Formula DRIFT Kicks-off the Season

For immediate release

April 14, 2008

Formula DRIFT Kicks-off the Season to a Sell-out Crowd


Long Beach, Calif. – April 14, 2008 – Formula DRIFT kicked-off it’s fifth season to a near sell-out crowd for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach with Chris Forsberg and his NOS Energy / Maxxis Tires Nissan 350Z Roadster taking home the first victory of the season.

The Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course hosted the opening round and the teams came prepared to start the season off. Scion’s first entry into drifting had Ken Gushi and his RS*R Scion tC make the Top 16, Daijiro Yoshihara made incredible adjustments from a RHD Nissan Silvia into a LHD Pontiac GTO to finish in 5th place overall, and newcomers Justin Pawlak and Michihiro Takatori also advanced to the Top 16 competition. The highlight of the day came when Long Beach local Kyle Mohan battled through the competition to finish in 4th place overall, the highest finish of his career.

“This was the most anticipated opening round in Formula DRIFT history,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The grandstands were full with standing room only and you could feel the energy of the crowd. The competition was fierce and made for one very exciting event.”

Grand Marshall for this event, Rob Dyrdek, made a special parade lap in his Rogue Status ’69 Camaro, having the car do donuts in front of the packed stands leaving a cloud of smoke that had the crowd screaming for more. Special guest, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and star of the “Ultimate Fighter,” Quinton “Rampage” Jackson also came to check out the action and sign autographs. Even avid rally supporter Ken Block, founder of DC Shoes, came to check out the drifting action. This event also marked the introduction of Miss Formula DRIFT, Catherine Kluthe.

The final battle of the evening brought Samuel Hubinette and his Mopar Dodge Viper back to action against Chris Forsberg and his NOS / Maxxis Nissan 350Z Roadster. After 2 very tight competitive runs with each driver pushing the other to the limits a, “One More Time,” round was called and the finals pitted the drivers in a sudden death victory round. After 2 additional runs with each driver closing in on the other, the judges deliberated and awarded Chris Forsberg as the first winner of the season. 2007 Formula DRIFT Champion Tanner Foust and his Rockstar / AEM Nissan 350Z grabbed the 3rd spot on the podium by beating out Long Beach local Kyle Mohan and his Mazda RX-7.


Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup 2008 Point Standings

1. Forsberg 2. Hubinette 3. Foust 4. Mohan 5. Yoshihara 6. Haruguchi 7. Hayashida 7. Tuerck 9. McNamara 10. Gittin 11. Pawlak 12. Gushi 12. Takatori 14. Grunewald 14. Miki 14. Yamanaka

106 Points 96 Points 83 Points 70 Points 65 Points 64 Points 63 Points 63 Points 61 Points 58 Points 57 Points 56 Points 56 Points 55 Points 55 Points 55 Points

Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com
For more information contact:
John Pangilinan
The ID Agency
562.491.7503

Formula DRIFT Round 1

For immediate release

April 4, 2008

Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Tickets Selling Fast


Long Beach, Calif. – April 4, 2008 – Ticket sales for Formula DRIFT’s season opener on April 12, 2008 on the Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course are selling quickly. Pre-Sale Tickets are available both online and at the Long Beach Convention Center box office. Hurry and reserve your seats now.

“Online ticket sales are tracking faster than last year. So we recommend fans to purchase tickets in advance to save a seat for themselves and their friends. We have also opened ticket sales for seating in Grandstands # 24 and # 25,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT.

Tickets are still available, but are selling quickly. Grandstand # 17 (next to judging stand) and # 18 (where the judging stand is) the cost for tickets are $27 online and $32 the day of the event. Grand # 21 (directly across from # 17 and # 18) the cost for tickets are $25 online and $30 the day of the event. Both Grandstands # 24 and # 25 (by the finish line and the last hairpin turn) the cost of a ticket is $23 online and $28 the day of the event.

Once again every grandstand ticket sold will guarantee you a reserved seat. “Fans no longer have to worry about losing a seat and can roam around the venue and come back to have their seat waiting for them and not miss out on all the action,” said Liaw.

The Long Beach Convention Center box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and is located on 300 Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, CA. By purchasing tickets in advance through the Long Beach Convention Center box office, the online service charge will be waived.


For more information contact:
John Pangilinan
The ID Agency
562.491.7503