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Road Atlanta Hosts Inaugural Formula Drift® During Massive Motor Sports Weekend!
Road Atlanta will host the inaugural Formula Drift® Series as part of a massive automotive weekend called Drift Atlanta®, that also will include two invitational SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring races and a Mazda Extreme Street import car show. The Road Atlanta weekend will be the kick-off event of the Formula Drift series and the first round of a slated four round series to be held at some of the best venues and tracks across the country.
The Mazdaspeed Miata Cup, Formula Ford Zetec Championship, and SCCA Pro-IT series will also be part of the Drift Atlanta®, April 24-25, at Road Atlanta. Lifestyle marketing events including a concert and extensive vendor displays will also be included.
"We are genuinely excited about this event," says Road Atlanta President and General Manager Mike Swaine. "Not only do we have the privilege of launching an exciting new series, but we have put together an attractive slate of events that will be of great interest to these new enthusiasts."
Announced as a four-event Championship in 2004, SCCA Pro Racing will sanction the Formula Drift® Series, which will be promoted by Irvine, Calif.-based Slipstream Global. Slipstream was responsible for the first professional drifting event in North America, the 2003 D1 Grand Prix at Irwindale, CA, and is the management company for the Mazda Extreme Street car show.
"We are very excited about the response and the possibilities of this championship," says Jim Liaw of Slipstream. "Sponsor involvement has been incredible and it is exciting to see all the drivers and teams willing to commit to the entire Championship. Soon these American drivers will be able to compete at the Japanese D1 level. In the meantime, we will continue to provide them a platform to compete and excel."
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motor sport that calls for drivers to control a car while it slides sideways at high speed through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing, but is done on a closed, paved course. It is judged on execution and style rather than just time.
The Formula D competition at Road Atlanta will be conducted in the Turn 10 complex, a right left-right-hand combination that will require the drifting competitors to quickly change direction while in full drift mode. The competition will include Saturday qualifying to determine a 16-car field for the finals Sunday, with two cars paired together on consecutive runs (one leads, then they switch). A panel of professional drifting drivers will determine the bracket winners.
"SCCA was responsible for the initial development of road racing in the United States 60 years ago, and it is logical that we be at the forefront of the first domestic professional drifting championship," said Garret Mudd, SCCA Vice President of Marketing. "Slipstream Global has asserted itself as the leading promoter and expert with its involvement in the D1 Grand Prix."
The Drift Atlanta® weekend will also include a special invitation SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring series non-points race, plus the Mazdaspeed Miata Cup, Formula 2000 Zetec Championship and the SCCA Pro-IT series.
The Mazda Extreme Street is one of the top sport compact/import car shows, and has been part of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta the past two years. It will be a feature attraction in conjunction with many American Le Mans Series races during the 2004 season, and offers prizes for numerous Best in Class hot import cars.
Tickets for Drift Atlanta® will go on sale in January. A two-day ticket will be $25, while a Sunday only ticket will be $20. Infield Parking is free with an advance ticket purchase, and will be $5 at the gate.
Road Atlanta will host the inaugural Formula Drift® Series as part of a massive automotive weekend called Drift Atlanta®, that also will include two invitational SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring races and a Mazda Extreme Street import car show. The Road Atlanta weekend will be the kick-off event of the Formula Drift series and the first round of a slated four round series to be held at some of the best venues and tracks across the country.
The Mazdaspeed Miata Cup, Formula Ford Zetec Championship, and SCCA Pro-IT series will also be part of the Drift Atlanta®, April 24-25, at Road Atlanta. Lifestyle marketing events including a concert and extensive vendor displays will also be included.
"We are genuinely excited about this event," says Road Atlanta President and General Manager Mike Swaine. "Not only do we have the privilege of launching an exciting new series, but we have put together an attractive slate of events that will be of great interest to these new enthusiasts."
Announced as a four-event Championship in 2004, SCCA Pro Racing will sanction the Formula Drift® Series, which will be promoted by Irvine, Calif.-based Slipstream Global. Slipstream was responsible for the first professional drifting event in North America, the 2003 D1 Grand Prix at Irwindale, CA, and is the management company for the Mazda Extreme Street car show.
"We are very excited about the response and the possibilities of this championship," says Jim Liaw of Slipstream. "Sponsor involvement has been incredible and it is exciting to see all the drivers and teams willing to commit to the entire Championship. Soon these American drivers will be able to compete at the Japanese D1 level. In the meantime, we will continue to provide them a platform to compete and excel."
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motor sport that calls for drivers to control a car while it slides sideways at high speed through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing, but is done on a closed, paved course. It is judged on execution and style rather than just time.
The Formula D competition at Road Atlanta will be conducted in the Turn 10 complex, a right left-right-hand combination that will require the drifting competitors to quickly change direction while in full drift mode. The competition will include Saturday qualifying to determine a 16-car field for the finals Sunday, with two cars paired together on consecutive runs (one leads, then they switch). A panel of professional drifting drivers will determine the bracket winners.
"SCCA was responsible for the initial development of road racing in the United States 60 years ago, and it is logical that we be at the forefront of the first domestic professional drifting championship," said Garret Mudd, SCCA Vice President of Marketing. "Slipstream Global has asserted itself as the leading promoter and expert with its involvement in the D1 Grand Prix."
The Drift Atlanta® weekend will also include a special invitation SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring series non-points race, plus the Mazdaspeed Miata Cup, Formula 2000 Zetec Championship and the SCCA Pro-IT series.
The Mazda Extreme Street is one of the top sport compact/import car shows, and has been part of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta the past two years. It will be a feature attraction in conjunction with many American Le Mans Series races during the 2004 season, and offers prizes for numerous Best in Class hot import cars.
Tickets for Drift Atlanta® will go on sale in January. A two-day ticket will be $25, while a Sunday only ticket will be $20. Infield Parking is free with an advance ticket purchase, and will be $5 at the gate.
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