Team Falken @ Formula D Rd. 2 Atlanta by FalkenTire

ATLANTA, GA – Round 2 of the 2009 Formula Drift season saw Team Falken Tires’s Darren McNamara, running his Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky on the proving grounds of legendary Road Atlanta, advance to the finals against Chris Forsberg where he took second place overall. The finals proved challenging after the first competitive run was deemed too close and a subsequent run requested by the judges – and known among the Formula D competitors and fans as a “One More Time” – ended with paint trading and McNamara in second.

Team Falken brought its full line-up of five factory-supported competitors to Road Atlanta, and as the teams continue to refine the four new cars built for this year’s race season, several unexpected problems plagued two of the entrants. In practice, Calvin Wan, driving the Nissan S15 Silvia, suffered a broken axle, and then broke a rear spindle in the next session. The loss of practice time was something from which he couldn’t recover. Wan qualified 32nd and lost in the next round.

Tyler McQuarrie, running the heavily modified Nissan 350Z Convertible, experienced a cam sensor failure, missing the final practice while waiting for a replacement part. Nevertheless, cooperation is always a part of the game, and McQuarrie borrowed a sensor from Falken teammate McNamara and qualified 13th with a single run. McQuarrie ultimately advanced to the Great 8.

The mechanical dramas behind them, Team Falken continued to press forward. Perennial fan favorite Vaughn Gittin, Jr., qualified 8th in his 2010 Ford Mustang GT, moving to the top 16 before being knocked out. And Daijiro Yoshihara qualified the Discount Tires Lexus IS350 in 2nd place, but lost in the first round after a One More Time.

“We are starting to show our competitive strength,” stated Steve Mitchell, Team Falken’s Motorsports Manager. “The mechanical problems set us back a bit, and we’ll make sure to stock more parts for our next round, but teamwork prevailed and we were able to overcome some of the early struggles. I’m proud of Darren’s efforts, as I am of all our team members, and we’ll see more of our drivers advance to the finals in the events ahead.” Privateers competing on Falken Tires included Taka Aono and Ross Petty who both qualified in the top 32.

Team Falken’s marketing effort, hospitality rig and factory support trailer will continue on to the next round. Team Falken will compete at “The Gauntlet,” at Wall Speedway in New Jersey, June 5-6. The speedway, located in Wall Township, has been in existence since 1950, and was recently renovated. The specially designed Gauntlet track will provide drift fans with an exciting show on the “inner oval.”