The D1 Grand Prix series is up to it’s typical “screw you Drifting world, we are better” attitude and has told all of their drivers that they are not allowed to participate at the Redbull World Challenge. In a matter that seemed to be going on behind private doors until today when Formula D posted a full card of people who were offered spots for this event and D1 had a big DECLINED on the list.

D1GP D1GP Japan 1 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
D1GP D1GP Japan 2 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
D1GP D1GP Japan 3 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
D1GP D1GP Japan 4 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
D1GP D1GP Japan 5 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
D1GP D1GP Japan 6 of 6 invitations D1 requested DECLINED
Nob Taniguchi D1GP Japan 2001 Champ DECLINED - Prior engagement, race
Youichi Imamura D1GP Japan 2003 Champ DECLINED - D1 Not allow
Yasuyaki Kazama D1GP/MSC Japan 2005 Champ DECLINED - Scheduling Conflict
Nobushige Kumakubo D1GP Japan 2006 Champ DECLINED - Dubai Demo
Manabu Max Orido D1GP/MSC Japan D1 Judge, MSC Judge, Super GT driver DECLINED - Hired by Chevy for WTCC race in Macau

So it looks like our World Drift Championship will be short of Japanese talent but not short of talent from anywhere else in the world? It is funny how every organization in the world can come together and be excited about an event with the exception of D1. We really just wish D1 would get off it’s high horse and let their talent participate. Formula D and fellow organizations gladly attended their All Star and Vs. the World events in the past. As it appears D1 is just having it’s typical attitude we still keep hearing rumors about this “2009 D1 season” here in America. With the track record of D1 in the United States I think we are going to refrain on booking flights until the week of the event assuming it’s not on a Formula D weekend again.

Check out Friday’s gallery sponsored by Bosch from the House of Drift. We have some great footage of unseeded qualifying and the late night top 32 practice. This event was looking to be a great one as we rolled into the main event with a championship on the line and victory on everyone’s mind. Check out all of our great coverage from Formula D.

Check out this Formula D Irwindale Gallery: http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=68

1 Bill Sherman (Retaks/Bridgestone Tires Nissan 240sx)
2 T. Yoshioka (APSEC AE86)
3 P. Mordaunt (RiceboyTV Nissan 350z)
4 S. Yamamoto (Falken Tires Nissan S13)
5 J. Pawlak (National Wave/Maxxis Tires Mazda Rx-7)
6 T. McQuarrie (Hankook Tires Porsche GT2)
7 M. Haruguchi (S15 Nissan 240sx)
8 M. Orido (Project U Toyota Aristo)
9 K. Hayashida (Signal Auto Nissan Skyline)
10 Y. Kondo (Kaaz AE86)
11 T. Angelo (Maxxis Tires Mazda Rx-7)
12 A. Pfeiffer (International All Stars Mazda Mx-5)
13 T. Brakohiapa (Team X Ford Mustang)
14 T. Aono (Falken Tires AE86)
15 J. Russakoff (blue AE86)
16 Q. Ly (Nissan 240sx)

Daigo Satiro in his JZX 100 took home first place this weekend while battling the hometown hero Ken Nomura in his Nissan Skyline! It was a great battle but Satiro took home the win for this mid summer classic! Daigo Satiro has been looking strong at events this year like Fuji and Tokyo so it was only a matter of time until he took home a win. On another note Max Orido retired very early due to car trouble in the Lexus. A very underwhelming debut but we’ll see if he is back at Ebisu at the end of August.

1st- Daigo Saito (JZX100)
2nd- Ken Nomura (R34 Nissan Skyline)
3rd- Masato Kawabata- (Nissan Silvia)
4th- Youichi Imamura- (S15 Nissan Silvia)

 

Does the world look like it might make sense again? After hearing these rumors circling around the Internet for weeks upon weeks it seems like Orido will make his grand return to the D1 Grand Prix circuit in a similar fashion that NOB did earlier this season. Speedhunters announced that this is official that he will be present at Autopolis this weekend. His car will be the 2JZ-powered Weds/Bandoh IS which if I am not mistaken is the same car pictured above at Tokyo Auto Salon 2008. The car is done a similar livery to the GT300 IS that Orido drives in Super GT.