Coming off a dominating 2010 season in which Team Falken driver Vaughn Gittin, Jr.¸ competing in the Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang, became the Formula Drift Champion, the high performance tire manufacturer will be gunning for a repeat performance of last year. Falken's ultimate goal is to have one of its five factory drivers again claiming the top rung of the Formula D ladder, and each team member will have the horsepower to do it. All drivers plan on fielding a new or improved vehicle with more power, which the sport has demanded. The cars will be unveiled this weekend on the streets of Long Beach for the opening event of the 2011 Formula Drift season.
Gittin, Jr., will be aboard a Ford Mustang 5.4-liter, its motor built by Ford Racing and Huffaker Engineering, while Daijiro ("Dai") Yoshihara, who placed fourth in the standings last year, returns in his re-engineered Nissan 240SX (Silvia S13). Finishing fifth in 2010, Darren McNamara also returns this year, running a new Saturn Sky built by Autosport Dynamics in Charlotte, NC, losing the convertible for a hardtop which adds an aggressive stance to the car.
Tyler McQuarrie also recognized the value of a fully enclosed coupe, choosing a new hardtop Nissan 350Z, which allows for a significant change in weight distribution, making the Z a far more competitive vehicle. Finally, Justin Pawlak, returning for his second year with Falken, will again field a Ford Mustang, with an engine built by Ford Racing/Roush-Yates of NASCAR fame.
"Our team has worked hard to develop their new cars and we're pumped and ready," declared Jonathan Bradford, Team Falken's Formula Drift manager.
All members of Team Falken will be using the company's Azenis RT615K, which is DOT-approved and designed with the track competitor in mind. The RT615K is a tire with maximum grip and concentrated contact patch, which increases the driver's ability to fully exploit the capabilities of the engine, brakes and suspension, precisely what each drift competitor needs. Naturally, the RT615K performs equally well on the street during everyday driving.
"Each year, Formula Drift gets bigger, with more participants and more companies who want to be a part of this vital motorsports effort," stated Nick Fousekis, Director of Motorsports and Consumer Marketing for Falken. "We know what it takes to be competitive in this race series and we realize all the other teams will be aiming for us, but we have every intention of repeating our dominance, and continue running at the top. It's great to be back!"
To kick off Falken's comprehensive Formula Drift marketing program, special prizes will be given away at the team's display and activation area inside the paddock. Additional promotional items will be handed out by Falken's new group of Spokesmodels who will be in attendance throughout the two-day event. Guests of Falken will also enjoy the company's highly anticipated hospitality area.
The full complement of Team Falken, including its five factory drivers, along with Falken's display, hospitality rig and the company's factory support, will travel to all seven rounds of the 2010 Formula D Pro Championship.
Climb - Pikes Peak Hill Climb with a Monster
Ride on the bumper of a screaming 910hp, Twin-turbo, All-wheel Drive, 150 mph Suzuki SX4 as it races up one of the world's most dangerous hills. An attempt by the "Monster" to break his own record of 10:01:41...
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (June 29, 2010) -- For the fifth consecutive time, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima combined experience, skill and Falken Tires to claim overall victory in the 88th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Although he did not set a new Pikes Peak record, one day before his 60th birthday, Tajima continues to hold the current overall record for reaching the peak, beating hill climb veterans Paul Dallenbach and Rhys Millen in the Unlimited Class. He drove his new 910-hp Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special on Falken WildPeak A/T tires, the powerful new line of all-terrain, all-season tires Falken launched this past April.
Following Exhaustive tests in a Japanese wind tunnel facility, Monster's 2010 Pikes Peak race car underwent extensive aerodynamic changes to better adapt to the modified road surface on the race to the clouds, which assumed a smoother tarmac and less gravel than last year. Thinning air ascending the mountain robs most motors of their power by 30 or more percent, but the increase in horsepower over last year's race car helped push the driver forward.
2011 Falken Porsche GT3 RSR Testing - Sebring, FL
Falken Tire tests their 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR at the 2011 American Le Mans Series Winter Test in Sebring, FL at the historic Sebring Raceway. In a few short weeks this course will host the season opener of the 2011 American Le Mans Series with a grueling 12 hour endurance race.
Team Falken Tire, along with team manager Derrick Walker and drivers Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler hope to improve on their performance from last year with new slick compounds and a newly managed team.
Derrick Walker's background includes open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Indy Car.
2011 Formula Drift Round 1 - JTP Dominates Long Beach
Team Falken started the 2011 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. Justin Pawlak, in just his second year with the tire manufacturer, took his inaugural first place at the Long Beach opening round, with Team Falken teammate Daijiro ("Dai") Yoshihara in third.
 
Before a capacity crowd, Pawlak took the victory on board his 2011 Ford Mustang with a new engine built by Ford Racing and Roush-Yates and ran on Falken's Azenis RT615K, as did all other Falken team members. Pawlak qualified 11th, while Yoshihara was second among the top 32, alerting the other competitors he was the driver to beat on the streets of Long Beach. While Defending Formula D Champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr., struggled in qualifying, he was an important part of the weekend, meeting and greeting his fans as well as supporting the rest of the Falken team in the main event. Among the Falken "inter-team competition," Pawlak beat Darren McNamara in the top 16 round, and Justin went on to best Dai in the Top 4, completing a "One More Time." Justin beat Matt Powers in the final, while Dai defeated 2009 Formula D Champion Chris Forsberg to earn third.
"Justin earned this win through timing and endurance," declared Jonathan Bradford, Team Falken's Formula Drift manager. "He has grown rapidly over the past 12 months, and it is fitting that he would take his first podium as a Falken team member at one of our home tracks."
 
Falken continues to excel in activating its marketing efforts in association with Formula Drift and the strong crowds of drift fans in Southern California. With a new team of Falken Spokesmodels in the paddock next to the company's multiple support trailers, Falken hosted 350 representatives and guests from both Monster Energy Drink and Ford Racing in their hospitality region.
"This is an important victory for us because the race is in our backyard and we had a lot of fans, customers and Falken Tire enthusiasts in the stands and the paddock," said Nick Fousekis, Falken's Director of Motorsports Marketing and Events. "We've proven all the work the team and each individual driver have done during the off-season successfully moved Falken up another level, and we'll keep climbing all season long. We also appreciate the tremendous support from car builders Autosport Dynamics and SPD."
 
After the first round, Pawlak is at the top of the Championship standings, Yoshihara third, while McNamara is in 10th. Final Falken teammate Tyler McQuarrie finished in 11th. Ross Petty, a long-time independent competitor running Falkens, placed 14th. 
 
Round two will be held May 6-7, at Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA.
2010 Falken Saturn Sky Test - 800hp Run
Turn up your speakers. Here's a quick raw video of our test day of the 2010 Falken Saturn Sky built by AutoSport Dynamics of Charlotte, NC. We're pushing just about 800hp in this run, Darren McNamara is piloting.
Footage captured with GoPro Hero HD cameras and some high-end wireless microphones mounted near the Exhaust pipe
See you in Long Beach! =)
Formula Drift - Abu Dhabi 2011 - Yas Marina Curcuit - Urban Skillz
Formula Drift - Abu Dhabi 2011
Yas Marina Curcuit
Urban Skillz
Pure Drift Race Sounds
Drivers:
Tanner Foust - Golden Child
Chris Forsberg - The Force
Dai Yoshihara - Child Of The Drift
Fredric Aasbo - On The Way Up
Ryan Tuerck - Hampsha
Michael Essa - The BMW Freak
Mike Whiddett - Mad Mike
Ken Gushi - I am... The Future
Tony Brakohiapa - The Wise One
songs:
Shpongle - Once Upon the Sea of Blissful Awareness
The Prodigy - Omen
MONSTER DRIFT: Road America
http://www.facebook.com/MonsterEnergy
Vaughn Gittin Jr's Traveling Smoke Show makes a stop in Elkhart Lake , Wisconsin. Jr spins some rubber and makes new fans during a vintage racing weekend at Road America's 4 mile road course.
FORMULA DRIFT FIRST EVER SEMI TRUCK DRIFTING EXHIBITION
http://www.fastrucks.com/
http://www.hubinetteracing.com/shr/
Pro racer and stunt driver, Mike Ryan, was invited to round 6 of the Formula Drift Championship to put on a drift demonstration in his famous Freightliner Cascadia Pikes Peak Edition race truck.
Ride along as Mike and Sam Hubinette get some last minute testing in the week before the event at Irwindale Speedway. Watch as Sam in his competition Dodge Challenger and Mike in his Big Rig do drift donuts around each other! You'll also meet a very special kid named William Klopper who is battling cancer and goes for a ride in the big truck! Sam Hubinette was granting a wish to William's friend Patrick by inviting them out to the track for ride alongs.
The trip to Las Vegas was a success for Mike to claim the first public demonstration of a Semi Truck drifting at an official drift event.
Mike Ryan proves yet again that SIZE MATTERS!
Shot by:
Jason Lewis
Justin Jones and Bob-O Films
Tanner Foust Street Drift: Mulholland - GT Channel
Repost: But we we thought some of you may have not seen it yet & it's such an awesome video. http://gtchannel.com for more videos. Tanner Foust drifts his Rockstar Energy Drink Scion TC Drift Car on a legendary stretch of Mulholland Highway known as "The Snake". Watch Tanner unleash his 600hp NASCAR V8 powered Scion drift car on this famed road. There were no rehearsals and most of the film is of Tanner's first run on a clean stretch of road. And, yes, the road was closed. WARNING: The following video was performed by a professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt what you are about to see.
Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle
A stretched 05 Kawasaki ZX10 piloted by Nick "Apex" Brocha vs. a Corvette-Powered RX7 driven by Jim Guthrie in a high speed drifting battle.
Download Hi-Res Desktop Images: http://iconmotosports.net/2011/01/high-plains-drifters-desktops/
Nick's Icon Gear:
Variant Salvo HiViz Helmet
Overlord Prime Hero Jacket
Overlord Prime Pants
Overlord Gloves
Patrol Boots
Jim's Icon Gear:
Alliance Reflective Helmet
29'r Gloves
Cameras:
Canon 5D
Canon 7D
Panasonic GH1
GoPro Hero HD
RC:
Traxxas Rustler VXL Brushless w/ 11.1v LiPo Battery
Behind the Smoke Ep 12: Defeat in the Heat - Dai Yoshihara Formula Drift 2011 Season
Formula D Round 3 Palm Beach wasn't exactly what the team was expecting coming off from that huge victory in Atlanta. On Friday the team qualified a low 12th place. This Saturday they face, Kyle "The Menace" Mohan... Behind the Smoke gives a look into the real life of professional Formula Drift driver, Daijiro Yoshihara. GTChannel's cameras will follow Dai throughout the 2011 FD season both on and off the track giving current and new drifting fans an exclusive look into what it's really like to compete in the top drifting series of N.America.
Final Fight at 2010 Formula Drift Irwindale
FONTANA, CA -- After finishing second in the "Title Fight" at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, CA, Formula Drift's final event of the year, Team Falken's Vaughn Gittin Jr., driver of the Monster Energy/Falken Tire 2011 Ford Mustang, became the Formula D Champion of the 2010 season. 


It was the 11th podium finish for Team Falken in seven Formula D races, a season in which the tire company's factory-supported teams dominated all year long. Falken placed first in five of the seven events.
 

Three Team Falken drivers were in the top five in the final standings. Total points between the top five drivers were close, but Gittin Jr. was clearly the favorite after taking two wins in the six races leading up to the Title Fight. He finished the season with 632 points. Irwindale winner Tanner Foust eventually finished second in the standings at 568.5, and Team Falken Driver Daijiro Yoshihara ended up fourth overall, just one point behind third place Ryan Tuerck. Team Falken Driver Darren McNamara took fifth.
"This was Jr.'s year plain and simple, said Jonathan Bradford, Falken's Drift Team Supervisor. "There is a lot to be said about finishing on the podium six out of seven events this year. It was a pleasure to be involved with a team that left everything on the track and drove with an all-in attitude. We have successfully rewritten the record books and I would like to personally thank the fans that rooted for Falken throughout this unbelievable season."
"Our team's success would not be possible without the support, hard work and dedication of our two fabrication/engineering facilities, Autosport Dynamics (ASD) in Charlotte, NC and SPD Metalworks in Anaheim, CA," added Nick Fousekis, Senior Manager, Consumer Marketing. "I'd also like to thank all of the sponsors, including our newest, Monster Energy, for their faith in Falken's program. Last but certainly not least, we thank the fans of drifting. Without you, the sport would not have grown into that it is today."
The Irwindale event started off well, as Falken's Darren McNamara qualified first, followed by Yoshihara in third. Gittin Jr. was sixth. Both McNamara and Gittin Jr. made it to the Top 4, but McNamara lost a chance to take a podium when he spun out in the battle for third place.
"On behalf of everyone at Falken Tire, we wish to express our best wishes to Vaughn," said Andrew Hoit, Falken Director of Marketing. "This was a great season for Falken, and we entertained close to 500 guests over the weekend at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. I'd also like to salute the efforts of our other team members: Dai Yoshihara; Darren McNamara; Tyler McQuarrie [who finished 8th in the standings]; and Justin Pawlak [who finished 11th]; as well as our privateers, all of whom, like the factory teams, competed on Falken Azenis RT-615K tires: Fredric Aasbo [13th]; Ross Petty [19th]; "Mad" Mike Whiddett [21st]; James Deane [24th]; and Dean Kearney, who came from Ireland. Their participation successfully enhanced our overall effort, and we'll all join the celebration."


Drifting takes competitive motorsports to the extreme, and has successfully attracted strong crowds, loyal fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. Falken quickly realized how popular and demanding this format would become, and since 2003, has been a solid fixture within the sport. The focus is on skill and precision driving, as competitors in specially prepared, high-powered vehicles intentionally execute controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course.
Fredric Aasbo Wins Formula Drift Invitational Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit 2011
http://gtchannel.com for more Formula D videos. Rookie of the year Frederic Aasbo wins the Formula Drift invitational event in Abu Dhabi on February 25th, 2011. This season Need for Speed sponsored Aasbo will be taking over Tanner Foust's spot and competing in a Scion tC with Papadakis Racing.
Round 1 Formula Drift Streets of Long Beach
Justin Pawlak in the Falken Tire Ford Mustang earns the victory at the first event of the 2012 Formula DRIFT season. Daijiro Yoshihara in the America's Tire / Falken Nissan 240SX takes second place while Formula DRIFT rookie Daigo Saito, in the Achilles Tires / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 rounds out the podium.
