck Takes the Season Opening Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – April 14, 2009 – Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach kicks off their 6th championship season to a sell-out crowd. Ryan Tuerck and the Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice took home the victory and leads the 2009 Professional Championship Point Standings.

The Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course hosted the season opening event to a standing room only crowd. The infamous track is the only course that is held on actual city streets making it one of the more unique drifting courses in the world. The 2009 season included the addition of the veteran driver, Tony Angelo, as a new judge to the series. It also marked the first 2-day event structure of the season and the change of competition formats. This season will be the first time a 32 car head-to-head format will be utilized in the Pro Championship series creating more head-to-head competition rounds and more action for the fans.

“I think this weekend in Long Beach proved that regardless of the current economic state Formula DRIFT is something that is truly embraced by fans and it showed with a huge attendance on Friday and standing room only on Saturday,” said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Without the support of the fans, teams, and sponsors Formula DRIFT would not have been able to pull off this amazing event and I personally cannot wait to get on a plane to Atlanta and get back to where Formula DRIFT held its first event.”

The event showcased some of the most exciting drifting to date and the introduction of the Top 32 competition format brought a new element to the event and more action. The season opening event unveiled a few highly anticipated vehicles including Rhys Millen and the Red Bull / RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the 2010 Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT, and returning champion Tanner Foust in the Rockstar Scion Racing tC, who finished in third place after a very intense and close battle with Robbie Nishida in the Hankook Tire / Dynamic Autosport Nissan 350Z in the consolation round. The finals pitted 2-time Formula DRIFT champion, Samuel Hubinette in the NuFormz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper against Ryan Tuerck and the Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice. Tuerck edged out Hubinette with very consistent driving throughout the event taking the first victory of the season.

“It’s an amazing feeling starting the season off on top,” stated Ryan Tuerck, Round 1: Streets of Long Beach winner and driver of the Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice. “This isn’t a one man show and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of the Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice team. It’s very satisfying to stand at the top of such a talented field of competitors.”

The 2009 Formula DRIFT season continues on May 8-9 in Braselton, GA at Road Atlanta for Round 2: Proving Ground. Tickets are on-sale now.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings
1. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 102 Points
2. Hubinete, Samuel NuFormz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper 90 Points
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Scion Racing tC 84 Points
4. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 72 Points
5. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 65 Points
6. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 62 Points
6. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Tire Nissan 350Z 62 Points
6. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 62 Points
6. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 62 Points
10. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire / Sears Saturn Sky 61 Points
11. Pawlak, Justin Mazda USA / Cooper 58 Points
12. Grunewald, Conrad Tanaka Racing Chevy Corvette 57 Points
13. Ly, Quoc Driftspeed Nissan S14 56 Points
14. Ueo, Katsuhiro Driftspeed Nissan S15 55 Points
15. Jeff Jones Comp. Turbo / K&N Filters Nissan S13 54.50 Points
16. Kondo, Yasu KAAZ USA Toyota AE86 Corolla 54.25 Points

Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results
1. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 102 Points
2. Hubinete, Samuel NuFormz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper 90 Points
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Scion Racing tC 84 Points

Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com

Another exciting round of competition. Some highlights include Verdier taking out the #1 qualifier and winner of last year’s RD1 LB event, Chris Forsberg, in a close battle. Nishida moving on past Quoc Ly. Gittin easily moving past Kondo. Hubinette edging out Long Beach native Justin Pawlak in one of the most exciting rounds of action. Tony Brakiohiapa beating out Darren McNamara in a close battle. Tuerck moving past Grunewald after Grunewald crashes out. In one of the most anticipated battles Ueo vs Foust – with Foust taking out the Formula DRIFT rookie. Another Rookie Jones after a “One More Time” vs Aono crashes out moving Aono to the Great 8.

And did I mention a visit from UFC lightweight fighter Rampage!

Highlight photos

Foust and Ueo in a tight battle!

More photos after the jump and stay tuned for the GREAT 8
(continue reading…)

We’re live at the Streets of Long Beach for Round 1 for the 2009 Formula DRIFT Championship Season. Check out the results page for LIVE results round by round.

More photos after the jump!

Opening Ceremonies

Tommy Suell did not make it into today’s competition, but check out what happened during qualifying.

Even Rally driver Ken Block loves Formula D

The beginning

We’re live at the Streets of Long Beach and into the Top 32 competition. The weather is gorgeous and the fans are in for a real treat. The action continues until about 5PM…keep checking the blog for more.

Go to the Formula DRIFT Results Page for live round by round coverage.

Another packed event!