From local SCCA autocross events to the highest levels of North American road racing and off-road competition, Falken Tire has launched its most diverse and extensive motorsports program in the history of the company.
The racing action that Falken Tire fans have grown to love will continue, with the addition of several new initiatives targeted especially at grassroots motorsports enthusiasts. At the heart of Falken’s motorsports programs are the Falken AZENIS line of ultra-high performance tires and the Falken WILDPEAK line of Light Truck tires.
“Falken has built a reputation for performance both on the track and in the desert, and this will continue throughout 2015,” said Rick Brennan, executive director of marketing at Falken Tire. “After an action-packed first quarter, we’ve already enjoyed great success with both our AZENIS and WILDPEAK tires, and thanks to the dedication and talent of our teams and drivers we should not be strangers on the podiums for the remainder of the year. As always, the lessons we learn from competing on track and in the dirt will shape the next generation of Falken consumer tires.”
Falken Tire’s 2015 motorsports program includes:
• IMSA United SportsCar Series (TUSC) – Falken has enjoyed a long track record of success in this series. The team competes in the GT-LeMans class in a Porsche 911 RSR, sporting the distinctive teal and blue Falken livery. Drivers Wolf Henzler, Patrick Long and Bryan Sellers recently celebrated a third place finish at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. It was the team’s ninth podium in North American professional sports car racing.
• Formula DRIFT – Falken Tire has contributed massive amounts of rubber in the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship since the launch of the series in 2004. In that 11-year span, Falken has become the most successful tire brand in Formula DRIFT with 21 event victories and two championships. Four drivers will continue to demonstrate the track-bred potential of the Falken AZENIS RT615k tires.
Daijiro Yoshihara, one of the most decorated drivers in Formula Drift history, will compete in a Subaru BRZ. Yoshihara was the 2011 Formula Drift champion and has claimed Formula Drift victory eight times – the third-most in the history of the series.
Justin Pawlak will compete for Falken Tire in a Ford Mustang supported by Roush Performance. Pawlak, who has been a member of the Falken Tire team since 2010, has won three times in Formula Drift with each victory coming on Falken tires.
Tyler McQuarrie makes a return to Falken Tire with whom he has won twice in Formula Drift. McQuarrie will drive a Chevrolet Camaro. Rounding out the lineup will be Pat Goodin in a V8-powered Nissan 240SX.
• Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) – Falken Tire is adding new contingency programs for driving enthusiasts competing in SCCA autocross events across the country. Contingency awards are now available for drivers utilizing the Falken AZENIS RT615K tire in the SCCA National Tour, SCCA ProSolo and the SCCA TireRack National Championship.
• Pro Touring – Falken Tire will serve as the road course sponsor of the Optima Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) and the season-ending Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational, as well as serve as an event sponsor for the Good Guys AutoCross.
In both series, Falken RT615K tires will be used by Brian Hobaugh’s 1965 Chevrolet Corvette, Mike Maier’s 1966 Ford Mustang, Chris “Smitty” Smith’s 1972 Chevrolet Corvette, Bret Voelkel’s 1967 Chevrolet Camaro and Marry Pozzi’s 1973 Chevrolet Camaro.
• Ultra 4 Series – One of the toughest forms of racing on earth, Ultra 4 utilizes purpose built four-wheel-drive vehicles to traverse some of the harshest terrain found in North America. Race courses feature man-made and natural terrain, such as rock walls, combined with high-speed desert sections.
At the King of the Hammers, the kick-off event for the Ultra 4 Series, Brandon Currie scored the Overall and Modified class victory in the Everyman Challenge utilizing the Falken WILDPEAK M/T tires. Second and third place in the Modified class also used the Falken WILDPEAK M/T. In the King of the Hammers Unlimited race, Tony Pellegrino finished in ninth position using the Falken WILDPEAK M/T.
• SCORE International – Falken Tire will be represented for the first time in this premier off-road desert racing series, including the legendary Baja 500 and Baja 1000, by Brenthel Industries. Jonathon Brenthel will compete in Class 1 while Jordan Brenthel will compete in Spec Trophy Truck, with a Trophy Truck scheduled for debut at the Baja 1000.
• Best in the Desert – Jonathan and Jordan Brenthel will also use the Falken WILDPEAK M/T 37x12.50R17 tires to compete in the Best in the Desert’s Spec Trophy Truck class, bringing Falken Tire to the series for the first time.
• W.E. Rock Crawling Championship – Falken Tire will support several teams in the W.E. Rock Crawling Championship, where competitors must use technical savvy to achieve as fine a line through a course as possible and face penalties when they stray. At the first round in Congress, Arizona, Justin Hall finished in second place in the Unlimited Class using the Falken WILDPEAK M/T 38x13.5R17.
• Rally Aicha Des Gazelles du Muroc – A true adventure event, the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles in Morocco, North Africa brings together women between the ages of 18 and 65 to a two-week adventure in the Moroccan desert. Drivers Jessi Combs and Nicole Pitell are driving the CRC Total Chaos 2014 Toyota Tacoma on Falken WILDPEAK A/T 185/70R16.
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