Budiey
Malaysia’s best aim for title in Achilles Formula Drift series finale in KL
Local drivers aim to regain their swagger against world-class field at Dataran Merdeka
15 December 2011 (Kuala Lumpur) – Malaysia’s top drift drivers aim to regain their dominance in the sport this weekend at the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia – the third and final leg of the series this year.
Over 45 top international drivers are expected to compete this year at the third edition of the event on 17-18 December, and Malaysia will be sending the largest contingent with 14 drivers flying the national colours.
Leading Malaysia’s charge is Ivan Lau from LTM Bridgestone who finished fourth in the Singapore leg. His compatriot also showed tremendous promise when Tan Tat Wei from team Goodyear Malaysia topped the qualifying round in Singapore, and Ivan and Ee Yoong Cherng from GT Radial Drift were placed second and third respectively. In addition, local driver Ser Ming Hui from Achilles Forged Racing aims to do his country proud with a strong performance this weekend.
Said Ivan: “After coming so close to the podium a few times, this time I really hope to finish on the podium. However, it won’t be easy as a lot of the drivers are picking up and improving their skills. It may be my home country but the home ground advantage is limited to the mechanical aspect only – that is, easier access to getting parts to fix the car. The course is a makeshift track and not a permanent purpose-built place that we can practise on prior to the competition; hence there is no real advantage.”
Said Tan: “Formula Drift Malaysia is the only Formula Drift Asia round that does not really require a high powered car, calling for a higher emphasis on the driving skills. I will do the best I can to impress the judges and the crowd.”
Said Ser: “I’m excited about this year’s event and the team has been gearing up on delivering a strong performance in front of our own fans. As for me, I’m aiming for a top-eight finish and looking to do my country and team.”
Amongst the stellar list of top international drift stars, the Malaysians face an in-form Daigo Saito from Japan, who swept the first two legs in Singapore and Indonesia, and the Formula Drift Kuala Lumpur defending champion.
Said Daigo: “Last year at FD Malaysia, I managed to win the event, but with a lot of tight competition from many of the ASEAN drivers. It made me realize that the level of driving here in ASEAN is now pretty high and if I wanted to retain my champion status for 2011, I had to really upgrade my equipment. During the off-season, I put a lot of effort into building up a top-end vehicle for the year. I always say that a pro-driver is only as good as his equipment, from the results this year, and I believe that the effort has paid off. It also helped that I was fortunate enough to get new sponsors in Asia like Spark Motorsports and Achilles Radial to support me and my crew. For Malaysia, my goal is obvious, to stand on-top of the podium!”
Fans in Malaysia can also expect a thrilling experience as other top-class drivers burn up the course. This year’s edition will see the likes of Robbie Nishida and race legend Orido Manubu in his iconic RSR Toyota Supra. This will be Orido’s debut in the Formula Drift Asia series and fans can expect no less than some world-class drifting skills on display. There’s also the fierce rivalry between the teams from Thailand, M150 and Red Bull, whose lead drivers are looking forward to the Malaysian leg to settle who will win the battle of the Thai Beverage teams.
Said Nattawoot Krerpradab, Team Principal of M150 Overdrive Team: “We will be sending four cars to compete in Formula Drift Malaysia. From last year we understand that it is a small track so in preparation for that, we need the cars to be lighter and to have quicker response. We have a good chance at the team championship and we will fight for that. We hope to achieve the best we can in Malaysia and our strategy is to go step by step and work on the details to the top!”
“Returning to the heart of the city centre for the second consecutive year, we are thrilled to welcome such as high calibre of world-class drivers at the season finale in Kuala Lumpur. This is testament to the high level of competition, which promises to provide exhilarating viewing for spectators,” said Harvey Davis, Vice President, Event Management Group, ESPN STAR Sports.
The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia has become a highlight on the sporting calendar, attracting regional interest and talent, as well as world-class drivers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. Fans in Malaysia can expect a thrilling experience as top-class drivers burn up the course two-at-a-time, often only inches apart, featuring aggressive side-by-side action, nail-biting power slides and spectacular drifting along a series of tight corners as powerful engines roar and tires bellow smoke.
The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 is the third and final leg of the Achilles Asian Drift Series 2011, which covers Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Tickets are available from Ticket Pro from 21 November 2011 (www.ticketpro.com.my or Hotline 03 7880 7999). Walkabout tickets cost RM28 and Grandstand tickets go for RM128. For more information, log on to the official Formula DRIFT web site www.formuladriftasia.com.
The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011 is organized by ESS and title sponsored by Achilles Radial. The event is also supported by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and the following proud Sponsors & Partners – Mansion 88 (Official Sponsor), Tune Talk (Official Telco), Chevrolet (Official Car), Hypertune & SHIFT (Official Partners), Tyrepac (Official Online Portal), DRIVE (Official Energy Drink), Tayaria (Official Tyre Changer), Spritzer (Official Water) and Doubletree Hilton (Official Hotel). ESPN STAR Sports is the official broadcaster for the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2011, and the coverage will be aired across its networks, covering 24 countries to a cumulative reach of more than 300 million viewers in Asia
About Formula Drift Asia
Formula Drift is the first and only sanctioned North American professional championship drifting series, with the goal of expanding and developing the motorsport of professional drifting in Asia. The 1st Singapore championship in 2008 signified our desire to transform drifting into a truly global mainstay and the Asian championship provides an opportunity for local drifters to compete, hone and learn from the very best. In 2010-11, the Formula Drift Asia championship will take place in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Supported by ESPN STAR Sports extensive broadcast network and event management expertise, the thrill of high-speed drifting will be showcased to millions of viewers in Asia and beyond, Please visit www.formuladriftasia.com for more information.
Based on Formula Drifting’s traditional “head-to-head battle” format, drivers attempt to qualify, in single judged runs, to be one of the 32 drivers that will enter the main competition bracket. During the bracketed “tandem battle” competitions, drivers are paired off in a head-to-head competition of skill and nerves in a championship format to determine one final winner.
About ESPN STAR Sports
ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between two of the world’s leading cable and satellite broadcasters. As Asia’s biggest sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports combines the strengths and resources of its parent companies – Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.) and News Corporation Limited (STAR) – to deliver a diverse array of international and regional sports to fans across multiple platforms.
ESPN STAR Sports features a comprehensive portfolio of multimedia assets including its television networks (ESPN, STAR Sports, STAR Cricket, ESPNEWS, ESPN HD), broadband network (ESPN Player), digital content services (espnstar.com, mobileESPN), and its on-ground Event Management Group with the aim to engage and entertain sports fans anytime, anyplace.
ESPN STAR Sports showcases an unparalleled variety of premier sports from around the globe featuring some of the most iconic sports events to a cumulative reach of over 300 million viewers in Asia through its 21 television networks and 3 broadband network, each localized to deliver differentiated programming to meet diverse needs of Asian sports fans.
About PT Multistrada
PT Multistrada Arah Sarana Tbk, or ‘PT. MASA’ is an Indonesian tire manufacturer. MASA is a local tire producer with Achilles Radial brand for Passenger Car Radial and Corsa Motor Cycle Tire brand for Motor Cycle, and makes the offtake brand for domestic and international markets. Automotive tire manufacturer PT Multistrada Arah Sarana (MASA) was first established in 1991 and in 1994 commenced production of replacement tires for automobiles.
