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As a sign of the sport's growing popularity and importance, Formula Drift racing will now be carried nationwide by ESPN2. Fans of this exciting, edgy sport will be treated to a double pay-day as this is also the inaugural season for the Hankook Tires/JIC Magic Drifting Porsche, the first Porsche in North America to be reworked specifically for competitive drifting. Please see the full details in the release below and attached.
For Immediate Release
Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA Drifting Porsche Makes National Debut on ESPN2
Viewers Nationwide Can Watch America’s First Drifting Porsche in Opening Formula Drift Series Event at Long Beach Grand Prix, April 8, 2007
WAYNE, NJ (January 22, 2007) – Hankook Tire America Corp., manufacturer of ultra high-performance passenger car, sports car, and racing tires, is pleased to announce its Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA 993 GT2 Porsche will make its official debut on ESPN2 in 2007. The renowned sports cable network recently announced it will provide exclusive coverage of the entire upcoming Formula Drift Championship series.
“Now more enthusiasts and drift fans nationwide can watch this exciting and fast-growing form of motorsport throughout the entire racing season,” says Bill Bainbridge, Director of Brand Communication for Hankook Tire America Corp. “The debut of our Hankook drifting Porsche certainly will be one of the highlights of each telecast. We look forward to a successful racing season and plenty of air time.”
Driven by Tyler McQuarrie of Walnut Creek, Calif., the Hankook-sponsored Porsche will make history when it takes to the track in the Formula D event at the Long Beach Grand Prix, April 8, 2007. North America’s first Porsche purpose-built for drifting competition is powered by a 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder fully race-built engine rated at an awesome 600+ hp. Equipped with twin IHI turbos, six individual throttle bodies, and custom manifolds and exhaust courtesy of JIC Magic USA, the car is expected to be one of the favored title contenders.
The 2007 Formula Drift Series begins in Long Beach on April 8th with a Formula Drift competition. Each successive event will be telecast on the ESPN2 cable network, with the remainder of the official series schedule as follows:
FORMULA DRIFT COMPETITION EVENTS:
May 15 Atlanta, GA
September 8 Wall, NJ
June 2 Summit Point, WV
October 13 Irwindale, CA
July 14 Infineon, CA
August 11 Seattle, WA
TEAM DRIFT EXHIBITION EVENTS:
April 15 Long Beach, CA
July 29 San Jose, CA
June 10 Portland, OR
August 19 Denver, CO
June 24 Cleveland, OH
American driver Tyler McQuarrie has eight years experience as a driving instructor at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., during which time he’s coached a number of top NASCAR racers like Bill Elliott, Scott Riggs, and Scott Wimmer in the art of road racing. Tyler is only the third American to win the prestigious World Scholarship, an honor bestowed on former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan and sports car veteran Jon Beekus. Before focusing his racing efforts on Formula Drift, Tyler competed in USF2000, and the American LeMans Series.
Also making its ESPN2 debut will be the Hankook Tires/JIC Magic 2000 Nissan Silvia S15. Last season, Kenji Yamanaka of Yokohama, Japan drove the Hankook Team Silvia to it’s first podium win and a 9th place overall ranking in the U.S. With the Silvia newly redone and more powerful, Kenji is planning on even greater success and more podiums this year.
For Immediate Release
Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA Drifting Porsche Makes National Debut on ESPN2
Viewers Nationwide Can Watch America’s First Drifting Porsche in Opening Formula Drift Series Event at Long Beach Grand Prix, April 8, 2007
WAYNE, NJ (January 22, 2007) – Hankook Tire America Corp., manufacturer of ultra high-performance passenger car, sports car, and racing tires, is pleased to announce its Hankook Tires/JIC Magic USA 993 GT2 Porsche will make its official debut on ESPN2 in 2007. The renowned sports cable network recently announced it will provide exclusive coverage of the entire upcoming Formula Drift Championship series.
“Now more enthusiasts and drift fans nationwide can watch this exciting and fast-growing form of motorsport throughout the entire racing season,” says Bill Bainbridge, Director of Brand Communication for Hankook Tire America Corp. “The debut of our Hankook drifting Porsche certainly will be one of the highlights of each telecast. We look forward to a successful racing season and plenty of air time.”
Driven by Tyler McQuarrie of Walnut Creek, Calif., the Hankook-sponsored Porsche will make history when it takes to the track in the Formula D event at the Long Beach Grand Prix, April 8, 2007. North America’s first Porsche purpose-built for drifting competition is powered by a 3.8-liter, 6-cylinder fully race-built engine rated at an awesome 600+ hp. Equipped with twin IHI turbos, six individual throttle bodies, and custom manifolds and exhaust courtesy of JIC Magic USA, the car is expected to be one of the favored title contenders.
The 2007 Formula Drift Series begins in Long Beach on April 8th with a Formula Drift competition. Each successive event will be telecast on the ESPN2 cable network, with the remainder of the official series schedule as follows:
FORMULA DRIFT COMPETITION EVENTS:
May 15 Atlanta, GA
September 8 Wall, NJ
June 2 Summit Point, WV
October 13 Irwindale, CA
July 14 Infineon, CA
August 11 Seattle, WA
TEAM DRIFT EXHIBITION EVENTS:
April 15 Long Beach, CA
July 29 San Jose, CA
June 10 Portland, OR
August 19 Denver, CO
June 24 Cleveland, OH
American driver Tyler McQuarrie has eight years experience as a driving instructor at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., during which time he’s coached a number of top NASCAR racers like Bill Elliott, Scott Riggs, and Scott Wimmer in the art of road racing. Tyler is only the third American to win the prestigious World Scholarship, an honor bestowed on former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan and sports car veteran Jon Beekus. Before focusing his racing efforts on Formula Drift, Tyler competed in USF2000, and the American LeMans Series.
Also making its ESPN2 debut will be the Hankook Tires/JIC Magic 2000 Nissan Silvia S15. Last season, Kenji Yamanaka of Yokohama, Japan drove the Hankook Team Silvia to it’s first podium win and a 9th place overall ranking in the U.S. With the Silvia newly redone and more powerful, Kenji is planning on even greater success and more podiums this year.