Xtreme Wheels & Drift 2011

Mishimoto driver Patrick Mordaunt and other Formula DRIFT drivers participated in Xtreme Wheels & Drift last weekend, held at the Figali Convention Center on February 12 in Panama City.

According to Formula DRIFT, the drift demo is held "to help continue the promotion of the sport within the region with the goal to hold a professional event at a racetrack." This is the third consecutive time the event has come to Panama City.

Here are a few photos from the 2011 Xtreme Wheels & Drift recap on the FormulaD.com blog:



(Photos from FormulaD.com)

Preview of Yas Marina Circuit next week!

Formula Drift drivers Mike Whiddett and Michael Essa drift for the first time at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Will you be watching the Inaugural Formula Drift UAE Invitational Competition on February 25th?

New year and new look for Matt Waldin!

West Chester, PA (PRWEB) - February 11th 2011. Matt Waldin Racing is preparing the new Helix powered 350z for action in the 2011 Formula Drift circuit. This will be the first year the team is running the full Formula Drift schedule.


At the end of last year with the help of Brian Crower, the 350z got a serious kick in power that propelled the team to it's highest qualifying effort in Formula Drift to date. The team is aiming to continue on the upward trend starting in Long Beach, CA at Formula Drift's inaugural event. The April 8th/9th event takes place on the streets of Long Beach where only a week later the F1 race is held. The stands are always packed for this event and the cars always look their best since it's the first of the year.


Formula Drift 2011 Schedule:

April 8th/9th - Long Beach, CA - Streets of Long Beach

May 6th/7th - Atlanta, GA - Road Atlanta

June 3rd/4th - Palm Beach, FL - Palm Beach International Raceway

June 17th/18th - Wall, NJ - Wall Speedway

July 22nd/23rd - Monroe, WA - Evergreen Speedway

August 26th/27th - Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Motor Speedway

October 7th/8th, Irwindale, CA - Irwindale Speedway, CA


The new look of the car has been finalized and is a great representation of the new partnership between Helix Drinks and Matt Waldin Racing. Mike English, head of Marketing and PR at Helix Drinks comments "we are excited to see the design come together and we couldn’t be happier, Matt and his car come at a perfect time as we accelerate our push into national retail markets."


The team at Import Intelligence is hard at work making sure that everything on the car is in perfect working order and it's ready to do battle. Matt commented "The whole crew is pumped to have a fresh start, new look and equipment for the following year. Its a major undertaking for to run a full season of any racing series, the guys at Import Intelligence have already proven they are up to the task."


Back on board for 2011 is BC Racing Suspension. BC Racing Suspensions have always been the best balance between performance and cost. MWR firmly believes that it is important to use the products that normal consumers will be purchasing. A properly setup car starts with the suspension, "BC Racing Suspension was simply a perfect fit into our program. With years of racing heritage and great customer service, we would be silly to use any other company."


MWR is also proud to announce the team will be running on Federal Tire's 595RS-R sports tire. This particular tire was born on the racetrack but quality and process standards make this tire 100% street legal. The 595RS-R is highly acclaimed and is the "go-to" tire for many drift and sports car enthusiasts worldwide.


Matt Waldin Racing is proudly partnered with Mishimoto, Helix drinks, Federal tires, and BC Racing.

Tanner Foust announces temporary retirement from Formula D

According to a Formula DRIFT press release, Tanner Foust has announced his temporary retirement from Formula DRIFT. Foust said the reason for his temporary retirement is a demanding 2011 schedule, and he will still compete one last time in the Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational competition this February 25th. To take his place, Papadakis Racing and Team Need For Speed have announced the signing of 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo.

How do you feel about Tanner Foust temporarily stepping away from the sport of drifting? See the full press release here.

Rulebook Updates

Some updates have been made to the Formula Drift rulebook for the 2011 season. The new tire/weight rules section, posted by Wrecked Magazine, has changes throughout the entire section, so make sure you read through it. (See the rulebook excerpt below.)

Xtreme Drift Circuit has also posted their rulebook for the 2011 season, which you can find right here.

Who's ready for the season to begin?



FORMULA DRIFT - 9.1 TIRE SIZE REGULATION

Cars are limited to the size of the rear tire that can be used, depending on the weight of the vehicle. There are 13 weight classes, each spanning 100 lbs. A car must be track-ready, and running when it is weighed and registered to a weight class. A car will be weighed WITH the driver, and once the car is registered to a weight class, it will be recorded, and issued a class-specific sticker that must be displayed prominently on the windshield. A car’s weight may fluctuate within the limits of its weight class, but it can never weigh less than the minimum weight for its registered class. Tire sizes are AS MEASURED in mm, across the span of the contact patch. Tires will be measured on the rim, while on the car, while the car is on the ground. Tire size must not exceed the maximum size dictated by class at any time on track. Tire size will be measured and verified on track before the start of every tandem round. A Formula D official may also check tire size at any time during the event.

Weight and Tire Classes-

2000-2099lbs up to 215mm
2100-2199lbs up to 225mm
2200-2299lbs up to 235mm
2300-2399lbs up to 245mm
2400-2499lbs up to 255mm
2500-2599lbs up to 265mm
2600-2699lbs up to 275mm
2700-2799lbs up to 285mm
2800-2899lbs up to 295mm
2900-2999lbs up to 305mm
3000-3099lbs up to 315mm
3100-3199lbs up to 325mm
3200-3299lbs up to 335mm

Weight Compliance

All cars must be weighed in a ready to drive state. Formula Drift will include this weighing at a mandatory pre-event inspection before the first event. Cars will be weighed WITH driver, complete with all required bodywork and safety equipment installed. Drivers must be fully suited with helmets during the weigh-in process. Cars may only be weighed and registered upon passing their annual safety and technical inspection.

A car can only be weighed and registered before the official start of a Formula Drift event. Cars may be weighed before any event, only during the regular technical inspection hours provided. The vehicle may not change weight classes at any time during an event. It is required of each competitor to inform Formula Drift Professional Drifting 2011 Rules and Regulations 39 As of 1/28/2011

the Formula Drift Technical Manager in writing of any modification(s) to their vehicle that alters the weight of the vehicle by more than 10 lbs. Formula Drift will be impounding all podium finishers immediately after end of competition and they will be checked for weight and tire size compliance. There will also be random compliance checks at any time during the Formula Drift events, at Formula Drift’s discretion. Formula Drift reserves the right to weigh cars at any time before, during or after an event.

Ballast

A car may have up to 50 lbs of ballast weight added to it. Ballast must serve only the unique purpose of adding weight to a vehicle. Formula Drift officials must approve all weight material. Blocks must weight no less than 5 pounds each and cannot be made of liquid of any type, pellets or any other granulated material. Added weight must be securely bolted in place on the vehicle. No weight shifting devices are allowed. This included but not limited to hydraulic or electronic devices. Ballast must be mounted ahead of the rear axle.

Tire Measuring Procedure

Rear tires will be measured while on the vehicle, on the ground, in a ready-to-drive state. Tires will be measured across the width of the tread 3” up from where the tread meets the ground, from the rear of the car. The measuring device is a flat sliding ruler with 2 legs extending out from the flat at 45 degrees. With the legs contacting the sidewall, and the flat contacting the tread, the measure “A” is the width of the tire, measured across the tips of the legs.

For a tire to be compliant for a certain weight class it must fall within the designated size range within the measuring device.

The official measuring tool will be available from Formula D directly for purchase.

Would you watch Formula Drift in 3D?

If you can't make it to a Formula Drift event this year, but you have a 3D television and DirecTV, you're in luck! According to a press release from Formula Drift, you can now catch “Round 7: Title Fight Event” on DIRECTV’s 3D channel, n3D, powered by Panasonic, channel 103. Check out the details below! This will be a great alternative for those of you who can't make it to the event but would love to see it up close and personal.

DIRECTV To Debut First Formula DRIFT Program in 3D
Long Beach, Calif. – Jan. 27, 2011 – DIRECTV is bringing the race track into the living room with the exclusive 3D broadcast of Formula DRIFT’s “Round 7: Title Fight Event” on DIRECTV’s 3D channel, n3D, powered by Panasonic, channel 103. Beginning Friday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, DIRECTV customers will have access to two, one-hour specials, which will offer extensive race coverage, behind the scenes footage and exclusive interviews, all in 3D.

Produced by DIRECTV and Formula DRIFT, the 3D special will follow the heated action surrounding the final event of Formula DRIFT’s 2010 season, which was held at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., last October. The footage will include:

• Complete coverage of the “Title Fight” season finale, including the final battle between two-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin.
• Exclusive interviews with Formula DRIFT pro drivers.
• Drifting tips by pro drivers, including Tanner Foust
• Behind the scenes with Formula DRIFT owners Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage.
• Coverage of off-the-track action including fans, vendors, import models and more.

“Watching Formula DRIFT’s championship series at home in 3D will make every counter steer, plume of smoke and wreck feel like it is happening in the middle of your living room,” said Chris Long, senior vice president, Entertainment, DIRECTV. “Our 3D technology enables us to take what is already an exciting event and make it even more compelling for viewers to experience at home.”

“This was a very ambitious project given that it is the first of its kind for the sport of drifting and also taking into consideration the sheer nature of 3D filming and the nature and physics of the sport,” said Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “DIRECTV came in and really nailed it. Viewing Formula DRIFT in 3D is probably one of the most visceral and exciting things to view in the 3D genre right now.”

2011 DMCC Schedule Released

According to Wrecked Magazine, the 2011 Drift Mania Canadian Championship schedule has just been released. It includes a mix of day and night events and ends with a 3-day event at Circuit Icar. Check it out below:

Round 1: Autodrome du Montmagny – June 4-5 – Night Event
Round 2: Circuit Icar – June 25-26 – Night Event
Round 3: Victoriaville – July 9-10 – Day Event
Round 4: Autodrome du Montmagny – July 23-24 – Night Event
Round 5: Mosport International Raceway – August 14 – Day Event Pro
Round 6: Circuit Icar – September 3-5 – 3 Day Event

XDC Announces Championship Structure and Doubles Drivers Payouts in 2011

January 21, 2011 (Tustin, Calif.) – Entering its second season of competition, the Xtreme Drift Circuit is proud to announce the payouts for its 2011 season which will feature local, regional, national, and international prize purses.

With a total payout of $92,400, XDC will be able to expand its support of the country’s grassroots and aspiring professional drifters with its Five Ways to Win – individual events, XDC Canada, XDC East, XDC West, and the XDC National Championship. Thanks to expanded support after a successful first season, the XDC is able to invest in driver development with increased prizing in an effort to grow the sport.

The 2011 XDC National Championship will take points from four events – three divisional events (XDC East or XDC West) and the finale at Texas Motor Speedway. Drivers may compete in both divisions, but will only carry their highest divisional point total to the XDC Finale. The XDC National Championship will offer a $10,000 purse to the top three drivers.

Drivers will qualify for the XDC Finale by entering at least one XDC East or XDC West event. Each divisional championship will feature a total purse of $3,000 divided amongst the top three in the championship. Each individual event will offer $9,000 paid out from first to eighth, as well as the top three in qualifying.

The XDC Montreal event will be XDC’s first International event and will not award points to the XDC East or West divisions, but will hand out $13,500 to the top-16.

“I am truly excited about the way the Xtreme Drift Circuit is shaping up for the drivers and fans in 2011,” said Brian Eggert, Competition Director of the XDC. “With two divisions this season, the XDC is taking the right steps in creating a format that will make the sport more accessible for both new and seasoned drivers by eliminating the need to travel across the nation so they can concentrate more on being competitive. In addition, the prize packages have been increased greatly, making this season even more rewarding for the drivers and all their hard work.”

“This is a series for dudes to grow and get their feet wet, so to speak, in honest competition,” said Matt Petty, XDC judge. “XDC in my mind is for fun first, with good payouts for drivers who don’t have the money to burn on a full cross country jaunt for drifting.”

The second season of the Xtreme Drift Circuit will see many drivers familiar to fans of the XDC’s inaugural season. Chelsea DeNofa will be returning to defend his 2010 title, while event winners Doug Van Den Brink, Matt Waldin, Miro Ovcharik, and Dave Briggs have stated their intent to compete in XDC in the new year. Also scheduled to compete in the series will be Canadian Pat Cyr, Texas crowd favorite Nate Hamilton, and Australian Sarah Burgess, who will move from the role of team owner to driver of the BMI Mazda RX-8.

“Our emphasis, the same as it was last year, is on the grassroots and aspiring professional drifters of North America,” said Mike Munar, president of XDC Events. “This year we are able to put more back into the hands of our drivers to help them continue to compete in XDC or move on to further their professional careers. Either way, our goal is to continue to support them and put on a great show for the spectators that attend our events from coast-to-coast.”

2011 XDC Events Schedule

March 11-12 | XDC West | Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA
April 22-23 | XDC West | Firebird Raceway, Chandler, AZ
May 14-15 | XDC East | Central Florida Racing Complex, Orlando, FL
June 17-18 | XDC East | Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
July 2-3 | XDC East | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC
August 13-14 | XDC West | Pacific Grand Prix, Seattle, WA
September 4-5 | XDC International | Montreal, Quebec
September 23-24 | XDC Finale | Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX

XTREME DRIFT CIRCUIT

The XDC showcases the country’s rising Drift stars, featuring an eight-round drifting championship set in a full-scale lifestyle festival. Now in its second season, the XDC remains committed to driver development and investing in the future of Drifting. For more information, visit www.xtremedriftcircuit.com. Competitors with rulebook and technical questions should contact Michael Collins at mike.c@usdrift.com. Drivers with general event questions should contact Brian Eggert at brian@xtremedriftcircuit.com, or by calling (804) 65-PROAM (77626).

Chris Forsberg at Inaugural Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational Competition

A Formula DRIFT press release Wednesday announced the official entry list for the Inaugural Formula Drift UAE Invitational Competition at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on February 25, 2011. The official roster of drivers includes: past Scandinavian champion, Fredric Aasbo, 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, Chris Forsberg, 2-time Formula DRIFT champion and 3-time X-Games Gold Medalist Tanner Foust, top ranking driver, Ryan Tuerck, past New Zealand champion and Formula DRIFT USA & Asia competitor, Mike Whiddett, Formula DRIFT veteran Daijiro Yoshihara and Formula Drift regulars Ken Gushi, and Michael Essa along with Tony Brakohiapa as the alternate driver.

Tickets can be purchased online for the event, but if you can't make it, the competition will be streaming live via the DriftStream on FormulaDrift.com. The live stream will air on February 25, 2011, but check the website for times.

JDM Allstars 2011 Schedule - European Series

Straight from Drifting.com, JDM Allstars posted the 2011 schedule for DRIFT ALLSTARS - European Series. From England and France to Italy and Poland, JDM Allstars is giving their strong European following an event schedule they can't miss.

Round 1– Teesside Autodrome, England April 9-10th

Round 2- Sunderland,England May 14/15th

Round 3- Malta June 10-12th

Round 4- Anneau Du Rhin, France June 24/25th

Round 5- Donington Park, England July 15-17th

Round 6- Wembley,England September 16-17th

Sept 23-24th /October 1-2nd TBC European Battle of Nations Finals Poznan, Poland

2011 Formula Drift and XDC Schedules Released

The 2011 schedules for both Formula Drift and Xtreme Drift Circuit were just released this month. While some of the dates are still subject to change, here is the full list of all of the events for this year.

2011 Formula Drift Schedule
April 9 – Streets of Long Beach
May 7 - Road Atlanta
June 4 - Palm Beach International Raceway
June 18 - Wall Speedway, New Jersey
July 23 - Evergreen Speedway
August 27 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
October 8 - Irwindale Speedway


2011 Xtreme Drift Circuit Schedule
March 11/12 – Irwindale Speedway
April 22/23 - Firebird International Raceway; Phoenix, AZ
May 14/15 - Central Florida Racing Complex; Orlando, FL
June 17/18 - Summit Point with Hyperfest; West Virginia
July 2/3 – Charlotte Motor Speedway
August 13/14 – Pacific Grand Prix; Seattle, WA
September 4/5 - St. Eustache Autodrome; Montreal, QB
September 23/24 – Texas Motor Speedway; Fort Worth, TX

Drifting in FDR Park

I love this video of Andy from Drift Alliance/Shoot First Productions that was on the Keep Drifting Fun blog. This clip is of Andy driving his "stock, one-wheel-peeler Nissan 240sx" around FDR park in Philadelphia, PA...where you'll usually find more people skateboarding than drifting. Check it out.

RALLYDRIFT: FDR in the Winter from Drift Alliance on Vimeo.

Chris Forsberg’s Reverse Entry with Missile S13

Chris Forsberg's Reverse Entry in his Missile S13
Check out Chris Forsberg’s missile entry S13 along with some other clips from Wrecked Magazine. Make sure you watch until the very end. Good stuff.

HELIX Drinks Signs Matt Waldin for 2011

For the 2011 Formula Drift Series, Matt Waldin has signed with HELIX Drinks, an energy drink company, allowing him to run a complete season. HELIX recently expressed their excitement to announce their title sponsorship of the Matt Waldin Racing professional drift team in a press release posted to Matt's blog on Jan. 3.

HELIX Drinks will support Waldin and his 2008 Nismo 350Z for all Formula Drift events in the United States allowing him to be a true contender in the series. HELIX Drinks and Matt Waldin Racing will team up for the entire series and for other industry events and programs throughout the 2011 season.

The Formula Drift series begins in Long Beach, Calif. in April and continues
across the country through October. Find more information at www.FormulaD.com.

Best of luck to Matt!