Following its repeated success with Formula DRIFT in Singapore, Goodyear will be kicking things up a notch with a hat trick. Sponsorship of Formula DRIFT Thailand and Formula DRIFT Malaysia Goodyear is proud to announce that it will be sponsoring both Formula DRIFT Thailand and Formula DRIFT Malaysia come November and December this year, respectively.
This occasion marks the second and third leg of the Formula DRIFT series, following the Formula DRIFT ProAm Series 2009 in Singapore from July 4 - 5. Similar to the Formula DRIFT Singapore ProAm Series 2009, Formula DRIFT Thailand will feature both professional and amateur drifters from around the region vying for the coveted first place title. Formula DRIFT Malaysia, on the other hand, will play host to professional drivers from around the globe.
“Goodyear is always on the lookout for different avenues to further underscore our firm commitment to promote the growth of motorsports in the region. When we started our sponsorship of Formula DRIFT Singapore in 2008, we were very pleased with the overwhelming response. The event enjoyed a huge spectator crowd of over 11,000 people. This success is definitely a rev up in our efforts to elevate the sport to international levels,” said Richard Fleming, managing director of Goodyear ASEAN.
The Formula DRIFT Singapore 2009 sponsored by Goodyear again early July was also a success. Although the competition was this year open only for amateur drifters, it attracted as many as 37 racers from across Asia. At the end of the competition, two out of ten Goodyear team members namely Johan Norman Azam and Ariff Johanis made it to the final race and bagged home with them 1st and 2nd runner up titles.
Formula DRIFT is recognised as the first official North American professional championship drifting series. Here, rear-wheeled drive cars will be judged based on their style and execution in manoeuvring the course as opposed to the fastest course completion time.
Started in Japan a decade ago, this extreme motorsport has gathered a strong following around the world. Both professional and amateur drifting events take place in Europe, Australia and in the US. In Asia, it is recognised as the fastest growing motorsport in the region.
Goodyear has had a rich history in supporting motorsports all around the world, starting with its participation with Formula 1 and NASCAR. “Racing is very much part of our legacy and is pivotal in keeping Goodyear on the edge, both on and off track,” said Fleming. “Our involvement with motorsports has enabled our engineers to use the knowledge gained from tire development and translate that into innovative technologies which go into tires people use every day.”
Goodyear International DRIFT Series
Year 2010 will mark yet another milestone for Goodyear. Not contented with being a sponsor, the company is set to host its very own International DRIFT Series. This is indeed a dramatic return of Goodyear to the racing scene in the region.
The Formula DRIFT Series in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia this year will serve as a precursor to the Goodyear International DRIFT. To be held in Malaysia and Thailand next year, the series will set off at an explosive pace. Consisting of monthly drift competitions with top local and international drivers engaging in adrenaline-filled battles on the track, spectators can expect show-stopping performances amidst the atmosphere of burning rubber and loud exhaust. Drifters are in for a turbocharged time as they will be pitting their skills relentlessly against each other throughout the year. The series will climax at the finale towards the end of the year with the face-off between the best of the best. The competition will be judged and regulated according to Formula DRIFT’s international standards.
“We had a very successful introduction to drifting last year. The sport which requires high performance and precision driving helps us showcase the best qualities of our tires. Goodyear is constantly raising the bar when it comes to tire performance. We are extremely confident that the Goodyear International DRIFT series will unleash the full potential power of drifters and propel the current standard of drifting to international levels,” enthused Fleming.
With a long legacy in racing globally, Goodyear is the first tire company in Asia-Pacific to start its own drift series. Motorsport fans in the region are in for an exciting time as Goodyear accelerates its commitment to demonstrate its innovative product technologies and set the pace in the tire industry.
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