The life of an amateur drifter is not a glamorous one. Without deep-pocketed sponsors and a full pit crew at their disposal, a whole season of drifting takes quite the toll on both the cars and the drivers. As the season comes to a close, the participants of the Formula Drift Pro/Am circuit know it's crunch time. By now, the cars are tattered and torn, but the spirit of competition is strong as ever. Walk the pits and you won't see a lot of pristine paint or brand-new aero parts, instead the cars almost come to life and speak of times past, both good and bad. The mood is lighthearted, but everyone knows that this is it, the final event of the 2009 season, the final chance to put up or shut up.
As the day went on, we saw lots of great action on track. People crashed, people spun out, but everyone showed true grit and held nothing back. When it was all said and done, Ian Fournier managed to squeeze past Mike Pollard to seal the win, and Chelsea DeNofa landed in 3rd place with his impressive style and precise skill. In total, there were 19 licenses awarded to drivers to compete in the 2010 Formula Drift series. With so much fresh meat on deck, we can't wait to see what's in store for us next year. (That's what she said. - SK)
Results: 1st Ian Fournier, 4-door Skyline 2nd Mike Pollard, S13 hatch 3rd Chelsea DeNofa, E36 M3