NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (May 22, 2018) – Tanner Foust is taking on a new challenge this year in the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle. The multi-time champion will campaign the Americas Rallycross series, while also bringing his new Drift Taxi to enthusiast events.
The Americas Rallycross series opens in Britain this weekend as part of the Speedmachine event at Silverstone. Foust says he’s excited to make his return to competition overseas.
“Rallycross has half a century of history in Europe and it’s always great to have a chance to race there,” said Foust. “I started my rallycross career in the United Kingdom before the sport even existed in the USA and the knowledge and enthusiasm of the fans brings an incredible amount of energy at the track.”
Foust started competing in rallycross with a handful of European events in 2010 and was one of the founding drivers in the U.S. series. By 2011, he was a regular contender for the top of the podium in Europe, and was the first American ever to win a round. In the United States, he is a three-time champion (2010, 2011, 2012).
In 2018, Foust continues his relationship with the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross squad and will again partner with Scott Speed on the two-car team.
After Silverstone, the series is expected to join FIA World Rallycross stops at Trois-Rivieres in Canada on August 4-5, and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on September 29-30. An additional date is planned for July at Circuit of the Americas.
Outside of the Americas Rallycross championship weekends, it is expected that one more rallycross date in the United States will give Foust and his team another chance to face off against a host of top talents. Additional details about that exciting event will be available in the coming weeks.
The versatile driver also plans a return to his roots in drifting this year, with appearances in the Volkswagen Passat R Drift Taxi at two #Gridlife events.
The Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Volkswagen Passat R drift machine originally debuted in 2015 for a select series of competitions. The vehicle, which produces an astonishing 900 nitrous-boosted horsepower from its V8 engine, has recently undergone a passenger conversion to outfit it with back seats. It now seats four.
Lucky Nexen N’Fera Club members and other special guests will be offered the rare chance to experience ride-alongs with Foust in the Drift Taxi. The multi-sensory experience delivers smoky sideways thrills accompanied by the keening wail of the vehicle’s distinctive supercar exhaust note.
“Giving people the chance to experience what it’s like to be in a high-performance car always puts a smile on my face,” said Foust. “Having a passenger screaming and laughing beside me while I chuck a car into a corner sideways at 80 mph is as much fun for me as it is for them.”
#Gridlife events are a celebration of music and automotive enthusiast culture featuring live entertainment alongside on-track action from a wide range of disciplines.
In the off-season, Foust has been keeping his reflexes sharp in Forza Motorsport 7. A recent ForzaRC 2018 challenge offered gamers the chance to win in-game prizes by racing Foust (GamerTag: SweetTFoust34) and his Volkswagen Beetle.
2018 Schedule*
Americas Rallycross – Silverstone Circuit, UK: May 25-27
#Gridlife Midwest – Gingerman Raceway, South Haven, MI June 8-10
Americas Rallycross – Circuit of the Americas: Austin, TX – July (TBC)
Americas Rallycross – Trois Rivieres, Canada: August 4-5
#Gridlife South – Road Atlanta, Georgia: August 25-27
Americas Rallycross – Circuit of the Americas: Austin, TX – September 29-30
*Subject to Change
ABOUT TANNER FOUST
Tanner Foust is a versatile and multi-talented driver known for his supreme car control and a proven track record of podium placements, national championships and world records. He is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007).
He has held multiple world records including for the astonishing Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare, which saw Foust drive a car through a 66-foot loop-the-loop. He scored the indoor speed record for TV’s Top Gear USA, and set a distance jump record with Hot Wheels when he made a 332′ ramp-to-ramp leap in a truck at the Indy 500.
His varied race experience also includes multiple years of open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, various types of sports car racing and the SCORE Baja. He has represented the USA in the annual Race of Champions three times, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008, Travis Pastrana in 2009, and Mick Doohan in 2010.
When he isn’t racing, the professional driver also performs on television and handles stunt driving in popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in Need 4 Speed, as well as other major releases including the Bourne Legacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2.
ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
ABOUT ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti
Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for
success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross,
Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series and Indy
Lights, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global
Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007,
2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship (2013)
and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the famed
Indianapolis 500 four times (2005, 2007, 2014, 2016). Additionally the team
holds two X Games Gold Medals and one Global Rallycross championship (2015). To
share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.com and
follow along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles — from athletes to rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in more than 30 countries, Rockstar supports the rockstar lifestyle across the globe through action sports, motor sports, and live music. More at www.RockstarEnergy.com
MORE
Download images: http://bit.ly/2018-Foust-Media
CONTACT
Fred Chang from Tanner Foust’s management team.
E-mail: fred@beyondmg.com
Office: 949.660.7972 x. 29
EFAX: 949.480.0638
Mobile: 714.623.1995
