This weekend, Orlando Velocity Planet hosted Spherical Two of the 2021 Method DRIFT Professional Championship, as effectively as the opening round of the new PROSPEC Championship (previously PRO2). This gave the potential group its initial opportunity to witness the new weekend format, which allows equally Professional and PROSPEC drivers to qualify on Friday and contend on Saturday. With PROSPEC jogging in the center of the day and Professional in the afternoon, equally Championships have equivalent exposure to lovers and the well known, free of charge-to-view Method DRIFT livestream.
Website link European Prospec Qualifying
The weekend permitted PROSPEC groups to knowledge the new Knockout Qualifying Structure (KQF), which has the top rated seeded drivers run initial, placing the regular for subsequent rivals. Drivers are only permitted a person run to established their qualifying position, except the base eight drivers, who are permitted a next run. This provides groups who may perhaps have knowledgeable complex issues, or had the run judged incomplete, to make it into the remaining 32 sites.
FD ORL would see 35 drivers contend for 32 commencing positions, which put added strain on the sixteen rookies who joined the sequence. For lots of, Orlando Velocity Planet was the initial time they’ve knowledgeable a banked keep track of, which makes a one of a kind challenge as drivers combat to handle pace as they accelerate off the banking although retaining a reliable drift.
On top rated of that, GT Radial is the Formal Tire of the 2021 Website link European PROSPEC Championship, with groups serviced by TireStacks at every single round. And yet again, FD ORL would be the initial time lots of drivers had made use of the new rubber beneath aggressive disorders.
Qualification seeding for the opening round was centered on 2020 Championship positions, so initial to run was reigning winner Dmitriy Brutskiy (Belarus) driving his Essa Autosport/ISC Suspension BMW E46. As the 2020 title holder, Brutskiy had the opportunity to obtain an FD Professional license this yr, but determined to keep on being in the feeder sequence and obtain a lot more knowledge prior to leaping up to the leading category.
Right after a robust run, Brutskiy positioned fifth in the remaining standings, with Nick Noback (United states) having the top rated spot in his KoruWorks BMW E46. Awarded 94 factors by the judges for fashion, angle and line via the class, Noback was head and shoulders earlier mentioned the levels of competition. His closest challenger teammate Blake Olsen (United states), who scored 88 factors driving the KoruWorks/GT Radial BMW E92. 3rd spot went to Tommy Lemaire (Canada) who scored 87 factors in his TLO Drift School Nissan S14.5 V8.
Greatest rookie in qualifying was Rich Whiteman (United states) who put his Liberty Motorsports Toyota JZX100 in a pretty respectable sixth spot, providing him a large leg up for Saturday’s levels of competition heats.
Website link European Prospec Competition Heats
Getting capable initial, Noback would take his KoruWorks BMW E46 to the top rated phase of the podium. His journey would see him get a bye run in the Top rated 32 levels of competition heats as a final result of various drivers staying eradicated for the duration of qualifying. Noback’s initial battle would be in the Top rated sixteen from rookie Alex Jagger (United states) in the Forsberg Racing/TireStacks Nissan 370Z. Both drivers pushed difficult on their two operates, forcing the judges to connect with for One particular A lot more Time (OMT), obtaining them repeat equally operates.
When they lined up yet again, Noback ran a exceptional lead run and designed less mistakes in the chase position, having very good proximity in Outside the house Zone 1 and Inside clip 1. This was adequate to sway the judges in his favor, allowing for Noback to development to the Top rated 8 the place he confronted Austin Matta (United states).
With an unbelievable lead run, Noback did enough to get rid of the Really do not Matta Racing Nissan S14 and transfer onto the Top rated 4 to meet the reigning winner, Brutskiy. On the initial run, Noback yet again did his ideal operate in the lead position and taken care of better proximity on his chase run, which propelled him into the Closing.
With Brutskiy confirmed 3rd spot by advantage of a top-quality qualifying position over fourth positioned rookie Rich Whiteman. So Noback’s KoruWorks BMW E46 only essential to conquer teammate and next-spot qualifier Blake Olsen (United states) in the KoruWorks/GT Radial BMW E92 to assert the trophy.
Their initial run was a belter, with Noback yet again locating a terrific line throughout the class, although Olsen taken care of very good proximity. With the strain on Olsen, he slid up into the wall on Outside the house Zone 1. And whilst Noback spun as he crossed the line, Olsen’s collision had by now ended the run and offered Noback the earn.
As a rookie in 2020, Noback scored his initial earn at FD ORL in the inaugural round of the 2021 Website link European PROSPEC Championship. It was the conclude to a fantastic weekend and a continuation of the momentum he set up very last yr with a next spot at the Closing round at Irwindale Speedway.
“I’m stoked to have gained from a terrific friend and teammate, Blake Olsen, following we capable initial and next,” described a surprised Noback following the podium ceremony. “I will need to give a massive thank you to my relatives, KuroWorks and all our partners because we realized we had a terrific car or truck but also realized we had some large battles. My method was to established fantastic lead operates and get near enough on the chase operates to collect the wins. So, we turned it up a little for the duration of the heats but designed absolutely sure we did not run out of tires, and managed to arrive out on top rated. I can not hold out for the up coming round!”
All 3 of the Spherical One particular Website link European PROSPEC podium sites had been occupied by BMW drivers. The top rated Rookie, Rich Whiteman, was fourth driving the Liberty Motorsports Toyota JZX100.
Professional Qualifying
With the repeated absence of Ryan Litteral (United states) in his Powerstop Brakes Nissan S15, the remaining 32 FD Professional drivers had been confirmed a spot in the levels of competition heats presented they had been ready to finish a qualifying run. And although 3 had been judged incomplete on their initial run, all superior by using a next run in the KQF base 8.
The top rated twenty qualifiers had been divided by a mere twelve factors, with the top rated five scoring the very same 94 factors. With the judges scoring on fashion, angle and line, priority is offered to the driver with the greatest fashion score. And the place there’s a tie, priority goes to angle. And that is how Chelsea DeNofa (United states) turned the top rated qualifier in his BC Racing/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D.
He conquer Justin Pawlak (United states) in the Falken Tire Ford Mustang by a person angle place, although Fredric Aasbo (Norway) was 3rd driving the Rockstar Strength Drink Toyota GR Supra.
The 2021 FD Professional Championship leader, Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) capable fourth in the Falken Tires/Feal Suspension Nissan S15, with reigning FD Professional Champion, Vaughn Gittin Jr (United states), and teammate to DeNofa, in ninth driving the Monster Strength Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D. The top rated Rookie driver, seventeen-yr-aged Branden Sorensen (United states), capable in a pretty remarkable sixth position driving his 212 Performance/Sorensen Motorsports BMW.
With two championships jogging on the very same day, the Professional groups run into the night, requiring all to use undercar LED lights equipped by Formal Lighting Partner, Kind S.
Professional Competition Heats
Mimicking the PROSPEC Championship, Chelsea DeNofa gained Spherical Two of the FD Professional Championship adhering to his initial spot qualifying position. But the driver of the BC Racing/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D did not have an uncomplicated route to the podium.
His initial match up was from Joshua Reynolds (United states), who unfortunately ran his Drift Drive/Nexen Tire F22 Eurofighter BMW into the wall shortly following initiation. The crew termed for a five-moment Competition Time Out but was unable to make the repairs in time.
Moving into the Top rated sixteen, DeNofa confronted Travis Reeder (United states) in the Travis Reeder Motorsports/Website link European BMW M3. The warmth started with DeNofa in the lead position placing a blistering tempo, but Reeder dug deep, generating various corrections to preserve proximity via the class. On the next run, Reeder executed a lead run very good enough for the judges to ask for OMT, unable to independent them.
On the repeat operates, equally drivers gave everything but DeNofa found an additional equipment to reach unbelievable proximity in the chase position, securing the earn.
Moving into the Top rated 8, DeNofa met teammate, manager, and reigning FD Professional Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr (United states) in the Monster Strength Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D. With identical autos and overflowing aggression, these two by no means disappoint, so DeNofa led the initial run at a frantic tempo, which appeared to catch Gittin by surprise. He then dismissed social distancing protocols and climbed all over the Champion in the chase position, guaranteeing his spot in the Top rated 4.
Dealing with the Spherical One particular winner and Championship leader, DeNofa made use of related practices from Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania) in the Falken Tire/Feal Suspension Nissan S15. One more difficult charger, DeNofa realized he couldn’t demonstrate any mercy to Bakchis, who designed a slight miscalculation on his chase run in the tricky transition zone. With the positions reversed, DeNofa yet again bought nearer, respiration down the neck of Bakchis to earn the warmth.
His opponent in the FD Professional Spherical Two remaining would be 2015 FD Champion, Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Strength Drink Toyota GR Supra. His Top rated 4 warmth drew him from Justin Pawlak (United states), driving the Falken Tire Ford Mustang. Qualifying in next spot gave Pawlak the lead position on the initial run and he established off quickly, generating a smoke display screen that proved not possible for Aasbo to negotiate, forcing him to depart the class somewhat than crash.
What was not quickly clear was that Pawlak’s tire smoke was bolstered by smoke from a blown engine. Acknowledging he had a difficulty at the get started of the run, he determined to “stay on it because the engine was even now generating power.” Even though his bravado entertained the lovers, keep track of officials had to distinct an oil slick that ran the length of the class and was pooled throughout the get started line.
Right after a valiant effort and hard work and repositioned get started line, the Closing commenced with Pawlak retired and DeNofa primary Aasbo into the initial turn. Both drivers had taken a sighting lap to evaluate disorders and Aasbo appeared understandably circumspect as he initiated in Outside the house Zone 1. DeNofa had no this kind of qualms and gapped the Norwegian winner throughout the class.
With the positions reversed, DeNofa was yet again ready to share precisely the very same piece of asphalt as Aasbo throughout the run and promised to meet his mother at the time they crossed the complete line. With unbelievable proximity throughout the night, DeNofa deservedly gained the warmth and Spherical Two, elevating himself from 14th to 3rd spot in the 2021 FD Professional Championship.
“Orland Velocity Planet went really effectively,” DeNofa instructed us following the podium celebrations. “I capable initial thanks to very good fashion factors. That intended I lead my heats for the entire party, so it necessary a distinct method to ensure we had enough tire on the chase run. All over all the battles, it was about obtaining a very good equilibrium amongst aggression and fashion although retaining the tires. This keep track of is long and abusive on the appropriate rear tire, but if you push it appropriate, you can preserve enough to get the task performed. The banking is a person of the most tricky to chase on, so I still left some place on entry prior to closing the hole. But I sealed the deal by diving in at Internal Clip two and having on their door to complete rubbing tires throughout the complete line.
“We stuck to the approach all weekend and designed some adjustments to the car or truck because every person is having so quickly we had to continue to keep growing the power and grip to keep on being aggressive. And the crew did a phenomenal task, putting in a large amount of effort and hard work all weekend. So, it feels terrific to complete in initial spot and score greatest factors following not accomplishing so effectively in FD Atlanta. I’m super-pumped to be back again on the podium following qualifying initial and ending initial, which provides us momentum heading into the new keep track of in New Jersey.”
With Aasbo ending next, Pawlak positioned 3rd and Bakchis finished fourth, retaining his lead in the 2021 FD Professional Championship. Top rated positioned FD Professional Rookie was Simen Olsen (Norway) driving a Toyota GR Supra who finished 15th.
For the remaining phrase we turn to Method DRIFT President, Jim Liaw, “It was an epic day in the heritage of Method DRIFT due to the fact it was the initial time we have run two Top rated 32 Championships in a person day. We had been grateful for the fantastic climate all weekend and to see a potential group – a lot more than we have ever had at this venue. We’re grateful that the lovers have stuck with us via this tricky time and had been surprised at the electricity levels throughout two complete competitions. It is a terrific sign for our 18th Professional year and the new PROSPEC Championship. We really missed the lovers very last yr and it’s terrific to have so lots of arrive out to aid us this weekend. It is established a new bar for this venue, the Championships and the 2021 year. And we can not hold out to see every person at the manufacturer-new Englishtown drift stadium up coming month!”
2021 Method DRIFT Championship Effects
Spherical Two FD Professional Top rated sixteen Driver Points
- Chelsea DeNofa (100 factors)
- Fredric Aasbo (ninety one factors)
- Justin Pawlak (80 factors)
- Aurimas Bakchis (80 factors)
- Matt Field (sixty seven factors)
- Vaughn Gittin Jr (sixty seven factors)
- Kazuya Taguchi (sixty seven factors)
- Deane Kearney (sixty seven factors)
- Ryan Tuerck (52 factors)
- Chris Forsberg (52 factors)
- Jeff Jones (52 factors)
- Travis Reeder (52 factors)
- Dan Burkett (52 factors)
- Alec Robbins (52 factors)
- Simen Olsen (52 factors)
- Yves Meyer (52 factors)
2021 FD Professional Championship Top rated sixteen Standings
- Aurimas Bakchis (a hundred and eighty factors)
- Matt Field (158 factors)
- Chelsea DeNofa (152 factors)
- Justin Pawlak (147 factors)
- Vaughn Gittin Jr (147 factors)
- Fredric Aasbo (143 factors)
- Dean Kearney (134 factors)
- Jeff Jones (132 factors)
- Kazuya Taguchi (119 factors)
- Yves Meyer (119 factors)
- Ryan Tuerck (104 factors)
- Travis Reeder (104 factors)
- Adam LZ (102 factors)
- Branden Sorensen (87 factors)
- Chris Forsberg (87 factors)
- Jhonnattan Castro (87 factors)
2021 Auto Cup Top rated Five Standings
- Ford 327 factors
- Toyota 247 factors
- Chevrolet 158 factors
- Dodge 134 factors
- Nissan 87 factors
2021 Tire Cup Standings
- Falken Tire 351 factors
- Nitto Tire 338 factors
- Nexen Tire 253 factors
- GT Radial 251 factors
- Federal Tire 191 factors
Spherical One particular Prospec Top rated sixteen Driver Points & Championship Standings
- Nick Noback (100 factors)
- Blake Olsen (ninety one factors)
- Dmitriy Brutskiy (80 factors)
- Rich Whiteman (80 factors)
- Tommy Lemaire (sixty seven factors)
- Joshua Enjoy (sixty seven factors)
- Cory Talaska (sixty seven factors)
- Austin Matta (sixty seven factors)
- Evan Bogovich (52 factors)
- Ben Hobson (52 factors)
- Josiah Fallaise (52 factors)
- Alex Schlagel (52 factors)
- Amanda Sorensen (52 factors)
- Alex Jagger (52 factors)
- Daniel Stuke (52 factors)
- Kelsey Rowlings (52 factors)
Next Spherical
Aged Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, will host Spherical 3 of the Method DRIFT Professional Championship and Spherical Two of the Website link European PROSPEC Championship on June eighteen-19. Make sure you check out formulad.com for the levels of competition agenda, ticket information and facts, driver profiles. exclusive material, and the party livestream.
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