GTO in SCCA Formula Drift Series
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GTO in SCCA Formula Drift Series
GM confirms GTO will race in SCCA Formula Drift Series
By AUTOWEEK
General Motors officials confirmed the Pontiac division will tap former U.S. rally racer-***-aftermarket parts guru Rhys Millen to take a factory-sponsored Pontiac GTO into the Sports Car Club of America’s Formula Drift Series. The new racing series kicks off April 24-25 in Atlanta.
Drifting is a form of motorsports developed mostly in Japan and new to the United States that calls for drivers to control a car while sliding it sideways at high speeds through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing but is done on a closed, paved course. It is judged on execution and style rather than just time.
So-called tuners compose its largest audience, according to SCCA officials. In addition, an announcement that Pontiac will also take the GTO road racing in Grand-Am next year with the Pratt & Miller team is expected in the near future. Pratt & Miller runs the Corvette ALMS program as well as the Cadillac CTS-V in the SCCA Speed World Challenge.
By AUTOWEEK
General Motors officials confirmed the Pontiac division will tap former U.S. rally racer-***-aftermarket parts guru Rhys Millen to take a factory-sponsored Pontiac GTO into the Sports Car Club of America’s Formula Drift Series. The new racing series kicks off April 24-25 in Atlanta.
Drifting is a form of motorsports developed mostly in Japan and new to the United States that calls for drivers to control a car while sliding it sideways at high speeds through a marked course. It is similar to rally racing but is done on a closed, paved course. It is judged on execution and style rather than just time.
So-called tuners compose its largest audience, according to SCCA officials. In addition, an announcement that Pontiac will also take the GTO road racing in Grand-Am next year with the Pratt & Miller team is expected in the near future. Pratt & Miller runs the Corvette ALMS program as well as the Cadillac CTS-V in the SCCA Speed World Challenge.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: N. Providence, RI
I know that drift racing is the next big thing from the import crowd, but I don't see it working that well here...Places like CA and CO with lots of twisty roads around mountains may entice some to take it up, but in the South and Midwest, places with miles upon miles of straight roads; the trend could be lost on them
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Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
"Drifting" started here with the Early Moonshiners, which led to organized dirt track racing, and to Sprint Cars, then ultimately to NASCAR!..Ofcourse they don't drft them in NASCAR now, they just go 197MPH!!!
RWD cars are great for this, the GTO should do well!..
Nothing like driving my IROC around a turn or On Ramp at a full throttle drift!..
especially when being pursued by an Import..
RWD cars are great for this, the GTO should do well!..
Nothing like driving my IROC around a turn or On Ramp at a full throttle drift!..
especially when being pursued by an Import..
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Originally posted by Doug Harden
Drifting as as about as ghey as anything that's come along in a long while......WTF is the point?!?! Do the promoters own a tire company or something?!?!
Pontiac left NASCAR for this crap?!?!
Drifting as as about as ghey as anything that's come along in a long while......WTF is the point?!?! Do the promoters own a tire company or something?!?!
Pontiac left NASCAR for this crap?!?!
I don't mind Pontiac leaving Nascar so much (I think Nascar is about as boring a form of racing there is) but getting into car figure skating isn't the "classy" repuation boost they're looking for either.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 343
From: Columbia, SC
remember, the import scene looks to drifitng as the holy grail of racing. if pontiac can show an american (well, technically australian, but you know..) rwd v8 car drifiting as well or better than the imports, it may get them looking in pontiacs direction. nascar fans already know pontiac, but 2f2f fans might need something to catch the eye before they look
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,026
From: Japan
Originally posted by Z28Wilson
A "sport" is not a sport if it's based on judging instead of cold hard numbers. It's the figure skating of motorsports.
I don't mind Pontiac leaving Nascar so much (I think Nascar is about as boring a form of racing there is) but getting into car figure skating isn't the "classy" repuation boost they're looking for either.
A "sport" is not a sport if it's based on judging instead of cold hard numbers. It's the figure skating of motorsports.
I don't mind Pontiac leaving Nascar so much (I think Nascar is about as boring a form of racing there is) but getting into car figure skating isn't the "classy" repuation boost they're looking for either.
Hahaha, if drifting is the figure skating of motorsports, then Nascar must be the WWE of motorsports.
No offense to the WWE fans out there.
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
Originally posted by unvc92camarors
IIRC, something like an autox course where you are smoking tires and "drifting" thru the whole course rather than having any traction at all
IIRC, something like an autox course where you are smoking tires and "drifting" thru the whole course rather than having any traction at all
...it's just a large blacktop area enclosed by a wall where cars do uncoordinated power slides in a bid to out-impress the other guy. Yes, it was as lame as it sounds.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,769
From: cinci
Originally posted by Z28Wilson
Actually I don't think they even have "courses"...I watched a piece on it on Spike TV's "Super2nr TV" or something...it's just a large blacktop area enclosed by a wall where cars do uncoordinated power slides in a bid to out-impress the other guy. Yes, it was as lame as it sounds.
Actually I don't think they even have "courses"...I watched a piece on it on Spike TV's "Super2nr TV" or something
...it's just a large blacktop area enclosed by a wall where cars do uncoordinated power slides in a bid to out-impress the other guy. Yes, it was as lame as it sounds.
course, i changed the channel pretty quick because all i saw were little imports sliding around
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