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“Sage” Words from the EVP, Co-Founder of Formula Drift
on The Inside Drift Saturday at 10:00am PST, 1:00pm EST
on The Inside Drift Saturday at 10:00am PST, 1:00pm EST
Ryan Sage, the executive vice president and co-founder of Formula Drift, the sanctioning body for professional drifting in the United States will be the guest on the third edition of The Inside Drift, Saturday at 10:00am PST, 1:00pm, EST on www.blogtalkradio.com.
Sage will offer his unique view of the changing landscape of the sports promotion business and talk with Gary Keith, the host of The Inside Drift about the future of Formula Drift in the difficult financial climate that permeates all sports promotions but particularly those involving the automotive segment in 2009.
In April, Formula Drift will begin it sixth season of competition. To date, each annum has seen growth in audience, sponsorship and media exposure, but with the three American automotive giants, GM, Chrysler, and Ford in poor financial health, and two of the three receiving financial relief from the federal government, their commitment to competitive motorsports, and particularly to the upstart professional drift league is in some question.
GM announced the withdrawal of it’s Pontiac division midway through the 2008 season, pulling its support after four years with Rhys Millen Racing, effective the end of 2008. Millen responded by winning the Red Bull World Championship of Drift in his orphaned Pontiac Solstice GXP.
Meanwhile, both Ford and Chrysler pressed their participation. Chrysler, though its Mopar performance brand, will back the introduction of a new platform to the series, the new Dodge Challenger, for its long time drift partner, NuFormz Racing. Two-time Formula Drift Champion, Samuel Hubinette will drive.
In 2008, Ford Racing partnered with two time World Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr. who will campaign a new 2010 sixth generation Ford Mustang GT under Team Falken Tires colors this year. Toyota, under its Scion and Lexus brands has also entered the series and at least one more Asian manufacturer may compete in 2009.
But uncertainty abounds as the general health of the automotive industry continues to weaken, particularly in the performance sector, with greater political emphasis going to environmental concerns and greater mileage.
Formula Drift’s presenting sponsor for the past four years, Circuit City recently announced it is going out of business and sponsorships throughout all of motorsports are dwindling as the state of the economy worsens.
But the news for Formula Drift isn’t all bad. 2008 was a prosperous year in which the series saw growth in its attendance and made a successful move of its television package to Speed Channel. FD conducted events in Malaysia and Mexico and hosted the very successful Red Bull World Championship of Drift in November.
Interest in the sport is still on the rise and the organization recently announced its event schedule will expand to two days, Friday and Saturday. A new scoring system is in the works for 2009 a s well.
Sage, who’s responsibilities include marketing the series and dealing directly with sponsors and media faces the current challenges head on, making him the go to source on how Formula Drift will respond to these issues.
In addition to his duties as the executive vice president of the company, Sage is one of the co-hosts and the executive producer on the coverage of the series on Speed Channel.
“Formula Drift, like every other major motorsport sanctioning body is under pressure as never before this year. I know there is great interest among the teams, sponsors and fans to learn how the current environment will effect the series and what measures Formula Drift will employ to address and adjust to the current circumstance,” said Gary Keith, producer and host of The Inside Drift. “I know our listeners and callers will appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from, and talk directly to Ryan as we approach the opening of the new season.”
Callers can reach the program by land line or cell phone by dialing 646.716-4717 (regular long distance rates apply) or they can use Skype or any other VOIP client to call the show via computer for free.
Listeners can hear the The Inside Drift, Saturday at 10:00am PST, 1:00pm, EST on www.blogtalkradio.com on internet enabled portable media devices and cell phones.