Still can't get enough of drifting? Formula Drift announced the 2009 Pro Am Schedule this week.
The Pro Am program is multi-faceted with events taking place directly during FD weekends, events held within Hot Import Nights, and events that are in affiliation with FD such as Drift Mania Canadian Championship East and West and Just Drift. These affiliate events will be awarding their champions and top finishers will be granted automatic FD licenses. Additionally, affiliates also have the right to qualify their drivers for the Pro AM Nationals held later in the year.
Pro Am events held directly in alliance with Formula DRIFT will be qualifying events for the Pro AM nationals. Pro AM events held at Formula DRIFT events also come with a unique experience for amateur drifters as they will be pitted directly with the Formula DRIFT drivers and will experience a professional drifting atmosphere from beginning to end. The events held at Hot Import Nights will also be qualifying events for the Pro Am Nationals.
"Formula DRIFT has had the Pro Am system in place for the last 3 years and it has produced FD Pros like Justin Pawlak, Bill Sherman, John Russakoff, Joon Maeng and others. This new program will only push the search for the next Formula DRIFT stars forward," said Jim Liaw, co-founder and president of Formula DRIFT. "We are proud to have partnered with the most experienced and respected organizations in the country and are excited to put together the largest Pro Am Nationals event later this year."
Last year, Euro enthusiasts were fortunate enough to see two BMWs take the field in the World Championship of Drift. We're crossing our fingers to see some more Euro competitors this year, but if not, why not take a break and check out these tire-scorching events?
Affiliate Programs Qualifying Competitions:
Hot Import Nights in association with US Drift
April 11 - Austin, TX
April 25 - Tampa, FL
May 15 - New York, NY
July 11 - Chicago, IL
Top 4 drivers from each competition will receive invitations to FD Pro Am Nationals
Formula DRIFT Round 2 in association with US Drift
May 8-9 - Braselton, GA
Top 4 drivers will receive invitations to FD Pro Am NationalsFormula DRIFT Round 4 in association with Vegas Drift
July 10-11 - Las Vegas, NV
Top 4 drivers will receive invitations to FD Pro Am Nationals Formula DRIFT Round 5
August 7-8 - Monroe, WA
Top 4 drivers will receive invitations to FD Pro Am Nationals Formula DRIFT Round 7 in association with Drift Association
October 16 - Irwindale, CA
Top 4 drivers will receive invitations to FD Pro Am NationalsAffiliate Series:
Just Drift's Top Drift Series
Round 1 - March 1 - Willow Springs Raceway
Round 2 - April 26 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Round 3 - Sept 5 and 6 - Willow Springs Raceway, Streets of Willow Round 4 - Oct 24 and 25 - Willow Springs Raceway, Horse Thief Mile Canyon Course
Series Champion, #2 and #3 will automatically receive FD Pro License Series #4-8 receives invitations to FD Pro Am Nationals
DMCC East
Round 1 - June 13 and 14 - Autodrome Montmagny, Quebec
Round 2 - June 27 and 28 - Autodrome St-Eustache, Montreal
Round 3 - July 25 and 26 - St Croix, Quebec
Round 4 - August 15 and 16 - Downsview Park, Toronto
Round 5 - Sept 6 and 7 - Autodrome St-Eustache, Montreal
Series Champion automatically receives FD Pro License #2,3,4 in Series receives invitations to FD Pro Am NationalsDMCC West
Round 1- May 31 - Castrol Raceway, Edmonton
Round 2 - TBD
Round 3 - August 22 - Western Speedway, Vancouver Island
Round 4 - September 6 - Castrol Raceway, Edmonton
Series Champion automatically receives FD Pro License #2,3,4 in Series receives invitations to FD Pro Am Nationals