This occasion marks the second and third leg of the Formula DRIFT series, following the Formula DRIFT ProAm Series 2009 in Singapore last week. Similar to the Formula DRIFT Singapore ProAm Series 2009, Formula DRIFT Thailand and Malaysia will feature both professional and amateur drifters from around the region vying for the coveted first place title.
"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.
Formula DRIFT is recognised as the first official North American professional championship drifting series where 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.
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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 step for Goodyear in the ASEAN racing scene.
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 exhausts. 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 with international judges.
"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 AsiaPacific to start its own international drift series.
