Goodyear sends two Pinoys to Asia's most thrilling drift event

MANILA, Philippines - Goodyear Philippines strengthens its commitment to the drifting sport as it sends two Filipino drivers to compete in the second annual Goodyear Formula Drift Thailand 2010, scheduled to take place on the 20th and 21st of November, 2010.

“As we have mentioned before, Goodyear is strongly committed to drifting, the fastest growing motor sport in the country and in the ASEAN region. From the onset we have dedicated ourselves to building and nurturing talent within the ASEAN drifting community. We are especially excited to see enthusiasm and the level of local talent growing in the sport and we are proud to be sending two drivers to compete in the international level,” said Gerry Alava, Goodyear Philippines Managing Director.

The DMF Drift team marks its fourth participation at the international Drift event, having previously competed at the Formula Drift series in Thailand and Malaysia last 2009 and in FD Singapore last April 2010. The team headed by David Feliciano, holds the distinction of being the first Filipino team to compete in an international Formula Drift competition.

This time around, Goodyear Philippines will also be sponsoring Goodyear Autocare Dealer and rising drift driver Norman Agojo. Apart from being a seasoned businessman, Agojo, is strongly passionate about drifting having secured a spot at the podium in the recently concluded Lateral Drift competition held this year. With his powerful Nissan Skyline R33, Agojo sets out for Thailand to secure a title at the prestigious event.

Power and Control with Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric

Feliciano armed with the “Great White”, his white 1989 Nissan Silvia PS13 and Agojo with his Nissan Silvia RPS13 will both be equipped with the Goodyear’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric, the multi-awarded ultra-high performance tire known for its “no-limits” driving experience.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric was designed with a keen understanding of what the ultra-high performance segment needs for faster, more powerful and heavier vehicles requirements.

The tires’ cornering ability plays a vital role in drifting because of its Active CornerGrip technology which was developed with the objective of increasing the tire-to-road contact area by distributing a more even pressure across the width of the tires’ tread patch thus resulting in better control especially in tight corners.

David Feliciano narrates, “The FD series made me realize that drifting is not about slipping and sliding, but about power and control. I learned that to compete at this level the choice of tires do matter. You need the right tires with responsive grip and handling to be able to take a wide drift angle using a force generated by 350++ horsepower engines. Goodyear has the perfect winning tire in the Eagle F1 Asymmetric.”

“Every high-performance tire performs differently depending on handling and road conditions. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric provides perfect handling and control on the track and allows our drivers to push the limits with confidence,” says Alava.

Asia’s most thrilling drift event

With a rich, 100-year long legacy in racing and as the leading brand of performance tires, Goodyear’s strong heritage has been translated into a prestigious event – Goodyear Formula Drift Thailand 2010 to be held at the world-class drifting arena, Wonderworld Park, Ramindra, Thailand. The second annual Goodyear Formula Drift Thailand 2010 marks a highpoint in Goodyear’s history after concluding the Goodyear International Drift Series last November 6 and 7.

The event will have leading drift drivers from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, each demonstrating their electrifying drifting skills. Top drift drivers competing include Ryuji Miki, champion of the 2004 D1 Grand Prix from Japan, Fanga Dan from New Zealand and the sensational Chanapol Kerdpiam, 17-year old rising star from Thailand, who will up the ante in the competition.

Goodyear Formula Drift Thailand 2010 will feature a series of activities designed not only to entertain audiences, but to educate and encourage young people to develop a passion for motorsports as well. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend this riveting event.

For the latest updates in the 2010 Formula Drift Thailand, log-on to the Goodyear Racing Asia Fan Page at Facebook.