Fredric Aasbo second at Formula Drift season ender Hankook Tire Scion tC driver achieves runner-up result in 2014 championship IRWINDALE, Calif. (October 15, 2014) -- Hankook Tire Scion tC driver Fredric Aasbo scored a podium this weekend at the sold-out Formula Drift season ender to finish second overall in the 2014 championship. That was such a wild ride, said Aasbo on Saturday night. Im proud of everything we have accomplished as a team. We got really close to the championship this year and it feels amazing to be celebrating with Hankook and Scion. It was the drivers fourth podium in 2014. He scored wins in Texas and New Jersey, and finished second in Atlanta and Irwindale. In addition to the runner-up championship achievement for the team, partners Hankook and Scion scored victories in the 2014 Formula Drift tire and manufacturer championships, respectively. The intense action this weekend at the legendary drifting venue known as the House of Drift had a sell-out crowd on the edge of their seats as the championship fight continued until the very last head-to-head battle of the season. On his way to the podium Saturday, Aasbo defeated 2011 champion Dai Yoshihara in the Round of Eight, and -- in one of the most exciting head-to-head battles of the season -- put on a stunning display of speed and smoky style to eliminate rival Chris Forsberg in the Final Four. For us to bring this one-of-a-kind drift car this far really proves everything were trying to do in this championship, said team owner Stephan Papadakis. Im really proud of the team and all of our partners and couldnt be happier for both Hankook and Scion. We have a solid foundation and were going to continue to build on it in 2015. After a close final match Sunday night, Daigo Saito took the event win at the high-speed Irwindale track for the third year in a row, and Forsberg secured the championship title -- a slim 11.5 points ahead of Aasbo. Papadakis Racings four-cylinder, turbocharged Scion tC has enormous fan appeal and will start the 2015 Formula Drift season as an early favorite for the championship. We already know we have everything we need to win next year, said Aasbo. Were going to hit the ground running when the season starts in Long Beach and I cant wait. Fredric Aasbo drifting Frederic Aasbo Fredric Aasbo drifting At the Formula Drift year-end banquet on Sunday, Aasbo was also awarded Formula Drifts fan-voted Driver of the Year honor -- for the third time -- while team principal Papadakis secured the Team Manager of the Year award. Aasbo also won the Top Gun award for having the highest battle win rate and the Ace Driver nod for the best overall winning percentage. Since joining Papadakis Racing at the start of the 2011 season, Aasbo has developed from a raw talent to a consistent top performer in the series. The runner-up championship result is a personal best for Aasbo, who scored fourth-place in the championship in 2013. This is a second runner-up championship result for Papadakis Racing since the team began contesting the series in 2005. Papadakis Racing has won the championship title twice, in 2007 and 2008. Event coverage from the series is available on demand via Driftstream, which had more than 200,000 live viewers this weekend. Considered the most widely viewed motorsports live stream in the world, it boasts over 1.5-million unique viewers each season. Formula Drift is also broadcast on NBCSN, with all seven stops airing on Sundays. Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control skill. Drivers compete in knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in trials judged on speed and style. With origins in Japan, it is the fastest growing form of motorsport in the world.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 09:06:41 +0000
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