The 2010 Formula Drift Season Begins... Round 1 - Streets of Long Beach; Long Beach, CA

Drifting is back...The 2010 Season of Formula Drift has begun and Round 1 on the Streets of Long Beach, CA is the stomping ground.  All of the drivers have had the winter season to put the finishing touches on their drift machines (new and old) and are ready to begin another exciting season.  Using a portion of the race course for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Izod IndyCar Series for Round 1, more than 50 drivers compete in the season-long race for the championship to be decided and concluded in October at The House of Drift, the Irwindale Speedway.

Friday was the qualifying portion for Round 1 and saw new machinery debuted, including Sam Hubinette in his 2010 Dodge Challenger, JR Gittin in his 2011 Ford Mustang, Conrad Grunewald in his 2010 Chevy Camaro, and Michael Essa in his V10 M5 powered 2008 BMW 3-series to name a few.

As expected, the race course, tire barriers, and concrete barriers claimed a few victims as the drivers were forced to push the limits of their driving skills and capabilities of their vehicles.

Here are pictures from today's action on the race track...





















Here are a few of the casualties today...

Yasu Kondo direct from Japan misguided the entry turn and met the tire wall and ended his day on the track.


Cody Parkhouse of Long Beach, CA came in a little too hot into the first turn and met the tire barriers.


Michael Essa's BMW didn't fair so well and found the tire barriers after the first clipping point.