Formula D

The 2012 Formula Drift look book was put together by Linhbergh and our gallery features 60 images shot for the 2012 clothing now available from Formula Drift. The gallery features images all around Long Beach, California (where Formula Drift HQ is located) and features co-founder Ryan Sage and sales/marketing man Bryan Olfert from Formula Drift as well.

Check Out the Complete Gallery: http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=282

Buy Formula Drift Clothing: http://formuladmerch.gostorego.com/

Posted in Formula D, Lifestyle, Merchandise | 3 Comments »

Here is how the championship stacks up after the first two rounds. Justin Pawlak is setting up himself to sweep up the competition this season with two wins in a row. His season went great last year but lost the championship with mechanical issues in Seattle and Las Vegas which let Dai Yoshihara sneak by. Right now Daigo Saito looks like the only one within reach but plenty of crazy things can happen in the next 5 rounds.

1. Justin Pawlak – 209 points
2. Daigo Saito – 157.50 points
3. Fredric Aasbo – 152 points
4. Rhys Millen – 127 points
5. Matt Powers – 126.50 points
6. Ryan Tuerck – 120.50 points
7. Dai Yoshihara – 118 points
8. Odi Bakchis – 117.25 points
9. Ryan Kado – 114 points
10. Kyle Mohan – 109.50 points
11. Toshiki Yoshioka – 108.50 points
12. Michael Essa – 97.50 points
13. Vaughn Gittin Jr. – 96 points
14. Chris Forsberg – 93 points
15. Tyler McQuarrie – 88.50 points
16. Kennet Moen – 87.50 points
17. Ken Gushi – 86.25 points
17. Joon Maeng – 86.25 points
19. Conrad Grunewald – 85 points
20. Matt Field – 79.25 points
21. Tony Angelo – 78.75 points
22. Walker Wilkerson – 69.50 points
23. Darren McNamara – 50.25 points
24. George Marstanovic – 49.25 points
24. Dennis Mertzanis – 49.25 points

Posted in Chris Forsberg, Conrad Grunewald, Daigo Saito, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Dennis Mertzanis, Formula D, Fredric Aasbo, Joon Maeng, Justin Pawlak, Ken Gushi, Kyle Mohan, Matt Powers, Michael Essa, Odi Bakchis, Ryan Tuerck, Standings, Tony Angelo, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr. | No Comments »

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When they first announced Daigo Saito as a rookie this season I quietly rolled my eyes and wished we could figure out some better regulations to identify rookies. I have even spoked with Formula Drift co-founder Ryan Sage on my thoughts about improper identification of rookies and he made some valid points. I really felt like I was alone in this quest until I got to Road Atlanta this weekend.

The fact is about 30 people brought up his being a rookie BS and some people cited my sarcastic comment on the issue during the Driftstream Half-Time show at Long Beach. Team owners, drivers, and fans all have put in a .02 with me on why this makes no sense and here is my arguement before you cast a vote.

I will let Formula Drift slide and ignore that he is a D1 Grand Prix champion since that is another series in another land across one big ocean and say even with a championship in D1 he can have a rookie status in our sport. What I cannot get over is the fact that he is the 2011 Formula Drift Asia champion. Yes, Daigo has a Formula Drift championship trophy on his mantle at home in Japan celebrating his victory of Formula Drift. So either the Asia series is irrelevant and not a big deal (which I don’t feel is the case) or we should just ignore this minor issue. How does a mean with a championship from the same series get declared a rookie?

The rookie status of Daigo Saito is really a much bigger issue than many fans would realize at first. Becoming a rookie of the year is the next best thing behind a championship in any sport. It opens huge sponsor opportunities to a young driver who most likely footed his own bill that season. Looking at Odi Bakchis last year he was running without a title sponsor and buying Falken Tires for the season. Now he has M7 Japan as a title sponsor and is getting tire support from Nexen Tire changing the way he can operate his whole program. After two rounds Daigo already has double the points of what Odi Bakchis had after two rounds last year. I am glad Daigo is here and he might be the only chance to stop the Falken Tire championship from going three-peat this season but he just isn’t a rookie.

The other big issue I see here is finding another motorsport and how they set rookie rules is a little difficult. Most motorsports from country to country have large rule variations and car platform changes. Comparing Formula 1 to Indy is impossible or DTM racing to NASCAR doesn’t make any sense. At the end of the day drifting is kind of drifting since the rulebooks really lack restrictions and spec vehicles like these other sports.

I have now plead my case but cast your vote above so we can see what you think!

Posted in Daigo Saito, Formula D, International, Odi Bakchis, Vaughn Gittin Jr. | 38 Comments »

All of the action with well over 1,000+ photos from the Main Event at Formula Drift Road Atlanta. All of the controversy and drama captured in photographs between tandem accidents, close battles, and another victory to Justin Pawlak. Sit back and enjoy a podium for Fredric Aasbo, Daigo Saito and the victory machine this season Justin Pawlak.

Check out the Gallery: http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=281

Posted in Daijiro Yoshihara, Formula D, Gallery, Ken Gushi, Matt Powers, Odi Bakchis, Ryan Tuerck, Tony Angelo, Vaughn Gittin Jr. | 6 Comments »

Justin Pawlak follows up his 1st place at Long Beach with a 1st place victory at Road Atlanta

1. Justin Pawlak
2. Fredric Aasbo
3. Daigo Saito

Posted in Daigo Saito, Formula D, Fredric Aasbo, Justin Pawlak, RESULTS | 68 Comments »

During qualifying today Formula Drift had some speed gun issues which resulted in changing every driver to receiving 10 points changing the qualifying order and a few drivers got entered wrong into the original bracket that was released. As far as we know here are the official tandem battles that will be happening in a few hours at Road Atlanta:

Michael Essa vs. Corey Hosford
Vaughn Gittin Jr. vs. Darren McNamara
Matt Field vs. Danny George
Daigo Saito vs. Chelsea DeNofa
Justin Pawlak vs. Ken Gushi
Matt Powers vs. George Marstonovic
Dai Yoshihara vs. Ryan Tuerck
Odi Bakchis vs. Patrick Goodin
Chris Forsberg vs. Toshiki Yoshioka
Fredric Aasbo vs. Robbie Nishida
Joon Maeng vs. Tyler McQuarrie
Dennis Mertzanis vs. Kyle Mohan
Conrad Grunewald vs. Tony Angelo
Ryan Kado vs. Jeff Jones
Kenneth Moen vs. Walker Wilkerson
Rhys Millen vs. Luke Lonberger

Posted in Chris Forsberg, D1 Underground, Daigo Saito, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Dennis Mertzanis, Formula D, Jeff Jones, Joon Maeng, Justin Pawlak, Ken Gushi, Kyle Mohan, Matt Powers, Michael Essa, Odi Bakchis, Rhys Millen, Robbie Nishida, Ryan Tuerck, Tony Angelo, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Walker Wilkerson | 4 Comments »

Does Vaughn look like he is going the wrong way through the horseshoe? Well the fact of the matter is this is the new track layout has reversed having drivers not turn into the horseshoe at the bottom and go all the way to the top of the horseshoe with four cones pushing you to the outside of the course and hooking downhill around the horseshoe. This awesome photograph was snapped by Vaughn’s recent wife Abigail Gittin Jr. showing him entering into the top of the horseshoe going forward. Below is an on car of the practice run showing how the new tentative course layout will work for this weekend.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. on new track layout - “The fact that its a change is fun and challenging. I definitely love the old setup, but I think this new track is going to allow for overall closer tandem throughout the course rather than just in certain spots.”

Posted in Formula D, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Video | 6 Comments »

Tanner Foust and the boys will be doing a third season of Top Gear USA which is just about to start filming we have learned. Excited to see the History Channel has gotten so behind this programming which we have heard is bringing in some top viewership on the cable channel. As the episodes have continued the chemistry and entertainment these guys are producing on air is going up up and up. While we cannot see Tanner Foust tearing it up in a Scion tC anymore we guess watching him on TV is the next best thing while his old championship 350z is being driven by Kenneth Moen in Formula Drift this weekend.

Posted in Formula D, Tanner Foust, Top Gear | 7 Comments »

The local news channel WSB TV (Channel 2) which is the local ABC affiliate has been reporting on the drifting ban in Atlanta. One person on the news even mentioned that is was kind of like letting people play soccer but not football. WSB TV brought out a DB meter that never registered above 76db from the video we saw. The fireworks on Friday night at the local baseball stadium register 145-150db over double when they are shot off from the exact same area that go off mind you late into the night on this week night.

The WSB broadcasters even brought up that Cindy McCain (wife of R Senator John McCain) has drifted and openly supports the sport as something she does with her son. In case you missed it the city is passing a new sound DB ordinance and in addition they  specifically ban drifting within 1000 feet (almost a 1/4 mile) of residential zoning which is basically a death sentence for drifting in the city.  They will have a re-air about this in the 5:00pm EST / 2:00pm PST news cycle which you can catch live online. The Facebook group is also rapidly growing and already broke 7,000 members which you can follow the link below.

Watch on the News: http://www.wsbtv.com/s/news/live/

Join the Facebook Community: http://www.facebook.com/groups/savedriftinginatl/

Posted in Formula D, Grassroots, Major Announcements | 9 Comments »

The flagger Bil Baldwin who has become legendary at Streets of Long Beach is now heading to Round 2 at Road Atlanta with the help of Mazda Miata driver Danny George. Danny even released a teaser video of Bil driving across the country with his team! Watch the video below.

Posted in Formula D, Major Announcements | 17 Comments »