Chris Forsberg pilots 370Z to 2014 Formula Drift Championship

IRWINDALE, Calif. – After setting a Formula Drift record for most consecutive podium finishes in a single season, NISMO USA driver Chris Forsberg captured the 2014 Formula Drift Championship last weekend at Irwindale Speedway in California. While Forsberg's strong performances this season made him the favorite to win the championship, venerable competitor Fredric Aasbo rallied hard in the last two rounds to close the points gap and leave the season championship to be determined at the "House of Drift" in Irwindale.

As the National Anthem was sung, fans knew they were in for an epic night of drift, as two crowd favorites would go toe-to-toe for the epitome of the sport. Forsberg made it through to the final four, beating out his friend and veteran competitor Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Great Eight.

The final four brought the battle everyone was waiting for: Forsberg vs. Aasbo. High speeds and close action left the crowd in awe, as the final score was dropped. Aasbo had won the shoot-out and would move on to the finals. In a must win situation, Aasbo faced former-champion Daigo Saito to determine the 2014 champion. Forsberg's team looked on with palpable tension as former Champion Saito, took on the young talent Aasbo. "It was gut-wrenching for sure," Forsberg describes.

After extended deliberation for the judges, Chris Forsberg was announced the 2014 Formula Drift Champion.

"No words can describe what it feels to win a championship in Formula Drift. It's the absolutely pinnacle of drifting series in the world," said Forsberg. "To put a Nissan-powered Nissan back on the podium is amazing. We won it back in 2009. Since then, we've had a few close calls the last two years with a third and a second. Taking number one spot, nothing beats it."

While many competitors use American V8s to power their Japanese platforms, Forsberg is a purist and uses a Nissan VK56 that develops nearly 1000 horsepower to power his 370Z. "I bought my first Nissan in 2003. It was a 350Z for my first year of Formula Drift. I've been campaigning Nissans ever since. We've run SR-20 and RB motors. Our most competitive engine has been the VK56 – one of the most powerful naturally aspirated engines in the world for Nissan. It feels awesome."

When asked what was next for the champion, Forsberg replied: "We have an invitation to go to Red Bull Drift Shifters, which is judged on points and not a panel of judges (unlike Formula Drift in the United States). It uses radar and sensors to record speed and distance. It's one of the first telemetry-based competition. We'll be going down there next month."

To learn more about Nissan driver Chris Forsberg, visit http://www.chrisforsberg.com/

For more information on Formula Drift, visit http://www.formulad.com/

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