GT Radial is now an official tire supplier for Formula DRIFT and will make its debut at round 1 of the series, April 4-5 at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course. Driver Tyler Wolfson will be competing on GT Radial Champiro SX2 extreme performance summer tires.
The Champiro SX2, introduced recently to North America, was developed for driving enthusiasts who want higher levels of traction, response and driving control in dry and wet conditions. An outstanding performer on the street and the track, the Champiro SX2 has already experienced considerable success in Formula DRIFT Asia, with drivers such as Josh Boettcher from Australia who placed 3rd overall in the 2013 championship.
“As the premier North American professional drifting competition with a very large and growing fan base, Formula DRIFT is an ideal platform for demonstrating the technology and performance of the GT Radial brand to North American drivers,” said Armand Allaire, vice president of marketing for Giti Tire USA, which markets and sells GT Radial tires in North America. “Having seen the successes of GT Radial in the Asia Championship, we are excited to see them partner with us in the Formula Drift PRO Championship,” stated Jim Liaw, president & co-founder of the series. “We celebrate diversity and competition in Formula Drift and GT Radial will now be the 8th tire manufacturer to chase for the 2014 Championship and Tire Manufacturer Championship”.
This will be Tyler Wolfson’s rookie season in Formula DRIFT following back to back feeder series championship wins on GT Radial tires. The San Diego driver and his GT Radial/SAE Motorsport Mazda RX-7 will compete in the full seven event calendar of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, as well as the four event calendar of the Formula DRIFT Pro2 Series .
“I have been able to drive on most of the tires used in Formula DRIFT, and with the Champiro SX2 I believe we are going to impress not only the fans but the other drivers as well,” Wolfson said. “When testing the SX2, the first thing I noticed was the tire’s predictability, which is extremely important not only in drifting competition but also for every day driving on the streets.”
Wolfson added, “Another strong attribute of this GT Radial tire is durability; compared to competitor’s tires that have to be changed after a couple battles, I have been able to do run after run on our SX2’s.” Wolfson said his team’s goal for the 2014 season is to take home rookie of the year in the PRO championship category and win overall in Pro2. “We will be coming in as the underdogs with a rookie driver and the smallest displacement motor in the series, but we have some of the best technical partners a team could ask for and some very creative people who always find the best way to apply our resources,” he said.
Other sponsors of Wolfson’s GT Radial/SAE Motorsport Mazda RX-7 include Hawk Performance, Konig Wheels, Comp Turbo, Clutchmasters, RRR Dyno Tuning, Nitrous Express, Anderson Auto Body, Turblown, RJ Coatings, Fortune Auto, Mishimoto and 945 Garage.
ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT
Entering its eleventh season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges each driver’s driving ability and vehicle control. Formula DRIFT provides a forum for professional drifters to compete nationwide for the coveted Formula DRIFT Championship crown. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the world-wide leader for the Sport. For a competition schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.