Daigo Saito is Victorious at Round 7: Title Fight and is Crowned the 2012 Formula DRIFT Champion
Formula DRIFT returned to Irwindale Speedway for the 2012 season finale. Daigo Saito in the Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 takes the event victory and wins the 2012 Formula DRIFT Championship.
Round 7: Title Fight at Irwindale Speedway showcased drifting in its finest form. For the first time in Formula DRIFT and Irwindale Speedway history the event sold out before the gates opened to the public.
鈥淟ast year was so amazing we didn鈥檛 think we could do it again, not like this鈥� said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. 鈥淭his is why we love drifting. We are so energized for season 10 starting April 12-13, 2013.鈥�
The competition was intense as the championship was up for grabs. Entering the event, seven drivers had a chance for the title. This soon changed as top drivers in the chase were taken out early including points leader Vaughn Gittin, Jr. in the Monster Energy / Falken Ford Mustang, defending champion Daijiro Yoshihara, in the America鈥檚 Tire / Falken Tire Nissan 240 and the 2009 champion, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Hankook Nissan 370Z. This opened the door for both Daigo Saito and Rhys Millen in the RMR / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe who met in the Final Four. Millen, the number one qualifier took himself out as he went hard into the wall giving the win to Saito. The wall took a number of victims through the competition including Justin Pawlak in the Falken Tire Ford Mustang when he battled Saito in the Finals, giving Saito the event victory. Saito in his rookie year in the Series becomes the first Series rookie to also be crowned Formula DRIFT champion. Saito a seasoned veteran drifter is arguably considered the best drifter in the world winning the Formula DRIFT Asia championship, D1 championship and now Formula DRIFT Pro Championship.
鈥淟uck was with me tonight. I鈥檓 very happy to be able to compete in Formula DRIFT this year. I鈥檝e wanted to compete in the Series for so long,鈥� said Daigo Saito, winner of Round 7: Title Fight and 2012 Formula DRIFT champion. 鈥淭hank you to Formula DRIFT and Achilles Tires. I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do this without the help of everyone that helped me get to this point.鈥�
Formula DRIFT enters its tenth season of competition in 2013. Tickets are on-sale currently and can be purchased through the Formula DRIFT website and Ticketmaster. Round 1: Streets of Long Beach will be held on April 12-13, 2013.
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Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2012 Final Point Standings:
|
1. |
Saito, Daigo | Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 | 548.50 Points |
| 2. | Gittin Jr., Vaughn | Monster Energy / Falken Ford Mustang | 529 Points |
| 3. | Millen, Rhys | Hankook / Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Genesis Coupe | 509.25 Points |
| 4. | Pawlak, Justin | Falken Tire Ford Mustang | 501 Points |
| 5. | Tuerck, Ryan | Team Retaks Nissan 240SX | 465.50 Points |
| 6. | Aasbo, Fredric | Need for Speed / Papadakis Racing Scion tC | 457.50 Points |
| 7. | Yoshihara, Daijiro | America's Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 | 426 Points |
| 8. | Gushi, Ken | Greddy / Hankook Scion FR-S | 379.50 Points |
| 9. | Grunewald, Conrad | Hankook Chevrolet Camaro | 359.75 Points |
| 10. | Powers, Matt | Need for Speed / Nitto Nissan S14 | 358.50 Points |
| 11. | Forsberg, Chris | NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Nissan 370Z | 347.25 Points |
| 12. | Essa, Michael | GSR Autosport / Nitto BMW ZR4 | 321.50 Points |
| 13. | Nishida, Robbie | Bridges Racing / Achilles Tire Lexus SC300 | 320.75 Points |
| 14. | McQuarrie, Tyler | Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro | 309 Points |
| 15. | Yoshioka, Toshiki | RS*R Nissan S15 | 303.25 Points |
| 16. | Bakchis, Aurimas "Odi" | Bakchis Motorsports Nissan 240SX S14 | 292 Points |
Round 7: Title Fight Event Results:
| Saito, Daigo | Achilles Tire / Bridges Racing Lexus SC430 | Winner |
| Pawlak, Justin | Falken Tire Ford Mustang | Second Place |
| Tuerck, Ryan | Team Retaks Nissan 240SX | Third Place |
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