Chevy, Ford, Nissan, and Toyotas battle it out for Drifting’s Top Prize at Irwindale FD Finals
October 2021 • Photography Nestor Cabrera and Formula Drift
There is no denying that drifting is one of the most exciting motorsports in the world. A drift battle is like watching the final lap of the best race with two cars charging to the checkered flag. But unlike most motorsports, there is no stopwatch, no checkered flag, and the car to cross the finish line first doesn’t necessarily win.
With the world finally returning to normal after Covid-19 forced the cancelation of live events in 2020, the 2021 Formula D Championship saw fans return to the grandstands. For the most part, it seemed like things were back to normal with fans arriving early, traffic jams in the parking lot, and long lines at almost every food vendor. Although the grandstands did seem full, we could not help but notice that not every seat was taken.
Irwindale finally would be a bittersweet event for fans, as two of the series most popular drivers would be retiring from competition. Dai Yoshihara and Vaughn Gittin Jr. are drivers that have been competing since the series inaugural season in 2004. Unfortunately for Dai, defeated in the first round, but got a standing ovation from the fans for his 18 years of thrilling them. Gittin Jr. would fare much better as he drifted his Ford Mustang to the final four and like Dai received a rousing sendoff from the fans.
As it’s been for the past few years Irwindale, i.e. “The House” of drift has become the place where champions are crowned. In past years, the points lead has been so close that naming a champion would need to wait until the final round. It would be no different this year as the top four drivers were separated by just 56 points, in most series this sizable lead would be insurmountable but with 100 points to the winner, anything could happen.
Fredric Aasbo came into the final round at Irwindale leading the points race. In second, third and fourth place were Chelsea DeNofa, Matt Field, and Aurimas Bakchis. Bakchis would need Aasbo to lose in the first round and for a win to even come close to claiming his first championship. Unfortunately for Bakchis, Aasbo qualified in the top position. Aasbo and Bakchis would end up with the top two qualifying spots and in opposite sides of the 32 driver bracket. DeNofa, and Field, the two other potential champions would not qualify as good with 19 and 22 qualifying positions, and end up on the same bracket as Bakchis. With Aasbo opposition having to battle each other, he would have to ensure no one else would spoil his goal of a second championship.
Aasbo battled his way to the semifinals where he would have to face 2020 Formula D champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. It was a passing of the torch as Aasbo would ultimately defeat Gittin Jr and move on to the finals. On the other side of the bracket, Bakchis made short work of all his opponents including championship candidate Field who ended up with fourth for the event and secured second place in the championship. With all his competitors eliminated Aasbo became the 2021 Formula D champion and would battle Bakchis for the icing on the cake, the final round win, but was not to be as Bakchis would end up defeating Aasbo for the event win.
For more information on Formula D and the upcoming events visit www.formulad.com
