Formula Drift Round 5: True North Results

Long Beach, Calif. – July 16, 2016 – Formula Drift presented by BlackVue held their first international event as part of the Pro Championship in Canada at Autodrome St-Eustache. Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Scion tC took the victory and moves within 3 points of the leader in the standings with only three events remaining in the 2016 season.

In one of the most action packed and competitive rounds of competition, Round 5: True North brought the top drifting talent in the world into Canada to a sold out crowd. The Livestream drew over 360,000 views.

“For our first international Pro Championship event we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula Drift. “We are proud to have brought international drifting stars such as Fredric Aasbo from Norway, Mike Whiddett from New Zealand, Dean Kearney from Ireland, Charles Ng from China, Robbie Nishida from Japan, and many more into Canada. The drivers drove their hearts out tonight and put on one amazing event.”

The event culminated into a highly competitive Top 4 battle that saw four drivers all within striking distance of the championship. Odi Bakchis in the ARK Performance / Feal Suspension / Falken Tire Hyundai Genesis faced current champion, Fredric Aasbo. Bakchis had a bobble in his chase run that helped move the champion into the Finals. 2-time champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z met the 2010 champion, Vaughn Gittin in the Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR in the semi-finals. Forsberg got his revenge from Round 4 and outdrove his opponent to make it to the finals and onto the podium for his fourth consecutive time this season.

Aasbo and Forsberg put it all on the line in the Finals with a very close and competitive battle. Aasbo’s consistency throughout the evening proved to be the deciding factor as he took advantage on a slight mistake from Forsberg to take the victory, his third podium this season, and moves within 3 points of the point leader, Gittin. Bakchis moves up to the fourth spot overall.

“Wow! What an amazing night!,” said Fredric Aasbo, winner of Round 5: True North. “Some of the most diehard and knowledgeable drift fans are out here in Montreal. We were able to scrape through the battles. What an amazing win for the team.”

The 2016 Formula Drift Pro Championship will continue to Round 6: Throwdown on August 56, 2016 at Evergreen Speedway in Washington.

Round 5: True North Event Results

1. Aasbo, Fredric – Nexen Tire SR – Toyota tC
2. Forsberg, Chris – Hankook Tire –  Nissan 370Z 
3. Bakchis, Aurimas –  Falken – Hyundai Genesis
4. Gittin, Vaughn – Nitto Tire – Ford Mustang RTR
5. Wang, Forrest – Hankook Tire – Nissan 240 
6. Tuerck, Ryan – Hankook SR – Toyota FR-S
7. Yoshihara, Dai Falken Tire – Subaru BRZ
8. Coffman, Matt – Coffman Racing – Nissan 240
9. Pawlak, Justin – Roush Performance – Ford Mustang
10. DeNofa, Chelsea – GT Radial – BMW
11. Hohnadell, Alec – Nexen Tire – Nissan 240
12. Goodin, Pat – Falken Tire – Nissan 240
13. Stoneback, Geoff – Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z
14. Gushi, Ken – Nexen Tire SR – Toyota 86
15. Kearney, Dean – Oracle Lighting – Dodge Viper 
16. Moore, Cameron – Cameron Moore Drift – Lexus SC300

2016 Formula Drift Championship after 5 Events

1. Gittin, Vaughn – Nitto Tire – Ford Mustang RTR – 365.00 Points
2. Aasbo, Fredric – Nexen Tire SR – Toyota tC – 362.00 Points
3. Forsberg, Chris – Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z – 335.00 Points

2016 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 5 Events

1. SR by Toyota 617.00 Points
2. Ford 508.00 Points
3. Nissan 456.00 Points
4. BMW 351.00 Points
5. Mazda 208.00 Points
6. Chevrolet 169.00 Points
7. Dodge 153.00 Points
8. Infiniti 138.00 Points
9. Lexus  104.00 Points

2016 Tire Championship Standings After 5 Events

1. Nexen 676.00 Points
2. Falken 576.00 Points
3. Hankook 563.00 Points
4. Nitto 535.00 Points
5. Achilles 436.00 Points
6. GT Radial 284.00 Points

Formula DRIFT