Tweet
WORLDS TOP DRIVERS EXPRESS COMMITMENT TO D1GP USA SERIES
-- Excitement Builds as D1GP USA Announces First Drivers List --
LOS ANGELES (January 22, 2009) – D1GP USA (www.d1gp.com), the auto industry’s premier drifting series, continues its momentum forward by releasing the first list of drivers committed to participating in the 2009 D1GP USA series. Coming on the heels of their 2009 Rulebook and Championship Points Series announcement, the new management team at D1GP USA is releasing its list of committed drivers. At the top is the 2008 D1GP Champion Daigo Saito, followed by Yoichi Imamura, D1GP’s #2 ranked driver. As D1GP continues to confirm driver participation, we will be posting updates to the D1GP web site.
“With a new Championship Points Series outlet in the United States , these drivers have chosen to participate in D1GP USA in 2009. The drivers will ship their cars here and those cars will remain on the D1GP USA transporters for the entire season taking part in D1GP USA exclusive events as well as promotional stops. What is going to make the D1GP USA Series so exciting is the participation of the world’s elite drift teams. We are setting the stage for fierce competition where drivers are working hard for the Championship,” said Rich Goodwin, president, D1GP USA.
Spotlighting the Drivers
Daigo Saito (#1 Ranked Driver - 2008 D1 Champion) – Saito started competing in the D1 Grand Prix in the third round of the 2004 season in his red Toyota Mark II JZX90. Since then he has improved steadily placing 32nd overall in 2005; 14th in 2006; 7th in 2007 and winning the D1GP Championship in 2008.
Yoichi Imamura (#2 Ranked Driver) – Imamura is one of the most highly regarded drift drivers in the D1GP. He was the winner of the 2003 D1GP Championship and winner of 2008 D1 Tokyo Drift. He ranked #2 in 2008. He is also the record holder for the most D1GP wins.
Ken Nomura (#4 ranked D1 driver) – Nomura is one of the longest reigning participants in the D1GP making his debut in the D1 Grand Prix in the 3rd round in 2001, driving the Blitz D1 Spec ER34 Skyline, which he still drives today. He began in 1992 as the runner up in the All Japan Ikaten Finals. In the D1 events, he is known for his imitation of a monkey and as the pioneer of the smoke technique. In 2006, he won the D1GP All Star event. In 2007 he placed 2nd in the D1GP series and in 2008 he placed 4th overall.
Takahiro Ueno (#8 ranked D1 driver) – Ueno began competing in the D1 Grand Prix in his Toyota Soarer JZZ30 in the first round in 2001. He went on to win round #4 of the season and finishing 3rd in the overall D1GP Championship. He has gone on to score points in every year since, last year placing 8th in the D1GP Championship
Toshiki Yoshioka (#9 ranked D1 driver) – He first competed in the D1 Grand Prix in the first round of 2002 and has always scored points in every season placing 12th in 2002; 6th in 2003; 13th in 2004; 8th in 2005; 5th in 2006; 8th in 2007 & 10th in 2008. For 2008, Yoshioka has switched from his trusty AE86 to a Lexus SC430 prepared by renowned tuning garage Tom's.
D1GP USA has invited all top 10 drivers from Japan to compete. The expectation is that the remaining drivers will confirm over the course of the next month. In addition, D1GP USA is now extending invitations to the remaining field of Professional D1 drivers of which many have expressed interest in competing. In addition to the Japanese drivers, the D1GP USA office has been flooded with calls from Professional American drivers looking for an alternative outlet to compete. The expectation is that now that the rulebook, prize money and judging system have been outlined, many drivers will begin to register once registration opens on February 1st.
Driven Events, Inc. (D1GP USA Management)
D1GP USA is operated by Southern California based, Driven Events. The company licensed the rights to D1 Grand Prix in the United States in late 2008 and they share a long term vision with D1GP Japan. Driven Events is made up of auto industry insiders. Led by Rich Goodwin and Michael Munar, the D1GP is under complete new management. Both Goodwin and Munar were the founders of the original Hot Import Nights (HIN) started in the late 90’s. They sold HIN in 2004 and Goodwin and Munar went separate ways and have now reunited specifically for this project. They are partnered with Ed and Emil Arguellas, the founders of Extreme Autofest. The group has also employed many of the original HIN & Autofest team who are now working to build one of the best new drifting events in the U.S.
For more information on the D1GP USA, please visit http://www.d1gp.com/. For media inquiries please contact Terry Miller, terry@drivenmc.com.
-- Excitement Builds as D1GP USA Announces First Drivers List --
LOS ANGELES (January 22, 2009) – D1GP USA (www.d1gp.com), the auto industry’s premier drifting series, continues its momentum forward by releasing the first list of drivers committed to participating in the 2009 D1GP USA series. Coming on the heels of their 2009 Rulebook and Championship Points Series announcement, the new management team at D1GP USA is releasing its list of committed drivers. At the top is the 2008 D1GP Champion Daigo Saito, followed by Yoichi Imamura, D1GP’s #2 ranked driver. As D1GP continues to confirm driver participation, we will be posting updates to the D1GP web site.
“With a new Championship Points Series outlet in the United States , these drivers have chosen to participate in D1GP USA in 2009. The drivers will ship their cars here and those cars will remain on the D1GP USA transporters for the entire season taking part in D1GP USA exclusive events as well as promotional stops. What is going to make the D1GP USA Series so exciting is the participation of the world’s elite drift teams. We are setting the stage for fierce competition where drivers are working hard for the Championship,” said Rich Goodwin, president, D1GP USA.
Spotlighting the Drivers
Daigo Saito (#1 Ranked Driver - 2008 D1 Champion) – Saito started competing in the D1 Grand Prix in the third round of the 2004 season in his red Toyota Mark II JZX90. Since then he has improved steadily placing 32nd overall in 2005; 14th in 2006; 7th in 2007 and winning the D1GP Championship in 2008.
Yoichi Imamura (#2 Ranked Driver) – Imamura is one of the most highly regarded drift drivers in the D1GP. He was the winner of the 2003 D1GP Championship and winner of 2008 D1 Tokyo Drift. He ranked #2 in 2008. He is also the record holder for the most D1GP wins.
Ken Nomura (#4 ranked D1 driver) – Nomura is one of the longest reigning participants in the D1GP making his debut in the D1 Grand Prix in the 3rd round in 2001, driving the Blitz D1 Spec ER34 Skyline, which he still drives today. He began in 1992 as the runner up in the All Japan Ikaten Finals. In the D1 events, he is known for his imitation of a monkey and as the pioneer of the smoke technique. In 2006, he won the D1GP All Star event. In 2007 he placed 2nd in the D1GP series and in 2008 he placed 4th overall.
Takahiro Ueno (#8 ranked D1 driver) – Ueno began competing in the D1 Grand Prix in his Toyota Soarer JZZ30 in the first round in 2001. He went on to win round #4 of the season and finishing 3rd in the overall D1GP Championship. He has gone on to score points in every year since, last year placing 8th in the D1GP Championship
Toshiki Yoshioka (#9 ranked D1 driver) – He first competed in the D1 Grand Prix in the first round of 2002 and has always scored points in every season placing 12th in 2002; 6th in 2003; 13th in 2004; 8th in 2005; 5th in 2006; 8th in 2007 & 10th in 2008. For 2008, Yoshioka has switched from his trusty AE86 to a Lexus SC430 prepared by renowned tuning garage Tom's.
D1GP USA has invited all top 10 drivers from Japan to compete. The expectation is that the remaining drivers will confirm over the course of the next month. In addition, D1GP USA is now extending invitations to the remaining field of Professional D1 drivers of which many have expressed interest in competing. In addition to the Japanese drivers, the D1GP USA office has been flooded with calls from Professional American drivers looking for an alternative outlet to compete. The expectation is that now that the rulebook, prize money and judging system have been outlined, many drivers will begin to register once registration opens on February 1st.
Driven Events, Inc. (D1GP USA Management)
D1GP USA is operated by Southern California based, Driven Events. The company licensed the rights to D1 Grand Prix in the United States in late 2008 and they share a long term vision with D1GP Japan. Driven Events is made up of auto industry insiders. Led by Rich Goodwin and Michael Munar, the D1GP is under complete new management. Both Goodwin and Munar were the founders of the original Hot Import Nights (HIN) started in the late 90’s. They sold HIN in 2004 and Goodwin and Munar went separate ways and have now reunited specifically for this project. They are partnered with Ed and Emil Arguellas, the founders of Extreme Autofest. The group has also employed many of the original HIN & Autofest team who are now working to build one of the best new drifting events in the U.S.
For more information on the D1GP USA, please visit http://www.d1gp.com/. For media inquiries please contact Terry Miller, terry@drivenmc.com.
Comment