Long Beach, Calif. – July 15, 2008 – Formula DRIFT entered Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first time for Round 4: High Stakes and rookie Toshiki Yoshioka took home the victory. This event also marked the 2nd event of the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize with Rhys Millen holding the lead over teammate Daijiro Yoshihara.
Entering Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first time the Formula DRIFT Championship presented by Circuit City came back to the West Coast. The course became the fastest on the circuit with multiple drivers topping the high 90 mph range with their initial drift through the challenging track. The competition was as tough as ever with many new faces and vehicles entering the competition.
The event showcased one of the most diverse fields in Formula DRIFT history with the world’s best drivers from around the world participating at the event. Drivers such as Toshiki Yoshioka from Japan, Christian Pickering from Australia, JT Wharerau from New Zealand, and world renowned Japanese racing star Manabu “Max” Orido made his Formula DRIFT debut. Japan came out on top with both Daijiro Yoshihara in his Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac Solstice GXP and Toshiki Yoshioka in his ASpec / Works Bell Toyota Sprinter Trueno making it to the finals. After a hard fought battle, Formula DRIFT rookie, Toshiki Yoshioka took home top honors in only his 2nd Formula DRIFT appearance.
“The diversity of the series was proven with drivers coming from around the world to compete in Formula DRIFT competition,” said Jim Liaw, President and Co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “You never know who will come out on top as we had a different winner each round so far. It was also proof of our diversity with three pre-1986 Toyota Corollas making it to the head-to-head round and upsetting some of the higher horsepower vehicles.”
At the halfway point of the season the competition for the Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup is as tight as ever with 2007 Formula DRIFT Champion Tanner Foust and his Rockstar / AEM Nissan 350Z leading the way and with less than 15 points separating Foust from 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Samuel Hubinette in his Nuformz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10 is 2nd in points and top contender Daijiro Yoshihara in his Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac GTO following in 3rd, it will be a hard fought battle to the end. This event also marked the 2nd event for the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize and Rhys Millen leads the way by 4 points over teammate Daijiro Yoshihara. Formula DRIFT action continues on August 9 at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA.
Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup 2008 Point Standings
1. Foust
2. Hubinette
3. Yoshihara
4. Forsberg
5. Takatori
6. Tuerck
6.. Millen
8. Gittin, Jr.
9. Grunewald
10. McNamara
11. Verdier
12. Miki
13. Nishida
14. Gushi
15. Yamanaka
16. Yoshioka
Rockstar / AEM Nissan 350Z
Nuformz Racing Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10
Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac GTO
NOS Energy Drink Nissan 350Z
Super Autobacs Nissan Skyline R34
Gardella Racing / Mobil1 Pontiac Solstice
Red Bull Pontiac Solstice GXP
Falken / Ford Racing Mustang
Nitto / Tanaka Racing Chevrolet Corvette
Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky
Cooper / Crawford Performance Subaru STI
APEXi / Nitto Mazda RX7
Hankook / Peak Performance Nissan 350Z
RS*R Scion tC
Signal / Maziora Nissan S14
Aspec / Works Bell Toyota Sprinter Trueno
321 Points
313 Points
308 Points
282 Points
265 Points
254 Points
254 Points
182.25 Points
173.25 Points
172 Points
169.25 Points
119.50 Points
117.25 Points
111.50 Points
110.25 Points
104.25 Points
Tires.com Triple Crown 2008 Point Standings
1. Millen
2. Yoshihara
3. Takatori
Red Bull Pontiac Solstice GXP
Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac GTO
Super Autobacs Nissan Skyline R34
170 Points
166 Points
157 Points
Formula DRIFT Round 4: High Stakes Event Results
1. Yoshioka
2. Yoshihara
3. Hubinette
Aspec / Works Bell Toyota Sprinter Trueno
Bridgestone / RMR Pontiac GTO
Nuformz Racing / Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10
104.25 Points
308 Points
313 Points
Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com
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