Drifting Added to Card at Long Beach
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Long Beach, Calif. – 1/18/2005 Drifting, the hot new addition to the world motorsports scene since stadium racing, will be scorching the streets of Long Beach April 8-10 during the 31st Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The Inaugural Long Beach Drifting Challenge, conducted in conjunction with Champ Car and Formula Drift, will be the first time drifting has ever appeared (legally!) on city streets and the first drifting demonstration to take place around the entire length of a race circuit.
The sport, which originated in the mountains of Japan, is the art of controlling a car sliding sideways and as close to out-of-control as possible, with drivers judged on style and showmanship, rather than speed.
During a drift, the goal is not to maximize traction, but instead have the car behave as though racing on ice or snow. It’s a total snub to the logic that says cars are designed, engineered and intended not to go sideways.
And, the resultant orgy of billowing smoke and screaming tires is attracting millions of racing fans worldwide.
“It’s a huge, historic step for drifting to be part of such a major motorsports event, and we’re looking forward to putting on a great show,” said internationally known drifter Alex Pfeiffer. “Those who don’t know about drifting are in for a wild new experience!”
The current race weekend schedule (subject to change) includes half-hour sessions of the Long Beach Drifting Challenge over the entire 1.97-mile, 11-turn race circuit on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, they will hit the track prior to the 1 p.m. start of the 31st Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Champ Car race.
“I believe this will be an exciting new addition to our race weekend that will not only be the first-ever full-course Drifting competition, but will also attract a whole new audience to our event,” said Jim Michaelian, president/CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “And, it will also legitimize what some of us have been secretly doing on these downtown Long Beach streets for many years!”
For up-to-date ticket information, descriptions of the various club ticket packages, or for announcements of special Grand Prix event activities, visit the official Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Web site at longbeachgp.com.
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