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Formula DRIFT held the annual Team Drift competition during the Toyota of Long Beach Grand Prix this past weekend. The Drift Alliance team won the event for their second consecutive victory. The team consisted of Chris Forsberg, Justin Pawlak, and John Russakoff.<\/p>\n
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For the 4th consecutive year Team Drift has been apart of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Team Drift entertained thousands of fans during the 3-day event weekend that was highlighted with the IndyCar racing event. With an estimated attendance of about 175,000 for the three days, the Team Drift competition introduced drifting to many new fans. <\/p>\n
“Drifting has become a fixture on the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach schedule. The Formula DRIFT teams and drivers definitely add an extra flare to the race weekend and the fans look forward to it,” said Jim Liaw president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The organizers of the Grand Prix were the first to put Formula DRIFT’s drifting cars on a full course demonstration 4 years ago. It speaks volumes about their innovative vision and about the drifting’s mass audience appeal.”<\/p>\n
For the 2nd year in a row the Drift Alliance team came out on top with a score of 29.5 points. Team Drift Alliance consisted of Chris Forsberg, Long Beach local Justin Pawlak, and John Russakoff as a late addition to the team. Team TBA with Samuel Hubinette, Kyle Mohan, and Conrad Grunewald came in a close 2nd with 26.75 points. In 3rd place, Team Underdogs consisting of Dan Pina, Michael Essa, and Cody Parkhouse finished with 16.75 points. Parkhouse was a late addition after a crash during practice took out both his teammates, Matt Powers and Patrick Mordaunt, on Team “The Heat”.<\/p>\n
“The Drift Alliance team was the most consistent throughout the weekend,” said Formula DRIFT judge Andy Yen. “They stayed the tightest through the hairpin turn with all 3 cars coming out together in unison, which the fans really enjoyed.” <\/p>\n
Judging for Team Drift was based on the teams ability to drift in unison, closeness between cars with the closer the distance the better, and overall excitement including fan reaction. Both Formula DRIFT judges Ernie Fixmer and Andy Yen judged the event on a 15 point scale awarding each team a maximum of 15 points based on their performance on Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the Long Beach Grand Prix street course.<\/p>\n
Formula DRIFT Team Drift Results<\/i><\/p>\n
1. Team Drift Alliance<\/b> Chris Forsberg, Ryan Tuerck, and John Russakoff <\/span>29.5 Points<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Team TBA<\/b> <\/span>Samuel Hubinette, Conrad Grunewald, and Kyle Mohan <\/span>26.75 Points<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Team Underdogs <\/span><\/b>Michael Essa, Dan Pina, and Cody Parkhouse <\/span>16.75 Points<\/span><\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n