14-Year-Old Driver Joins GT Radial Formula DRIFT Team
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (March 28, 2024) – Hiroya Minowa, a 14-year-old Red Bull athlete from Tokyo, Japan, has joined the GT Radial Formula DRIFT team as the brand prepares to defend its 2023 Tire Cup Championship.
Minowa, who will be the newest and youngest driver in the Formula Drift 2024 Pro Season, will be debuting with Team Jerry Yang Racing, piloting their newly built Toyota GR86 engine boasting a 1300 horsepower VR38dett.
“We are thrilled to welcome Hiroya Minowa to the GT Radial family,” said GT Radial Motorsports Manager Mike Meeiem. “Investing in the younger generation is pivotal for the future of motorsports, and we see tremendous potential in Hiroya as a driver. His talent and dedication align perfectly with our commitment to supporting emerging talents.”
Minowa shared his thoughts on joining GT Radial, saying, “I am incredibly thrilled to join the GT Radial team. It’s a dream come true for me to have the opportunity to work with such a prestigious organization. I’m eager to push my limits and represent GT Radial with pride on the racetrack.”
A double podium finish by drivers Nick Noback and Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis at Irwindale Speedway in the season finale powered GT Radial to victory in the Tire Cup for the 2023 Formula DRIFT PRO season.
Teams on GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires, which are manufactured at the Giti Tire plant in Richburg, SC, scored the most points over the eight races in the 2023 season, enabling GT Radial to best four other tire brands to claim the Tire Cup. Noback and Bakchis on the podium in Irwindale marked a total of 13 podiums and three wins for GT Radial in the 2023 season’s eight races.
The 2023 Tire Cup victory marked a steady climb by GT Radial in Formula DRIFT competition. GT Radial clinched second position in the 2022 FD Tire Cup after achieving six podium finishes. After finishing fifth in its first year, GT Radial rose to third in 2021 before securing second at the final round of 2022.
GT Radial has renewed its partnership with Formula DRIFT for another three-year term to provide tires to teams in the PRO Championship. Additionally, GT Radial will remain the Official Tire of the PROSPEC series for up-and-coming drivers for another two years.
Under the guidance of Jerry Yang Racing, Minowa will join Kazuya Taguchi in showcasing the performance of GT Radial Champiro SX2 drift tires, renowned for their exceptional performance and reliability. Champiro SX2 tires are also sold for street use.
About Jerry Yang Racing
Jerry Yang Racing is a racing team based out of McDonough, GA, known for its engineering excellence and passion for motorsports. Led by Jerry Yang, the team is dedicated to pushing the limits of drifting and developing drivers to achieve success on the track.
About GT Radial
The GT Radial brand, manufactured and marketed by Giti Tire, has been sold in the US for more than 25 years. Comprehensive offerings of GT Radial passenger, light truck and commercial truck tires are available across North America through retailers and independent tires dealers. Giti Tire (headquartered in Singapore), which has been in the tire business since 1951, operates eight manufacturing plants and three technical centers globally, including the passenger/light truck tire plant and technical center in Richburg, SC. Giti Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for GT Radial in North America. For more information on GT Radial, visit https://www.gtradial-us.com/
