Apr 16, 2007

Bridgestone Bullish on Drift Series for '07

For some, racing is the only area of motor sport worthy of consideration. To them, getting around a track faster than all of the other competitors is the be-all and end-all. But to others, driving with style, grace and creativity is more important than being a hundredth of a second quicker than the next guy. And for them, there is drifting. Drifting is a motor sport that requires drivers to maneuver their vehicles into well-executed, controlled slides at high speeds through a marked course. Competitors are judged primarily on style, not necessarily by time elapsed. In other words, if NASCAR Nextel Cup is hockey, then drifting is figure skating...but without the chiffon outfits.

One major conventional racing sponsor that has become hot on drifting is Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire. It expects to have a big presence in the 2007 Need for Speed Formula Drift (Formula D) Championship Series, which kicked off its season this past weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. There's reason for this optimism, as the Bridgestone brand concluded 2006 with a very impressive debut season of five of seven podium finishes, and Bridgestone-sponsored driver Rhys Millen walked away as the 2006 runner-up in the Formula D Championship. Entering its fourth season, the Need for Speed Formula Drift Championship Series is the first officially sanctioned and recognized North American professional drifting championship series.

One of the reasons Bridgestone is so confident is that it has both the tires and the drivers to win a drifting crown.

"The Bridgestone-brand Potenza RE-01R tire performed exceptionally well for us last year," said Phil Pacsi, vice president, North American Consumer Tire Marketing, BFNT.  "Our teams adapted well to its outstanding grip and handling in its initial entry into Formula D, and we expect the same type of performance this season. We are once again excited to sponsor Formula D, and with a very generous contingency purse up for grabs, drivers will be hard-pressed not to push themselves, their vehicles and their tires to the limit."

All Bridgestone contingency drivers will be drifting on the high performance Potenza street tires. Rhys Millen, the 2006 Triple Crown Champion and second place Formula D series winner of RMR & Red Bull Racing, returns to the track seeking a series title. Bridgestone is also excited to feature several up-and-coming drift drivers on its sponsored team, including Rich Rutherford, aka "Mr. Clean," and Erich Joiner of Tool Racing team. In addition, Team Snakebite makes its debut in the drift arena for the '07 series. With the combined talents of Tony Angelo and Ryan Tuerck (aka Hampshaa), the team is sure to give seasoned drivers a run for their money.

Seven Formula D events are scheduled for 2007: Long Beach, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; Summit Point, W.Va.; Monroe, Wash.; Sonoma, Calif.; Wall, NJ; and Irwindale, Calif.