Fredric Aasbo second in points after challenging Atlanta weekend
BRASELTON, Georgia (May 15, 2023) – Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra driver Fredric Aasbo moved into second in the Formula Drift championship points this weekend at Road Atlanta, despite a close decision that left him sidelined after the Top 16.
“The judges have a lot of tough calls to make – and this season more than ever," said Aasbo. Five current series drivers own more than half the championship titles ever won in the series. The field is stacked and there is zero room for error."
The second round of championship competition saw massive crowd turnout, with eager fans turning up early in the morning hours to secure the best views from the grassy lawns flanking the Road Atlanta drift track. Online, live streamed competition was a huge draw. This season is shaping up to be among the most popular on record for the series. Livestream and other content from Round 1 in Long Beach drew 24 million views.
A favorite stop for Aasbo, the Road Atlanta course is unique in the series for elevation changes that call for a combination of finesse and aggression.
Aasbo advanced past Rome Charpentier in the Top 32, straight into a head-to-head match with longtime friend and rival James Deane. Aasbo and Deane have each won three Formula Drift titles and theirs was a much-anticipated powerhouse battle.
The competition didn’t disappoint and both drivers brought commitment and skill to the track. But neither driver found the perfect balance and even as fans cheered for a one-more-time call, judges delivered a split decision for Deane.
The early knockout did little to slow Aasbo's chase for the title, however, with the defending champion edging up one points position. He is now second heading into the Orlando round later this month.
After qualifying a solid fifth, Tuerck found himself out of the running in the Round of 32 for only the second time in four seasons. Facing the wildcard Kristaps Bluss, who returned to compete in the series in Atlanta for the first time since 2018, Tuerck’s lead run saw him take multiple hits from his rival into the Rain-X/Nitto Tire Toyota GR Corolla, and he was admittedly off the pace for his chase.
“It didn’t come together for us in Atlanta,” said Tuerck. “We’re going to put it behind us and come out strong for Orlando in just a couple of weeks.”
It is now a quick turnaround for Papadakis Racing to make the next stop on the calendar in just under two weeks. Teams will travel to Florida to take on their first oval of 2023 at Orlando Speed World May 26-27.
The Papadakis Racing team began drifting in 2004 and is the most winning team in Formula Drift history, earning the 2022, 2021 and 2015 titles with driver Fredric Aasbo, as well as back-to-back championships with driver Tanner Foust in 2008 and 2007. Partner Toyota has won the manufacturer’s cup eight times since 2014. Tuerck joined the Papadakis Racing team in 2020 in a Toyota Corolla Hatchback and has shown strong results, bringing home the third-place championship trophy twice in the past three seasons.
Fans can follow the action for Tuerck, Aasbo, and the whole Papadakis Racing team by tuning in to the Rockstar Energy YouTube series “Controlled Chaos,” which takes fans behind the scenes all season. Subscribe on YouTube to be notified as new content drops athttps://www.youtube.com/rockstarenergy
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control. In the Formula Drift series, drivers compete in knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in trials judged on speed and style. With origins in Japan, the sport has rapidly grown to one of the most popular youth-oriented motorsports in the world. Here in the United States, Formula Drift is celebrating its 20th anniversary season. Its national schedule of eight events routinely host capacity crowds, while live-streamed multi-platform broadcasts attract millions of online viewers.