New look for Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra as Papadakis Racing returns to FD
LONG BEACH, California (April 7, 2027) -- Papadakis Racing Toyota begins its 2026 Formula Drift campaign this weekend on the Streets of Long Beach, returning to the Southern California course that traditionally opens the championship and sits just a few miles from the team’s Carson, California headquarters.
The event marks the first outing of the season for the two-car Toyota effort, with Fredric Aasbo returning in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra and Ryan Tuerck competing in the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla hatchback. Aasbo’s car will debut a new Rockstar Energy Drink livery as the team launches into the new season.
“Starting the season at Long Beach always brings a different kind of energy,” said team owner Stephan Papadakis. “It’s close to home for our crew, and the atmosphere with the fans is always incredible. Everyone has been pushing hard in the offseason, and we’re excited to see what this season brings.”
Long Beach remains one of the most anticipated stops on the Formula Drift calendar, and one that carries extra significance for Papadakis Racing. The team enters the year looking to build on a strong 2025 campaign that saw Aasbo finish third in the championship standings while Toyota captured its 10th Formula Drift Auto Cup.
Both drivers will also take part in several fan events around Long Beach Grand Prix week ahead of the Formula Drift opener.
Both Aasbo and Tuerck will participate in Acura’s Type S Night Lights Thursday night, with Aasbo giving demonstration rides in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. Before that, Tuerck is set to appear Wednesday evening at Night School, an enthusiast gathering hosted by Race Service, where fans and industry guests will gather for a pre-race kickoff event.
Papadakis Racing’s Toyota GR Supra and GR Corolla drift cars are built in-house at the team’s Southern California facility and represent the latest evolution of the program that has delivered five Formula Drift championships and 10 manufacturer’s titles for Toyota. After bringing home Kenda Tire’s first even win in Long Beach last season, Papadakis said the team also has its sights set on the Tire Cup in 2026.
“Our goal every year is to push forward,” said Papadakis. “The level in Formula Drift keeps rising, and we want to be right there competing for wins.”
Formula Drift Round 1 takes place this weekend on the Streets of Long Beach with a new qualifying format debuting on Friday and main competition on Saturday. Tickets are on sale now at www.formulad.com.
ABOUT TOYOTA
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America (nearly 48,000 in the U.S.).
For almost 70 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, the company’s plant in North Carolina will begin to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (more than 2.3 million in the U.S.) in 2024, of which more than 43 percent were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
ABOUT KENDA TIRE
Founded in 1962, Kenda Tire is a global leader in tire and wheel manufacturing with market presence in multiple industries, including automotive and light truck, bicycle, motorcycles, ATV, RV, industrial, golf, and more. With more than 12,000 employees globally, Kenda Tire prides itself as an organization where quality, honesty, innovation, and customer service are core values.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR ENERGY
Founded in 2001, Rockstar Energy Drink is committed to understanding the mind-body connection, providing functional energy to keep you moving confidently through every moment. It empowers a new generation to feel energized both mentally and physically, giving them the power to access and optimize every version of themselves. Acquired by PepsiCo in 2020, Rockstar Energy Drink offers over 40 products and is available in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.rockstarenergy.com and unlock your full potential, mind, and body.p