Sports

PHOTOS: Sliding Through Formula Drift Long Beach

Drift cars slide through a portion of the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit Saturday during the first stop of the Formula Drift series.

The first stop of the Formula Drift Championship tour wrapped up on the streets of Long Beach Saturday to a sold out crowd.

Winning the event was Daijiro Yoshihara, who edged out competitor Vaughn Gittin, Jr, who finished second in the competition.

“This was my first time to win in Long Beach," Yoshihara said. "I’ve been on the podium a few times, but winning here was one of my goals and I was able to achieve that today."

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Drifting, a relative newcomer to the professional motor sports world, involves drivers maneuvering their vehicles through controlled high speed slides through multiple turns on a course. Drivers are judged on a variety of factors including speed, style, line and angle of their drifts. 

In addition to the race action itself, Saturday's event offered spectators a chance to get up close and personal with the vehicles, drivers and multiple vendors.

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Unlike many professional motor sports such as NASCAR, drifting enthusiasts and the drivers themselves touted the open access fans have to the drivers, mechanics and the pits. Many times, spectators can get within feet of the vehicles as their tires are changed and parts are replaced in the pits.

On Saturday, thousands of fans meandered through a large parking lot packed with team support trailers, vendor exhibits and the drifting vehicles themselves.

Formula Drift will return to the streets of Long Beach during the Long Beach Grand Prix weekend on Friday and Saturday nights, April 19-20. The sport will be the first to hold night racing on the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit.

Tickets for the event can be purchased through the Long Beach Grand Prix website.

Final Results | Formula Drift Round 1, Streets of Long Beach:

  • FIRST: Daijiro Yoshihara | America’s Tire/Falken Tire | Nissan S13
  • SECOND: Vaughn Gittin Jr. | Monster Energy | Nitto Ford Mustang
  • THIRD: Chris Forsberg | NOS Energy Drink/Hankook | Nissan 370Z


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