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Las Vegas, a city that treats you like your girlfriend would, take your money and leave you hoping for a return. This week the Sin City was packed full of the top drifters in the world to battle it out at Round 4 of the Formula Drift series, “High Stakes”. Being my first trip to a Formula Drift event I had no idea what to expect, of course I have seen the series on the TV but in person is a whole different world. The track was right in the middle of everything and was being rumored as one of the faster tracks for the season so far. From seeing the size of the track and the grandstands surrounding the corners and main sections of the track I knew I was going to be in for one awesome event. Walking around the vendor alley was packed and just being in the same area as cars that I just saw in two different magazines was a breath taking experience. As the gates opened the event started to get really busy and the energy took a whole different level. As I walked around the track looking for the perfect spot I was getting really excited to see this event unfold. I saw the first car leave the starting line and head down the straight, which had a distance of 1120ft, and then slam the car sideways at 90+mph into the first corner, my jaw dropped for I thought to myself, THAT IS INSANE. The car made it on to the back section, where I was, still carrying speed and smoke just blowing off the tires. As the car passed by me I got coated with rubber, at that point I came to the conclusion, everyone needs to hit up a Formula Drift event and experience this first hand. So enough about me let’s start to get into a recap of the event.
Friday was first full day of this event where the drivers had practice sessions and got a chance to really learn the fast slick track. Once the practices were done the non-seated drivers took the track to Qualify for the top 16 Un-Seated drivers. These guys were going all out, few had some issues with running out of room on the track and introducing their cars into a wall. The Apexi RX-7 was one of the first cars to learn the speed of the track the hard way. Friday night finished with the un-seated drivers battling out until the rain hit the event. Saturday was now here and it was hotter than Friday so the track would be little slick to begin with. Today the Top 16 Seated and Top 16 Un-Seated drivers hit the track and competed to get the final Top 16 that would move into the main event. After a few close races the Top 16 was set in stone and ready to get the show on the road. As the sun set and the track lights came on it was time for the 16 drivers to make their way out to the track for Driver Introductions. The Top 16 consisted of the following drivers (In order of qualification): #1 Tanner Foust, #2 Sam Hubinette, #3 Rhys Millen, #4 Michihiro Takatori, #5 John Russakoff, #6 Toshiki Yoshioka, #7 Manabu Orido, #8 Daijiro Yoshihara, #9 Chris Forsberg, #10 Yasu Kondo, #11 Stephan Verdier, #12 Tony Brakahopia, #13 Calvin Wan, #14 Ken Gushi, #15 Ryan Tuerck, and #16 Robbie Nishida. Few close rounds and a few upsets opened the road to give Toshiki Yoshioka his first Formula D win.
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