Formula Drift announces World Championship of drifting
It always seems a bit presumptuous when a "world champion" is declared for a sporting event played in America. After all, other countries have leagues for baseball, basketball, football, etc. Formula Drift, the most well known drifting association in the United States, isn't about to declare world superiority in the art of maneuvering a car sideways through a course, but it does want to find out who's the best. Partnering with Red Bull Energy Drink, Formula Drift will be bringing together the best drifters from around the world to compete head to head in one single event. The competition will be held in November on the docks in Long Beach, CA and will feature a purpose-built course that will test the limits of each driver's skills. With a few of us located in Los Angeles, you can be sure that Autoblog will be bringing you live coverage of the event. Full details in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Formula Drift]
PRESS RELEASE:
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Formula DRIFT, North America's premier drifting Sanctioning Body, has partnered with Red Bull Energy Drink, the world's leading energy drink, to create one of the world's most anticipated drifting events ever – the Red Bull Drifting World Championship. The event, which will feature 32 of the world's best drifters, will be held on the docks at the Port of Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, November 15, 2008.
The Red Bull Drifting World Championship will bring the best drifting drivers in the world together to compete in a single historic event. Drivers from the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe and Canada will participate, but only one will claim the title of Red Bull Drifting World Champion. Current and past champions from the world's top professional drifting series will receive an exclusive invitation to showcase their skills and compete for the largest drifting prize purse ever offered.
"Formula DRIFT has worked over the last five years to bring the drifting world closer together via our partnered events in Singapore and Mexico as well as our open door/open dialogue with the top professional drifting leagues from each corner of the world. We are excited to be able to team up with Red Bull to bring the world together and stage the toughest competition with the best drivers," stated Jim Liaw, President/Co-Founder of Formula DRIFT.
The purpose-built course will include unprecedented features that will test the limits of the drivers and their cars such as a long straight to ensure triple-digit entry speeds, a big, sweeping first turn for high-speed drifting and multiple, technically challenging turns. Trackside viewing areas will allow spectators to get up close and personal with the competition.
"It is an exciting time for the sport of drifting. Red Bull is the leader for innovative sporting events worldwide and now drivers will be challenged like never before in a completely different environment than we're used to," said Rhys Millen, 2005 Formula DRIFT champion. "I'm proud to be flying the Red Bull colors heading into the Red Bull Drifting World Championship."
Formula DRIFT, North America's professional drifting championship series, will play the role of organizer, co-promoter, and sanctioning body for the World Championship event. Judging will be based on current Formula DRIFT rules and regulations with the possible addition of two international judges.
More information will be disclosed at a later date including brand and media partners and participating drivers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 7:40PM (7/14/2008)
Is it okay for "World Champion" Kimi Raikkonen then? I didn't see him beat out IRL, ALMS or NASCAR champions to earn his "world champion" title.
I just watched the Red Bull "World Champion" air racing. It doesn't even include Reno, the actual premiere air races in the world.
It's not just the US who likes marketing hype.
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Dave Ellis 9:11PM (7/14/2008)
Clearly don't understand the term "World Champion" compared to "Overall Champion" or similar terms.
EvolutionVII 1:07AM (7/15/2008)
You sir, are an idiot.
If you'd only look up the official title Kimi has, you'd crawl back to your american based IRL, ALMS and NASCAR and stfu.
His title is called Formula One World Champion 2007. So anyone driving in F1 technically had the chance to challenge him and his title.
Scott Speed couldn't beat him, and that's sad for you guys, but I think you should start thinking a little bit more globally. There's sport outside of the US too, you know ... Take DTM for example.
Kimi ftw and btw I hope someone from Asia wins this contest.
nardi 7:59PM (7/14/2008)
F1 is a world sport, the drivers, teams and circuits are from all over the world, and he beat all other F1 drivers, thats why its called F1. If he were to beat people from other disciplines it would be called something like ...I dunno... the race of champions, oh look there is one of them as well.
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El0d 8:38PM (7/14/2008)
The MLB, NBA, and NFL are where the top tier talent from all over the world in those respective sports go to compete, and there are no international leagues. So it was just a smarmy point to bring up at all.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:26PM (7/14/2008)
As opposed to the MLB? Have you looked at a team roster lately?
I don't think anyone is actually saying the Boston Red Sox aren't the best baseball team in the world any more than they are saying Kimi Raikkonen isn't the best driver.
The complains stem from crowning someone "world champion" without having them compete against all comers. And F1 is as guilty of this as Major League Baseball is.
Kimi didn't win the Race of Champions, so how can he be World Champion?
BTW, it's called F1 because that's the trademarked name. It's not called F1 because all the race series in the world entered the thunderdome and only one series came out. Again, it's marketing hype. They want to unilaterally declare themselves #1, and so they do so, without any kind of actual competition.
kc 8:33AM (7/15/2008)
Actually, isn't the FIA the oldest sanctioning body of motor racing? So, by default if they have a tiered structure with the champion of the highest tier considered the "world champion," is that not correct?
We usually don't even consider an Olympic team, whether that be Baskeball, Baseball, Soccer, etc to be "world champion"
BlackCanary 11:57PM (7/14/2008)
The NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB are all the top tier of the sport with the best players from all over the world and that is why those sports have world champions. The MLS does not have world champions because obviously it is not the premier soccer in the world nor does it attract the best players.
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CarlosMC 10:15AM (7/15/2008)
When you have NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB US National Teams competing against their counterparts from around the world in a championship - as the MLS (Major League Soccer) does - and they win, then you can call them World Champions of their game - but the US championships will still be just that: the _US_ championships!
Example: the English Premiership is also top tier in football (soccer, for you), probably even the best in the World, but their national team didn't even qualified for the last European Championships.
RLQ 4:17AM (7/15/2008)
I don't like drifting, but I can see why its popular.
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ROOLLY 4:15AM (7/15/2008)
Drifting is just like any sport. Not everybody like’s to watch it, but it's a load of fun to do.
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FD 1:10PM (7/15/2008)
I just hope FD does not give the win to Tanner Foust. Not to rag on his driving ( I think he is pretty good) but quite a few times this season in FD I have see Tanner win when it was clearly obvious the oposing driver had the advantage.
Tanners is FD poster boy. I can already guarantee he will win.
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Ben 1:22PM (7/15/2008)
I would have to dissagree with that one. If you recall Tanner Foust (#1 Qualifier) got smoked in FD Las Vegas this past weekend by Peak Performance Robbie Nishida (#16 Qualifier) the first time they ran and when they ran One More Time!
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