Fredric Aasbo drove a perfect weekend at Road Atlanta to bring home the win in the Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla hatchback on Saturday. With this result, the driver has now stood atop the podium at every track in the Formula Drift series over the course of his career with Papadakis Racing.
“It feels great to finally come out on top at Road Atlanta,” said Aasbo. “It has been my favorite stop since the first time I drove it: the track is challenging, the fans are die-hard and it has an incredible atmosphere. I love everything about this place.”
Aasbo started strong, scoring the top qualifying spot under sunny skies on Friday with a near-perfect 99-point score and setting up an exciting competition day. But as a storm system moved through the area on Saturday, everything changed.
“When rain starts coming down in Formula Drift, it turns everything upside-down,” he said. “In this kind of weather you really have to trust your car and I can’t thank my team enough for getting our Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla hatchback dialed.”
Drifting in the rain calls for careful management of the ever-changing surface, a challenge magnified in Atlanta by the track’s elevation changes and the slick clay that makes its way into the course as drivers push the limits. Setup is key.
“These cars are capable of 1,000-plus horsepower and, when it’s wet, the question becomes how to find enough grip to get as much of that power to the ground as possible,” said team owner Stephan Papadakis. “This weekend was about refining our setup so Fredric could attack the course with confidence despite the difficult conditions.”
Local fans, accustomed to unpredictable weather, hunkered down with their umbrellas and stayed late into the night on Saturday to watch the best drifters in the world deliver an incredible show of car control on the slippery track.
In the opening round, Aasbo faced down Pro series newcomer Kevin Lawrence to meet Matt Field, who spun out to hand the Top 16 match to Aasbo. The Great 8 saw a battle between titans, as Aasbo edged past three-time series champion Chris Forsberg to advance to the Final 4.
There, he met two-time defending champion James Deane, a longtime rival from Europe who has proven tough to beat in Formula Drift competition over the past two seasons. The duo showed what it takes to compete in difficult conditions, driving edge-to-edge on the wet track. Aasbo delivered a strong lead run and close chase to earn a spot in the Finals, where he faced Toyota Racing teammate Ryan Tuerck.
The battle was close, and when the panel of judges delivered their verdict it was Aasbo who came out on top. Tuerck finished second and Deane rounded out the podium, in third. The win boosts Aasbo to second in the championship points heading into Round 3 at New Jersey’s Wall Speedway July 7-8.
Aasbo, the 2015 series champion, is the most winning driver in Formula Drift history, with this weekend’s result bringing his career total to 13 series wins — all since joining Papadakis Racing in 2011.
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control. In the Formula Drift series, drivers compete in knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in trials judged on speed and style. With origins in Japan, it is one of the fastest growing forms of motorsport in the world.
NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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