The Red Bull Drifting World Championship is a non-championship all-star drifting contest sponsored by Red Bull energy drink and hosted by IMG and Slipstream Global Marketing, the organizers behind Formula D. The event took place at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California on November 15–16, 2008.[1]
Announced prior to the Las Vegas Formula D round on July 14, at $50,000,[2] it boasts of the largest prize money in a drifting contest[1] and the largest TV production for a drift contest.[2]
The inaugural event was won by Rhys Millen, incidentally sponsored by Red Bull, taking home $25,000.
Criteria for eligibility
As there are 32 places for the event, drivers from all over the world are given a place should they meet these following criteria:
- Finish at the Top 16 in the Formula D points table
- Become the championship winner at these following oversea drifting events listed below, should that not happen, they are eligible to take up any available runner up spot should it be offered to them.
- D1NZ (New Zealand)
- Drift Mania Canadian Championship (Canada)
- Drift Australia (Australia)
- European Drift Championship (United Kingdom)
- International Drift Series (Germany)
- Pro Drift European Series (Ireland)
- Nordic Drifting Championship (Scandinavia)
- D1 Grand Prix (Japan)
- NZ Drift Series
Venue
Taking place on 90 acre lot of newly laided up asphalt on Port of Long Beach, in a course known as "Pier S".[2]
The entire venue had to be built from scratch, however temporary.[2] Altogether, the venue in all, accounting for three grandstands, borrowed from those of the Long Beach Grand Prix and the 2,000 seating for VIP and sponsor are designed to accommodate up to 25,000 spectators.[2]
The course length is 1200 ft, with another 100 ft to allow for a rolling start with six corners outlined by a Red Bull sign.[2] Drivers who had driven on the track are said to be capable of reaching 104 mi/h during test runs.[2]
List of invited drivers
With the exception of Formula D, each series are allocated two entries, including D1GP, who following negotiation, were given six invites[4]
When negotiation broke down, D1 drivers were discouraged from taking invites, therefore they were approached directly by the FD management to find out that they invited entrants, the former D1GP champions in particular, had to decline their entries[4] for the reason of scheduling conflicts. Kumakubo declined his as he was due to take part in a drift demo in Dubai,[3] Kazama, despite no longer involved in the series, declined because of schedule clash.[3]
Former D1GP judge, competitor and Super GT driver, Orido was forced to decline his invitation as he was competing in the WTCC Guia Race at Macau on the same weekend,[3]
Qualifying
Knockout stage
External links
References
- Formula Drift announces Red Bull Drifting World Championship^
- So what does Red Bull DWC really mean? 12 November 2008, retrieved 21 February 2016^
- World Championship Drivers List Announced 28 October 2008, retrieved 21 February 2016^