Sorry that today has been a bit slow but while I continue to scour the interwebs for current freshness check out this video I found called “off-season” featuring a very scenic background, high definition camera work, and some awesome driving by Ryan Tuerck.  Enjoy!

off seasons from Drift Alliance on Vimeo.

We just got the news that hot on the heels of the Bergenholtz announcing their FullTiltPoker.com title sponsorship Falken Tire has announced that they have just signed former Bergenholtz driver Justin Pawlak to drive their 2010 Ford Mustang as Vaughn Gittin Jr. jumps into his 2011 model Mustang.  Video and full press release below:

Press Release:

JUSTIN PAWLAK TO DRIFT 2010 FALKEN TIRE

FORD RACING MUSTANG

 FONTANA, CA (Feb. 12, 2010) - Fontana, CA. - As the 2010 Formula Drift season gets ready to begin, Falken Tire would like to welcome the newest member to its drift team, Justin Pawlak. Campaigning the newly built 2010 Ford Mustang sporting Falken Tires world-renowned blue and teal livery, Justin looks to march toward the top of Formula Drift in his 3rd full season. ASD in Charlotte, North Carolina is prepping the Mustang for its 2010 debut at Long Beach and will work closely with Justin to get him comfortable in his new ride.

As a full-time driver in the 2008 Formula Drift season, Justin got his first podium at Irwindale finishing 16th overall for the season earning him an invitation to the Drifting World Championship. He followed that up with multiple Top-16’s and a 9th place overall points finish in 2009.

Affectionately known as “JTP”, he’s looking forward to the new season and all that comes with it. “I’m speechless! I’m very excited to join the Falken Tire/Ford Racing team and the Falken family! Falken Tire has been pushing drifting to the next level and I’m very excited to be a part of it.”

A new season brings a new set of challenges as Justin makes the transition from a 3-rotor turbo power plant to 650+ horsepower V8. Despite the fact that he’s drifted rotary-powered Mazdas for over 5 years, JTP fully expects to do things in the Mustang that “have never been seen before.” Justin’s aggressive driving style complimented by the new Falken Azenis RT615K tire should prove to be a lethal combination in his efforts towards the 2010 Formula Drift championship.

The 2010 Formula Drift adventure is nigh!  Tickets are now on sale on Formula D’s website for the first round at Long Beach, April 9-10.  If you want the good seats then pick them up now-ish!

Press Release:

For Immediate Release

February 9, 2010

Formula DRIFT Tickets On-Sale for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach;
Seventh Championship Season Set to Begin

Long Beach, Calif. - February 9, 2010 - Formula DRIFT prepares to begin the seventh professional championship season. Tickets are now available for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 9 and 10, including reserved seating, 2-day ticket packages, and VIP tickets.

“What has turned into one of the most anticipated events annually in Long Beach, Formula DRIFT, has put tickets online today for the first round of the seven stop national championship,” said Ryan Sage, executive vice president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Now in our 4th year at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course, over 50 of the world’s top drifters will be in action at what has turned into a sell-out event year after year.”

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach tickets are available via the Formula DRIFT website at www.formuladrift.com, Ticketmaster outlets, and the Long Beach Convention Center box office. Ticket prices start at $27 online with reserved tickets available for Saturday’s competition day. 2-day packages are also available along with VIP ticket packages.

The action begins on April 9th in Long Beach, California and will be held on Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach street course. New cars and drivers will be entering the Series and will make for another exciting season. Current champion Chris Forsberg looks to defend his title against returning past champions Tanner Foust, Rhys Millen, and Samuel Hubinette and top drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr., Ryan Tuerck, and the rest of the talented roster of drivers.

There is a 24 Hours of LeMons race coming up in San Diego this weekend and the Drift Alliance crew spent 500 bucks and some chewing tobacco on a 240SX to compete in the event.  In most LeMons races each team likes to pick a theme for their car and crew.  Since the race is taking place in San Diego, Drift Alliance decided to go with an Anchorman theme.  Stay classy San Diego!

[Source: Wrecked Magazine]

I didn’t see the press release on this until wayyy too late, and it cost me a NOS cooler!  Oh well, you guys need to know about this anyway.  NOS Energy Drink, Automotive Film Master Will Roegge, and Speedhunters.com all collab’d together to create a short film documenting Chris Forsberg’s 2009 Championship season in Formula D.  The film will make its official debut at SEMA but it will also go live on NOS Energy Drink’s website and on Speedhunters.com on November 4th.

We have another video hot off the avid by our friend Bill WoodAKA the Walter Cronkite of the motorsport world.  In this edition of “Tech House & Speed” He sits down with Drift Alliance member Ryan Tuerck to recap his 2009 season and his possible struggles for 2010 as well as a few insights to a particular insecurity Ryan faces at every round.  It’s interesting stuff!

Saturday was Formula D’s “Final Fight” at Irwindale and just like F1 Brazil the math-a-holics were busy crunching away on the calculators trying to figure out a multitude of possible scenarios.  The points were tight but there were a few drivers who still had an outside chance.  I say “outside” because the consensus was that Chris Forsberg had to have a massive failure in order for him to fail clenching the title at Irwindale.  In fact, all he had to do to lock it up was qualify into the top 32 and then advance out of it into the top 16.  Although it didn’t come to him as easily as it may have seemed.  In the top 32 Chris was paired up against Doug “The Red Mustang Avenger” Van Den Brink and he wasn’t about to be a door mat to Forsberg’s championship threshold.  In fact Doug fought so hard that he forced it into a OMT which made some of NOS Energy crew VERY nervous!  However when they went to the second battle Forsberg turned it on and advanced past Van Den Brink thus securing the 2009 Formula D title.  Even though Forsberg won the war Tuerck won the battle for night and captured the top spot on the podium.  Stay tuned to MotorworldHype as we’ll have another event report and pictures going up soon.  Congrats to Chris Forsberg for winning the Championship and Ryan Tuerck for giving the fans a good fight all season long.

NOS Energy Drink just released a short “behind the music” style video with their driver Chris Forsberg discussing his roots and how he made the journey from street drifting hoon to a full fledged professional.  Even though the vid is short it is pretty compelling.  Check it out below.

“Chris Forsberg: Where I came From” Presented by NOS Energy Drink from NOS Energy Drink on Vimeo.

The general of Drift Alliance and NOS Energy Drink’s super ace Chris Forsberg fought his way to victory this weekend in Seattle.  Despite tough track conditions and even tougher competitors the man in orange took down all opponents until he took his place at the top of the podium.  This victory further solidifies his #1 points ranking and pushes him that much closer to a possible championship.  Rockstar/Hankook Tires Eric O’ Sullivan managed his first podium finish by coming in second and Falken Tire’s Tyler McQuarrie took down fellow Falken teammate Vaughn “I love Ford” Gitten Jr. for the bronze. 

Unfortunately our boy Dai Yoshihara suffered a massive accident over the weekend.  Luckily he was ok but his Discount Tires/Falken Tire Lexus IS350 is totaled so his crew will have their work cut out for them if they want to get him ready in time for Sonoma.  We’ll keep you posted as news develops on that.

Congrats to Chris Forsberg, Eric O’ Sullivan, and Tyler McQuarrie!

By the way you can check out a full gallery of the event and other news over at Wrecked Magazine.

Issue #10 of Wrecked Magazine just dropped today.  In this issue they catch up with the new Falken Team and get the story from Tony Angelo on why he hung up his helmet to take point on the judiging stand.  Check it out.