Chris Forsberg Takes the Formula Drift Championship at Series Finale
OCTOBER 17TH 2009 | CHRIS FORSBERG TAKES THE FORMULA DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIP AT SERIES FINALE | IRWINDALE, CA
Chris Forsberg drove the NOS Energy Drink 350Z to his first Formula Drift Pro Championship and his second Tires.com Triple Crown bonus this weekend at the series finale at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA.
In front of a record track attendance, the pressure was on Forsberg who had to make it to the Top 16 round of competition to clinch the title just ahead of Drift Alliance team mate and close friend Ryan Tuerck.
“We came into the weekend knowing we would have to first qualify and then move into the round of Top 16 to secure the title, “ said Forsberg. “Watching Tuerck through testing and practice, I knew he was going to win the event. We just had to stick to our plan and take each round one at a time.”
The NOS Energy Drink Drift Team came into the event without making any changes to the car from the previous event, 7 weeks prior, for fear of causing more problems than solving. The plan worked as the team qualified 7th overall pairing them with privateer Doug Van Den Brink for the Top 32 round of tandem competition.
During the Top 32 round, Forsberg ran a strong run creating a significant gap to Van Den Brink behind him. When Forsberg switched to follow Van Den Brink, the engine had an intermittent “hiccup” on the main entry causing Van Den Brink to get the advantage and forced a “One More Time” (a repeat run). The “One More Time” allowed Forsberg to have two clean runs defeating Van Den Brink and sealing NOS Energy Drink’s first ever championship and Maxxis Tire’s first Formula Drift Championship.
Forsberg went on to battle Robbie Nashida in the Top 16, but slight contact with the wall straighten Forsberg up handing the win over to Nashida.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team, Kevin Wells (crew chief) and Sergio Ramirez (crew member),“ stated Forsberg, “and of our sponsors NOS Energy Drink, Maxxis Tires, Clarion Corporation, Mishimoto, Genius Tools and Electric Sunglasses. We certainly would not have been able to do it without their support!”
The team will have a busy off season running in several local Time Attack events and the infamous “24 Hour of Lemons” on the schedule before the end of year.
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