LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 12, 2015) – Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust reconnected with his hometown fans this weekend as he took to the Streets of Long Beach Formula Drift course for the first of three select appearances that he will make in the series this year.
The Long Beach event was the first time that the two-time series champion had seen drifting competition since he shifted focus to rallycross in 2011. This weekend, he debuted a brand new rear-wheel drive converted Volkswagen Passat built over the winter by Tanner Foust Racing for select series appearances and demonstration events.
After snagging a tire barrier during practice on Friday and missing his first of two qualifying runs while his crew worked to repair the damaged vehicle, Foust put together a conservative run to qualify into Saturday’s main event.
But the series’ knockout elimination format favors a high
qualifying position and on Saturday Foust faced No. 5 seeded Justin Pawlak in
his opening round. “We made the show but unfortunately in a position
that put us up against one of the top qualifiers in the field, and I couldn’t
match his angle,” said Foust. “It was a disappointing start but
it was great to be able to hang with fans and enjoy the event.”
During the hour and a-half long half-time break, an autograph line wound through the pits in front of Foust’s Rockstar Energy Drink / Nitto Tire Volkswagen Passat as the driver caught up with fans who have missed him during a five-year absence from the sport.
“I signed posters for hours and it was so great to reconnect with people here. The last time I competed in Formula Drift at Long Beach was 2010 and I can’t believe how many faces I recognized,” said Foust. “I’m truly humbled by their loyalty after all this time.”
The popular driver will return to the series next month (May 8-9) at Road to Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., for the Road to the Championship round. It’s a track that has been on the Formula Drift calendar in 2004, and Foust said he’s looking forward to going flat-out when he gets there.
“The sport has changed a lot and I’m finding the judges are looking less at entry speed now and more at angle throughout the course. That’s going to take some learning,” said Foust. “But for me, there’s still no better feeling than going flat out and chucking the car sideways at the wall. It’s that full throttle, full commitment style that makes me happy and there will be more of the same from me on track this year.”
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control skill. Drivers compete in knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in trials judged on speed and style. With origins in Japan, it is one of the fastest growing forms of motorsports in the world.
Next up for Foust is the season debut of his popular web series, Life in the Foust Lane. The first episode drops this Wednesday, April 15 on the Rockstar Energy Drink YouTube channel at:
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 also 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 also 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.
A dominant driver in the sport of rallycross, Foust is the only American driver ever to win a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. He made his rallycross debut overseas in 2010 with a select campaign and finished both 2011 and 2012 ranked in the top three. At home, Foust has been a leading driver in the sport since it was first introduced to the United States in 2010, and in 2014 won the New York round of the Global Rallycross Championship for the new Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team.
His varied competition experience includes multiple years of open wheel racing, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, off-road truck competition, 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 in films and on television. He is an on-air host for the U.S. version of the seminal BBC auto show Top Gear, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and airing on the HISTORY channel. Episodes of his online documentary series, Life in the Foust Lane, are available on the Rockstar Energy Drink YouTube channel.
Foust also handles stunt driving in numerous popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in the Need 4 Speed film, 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 movies.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 20 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com
