GT Radial Achieves Double Podium at Formula DRIFT Long Beach
LONG BEACH, CA (April 15, 2024) – GT Radial began defense of its 2023 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup Championship on April 13 with a double podium finish at the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Road 1 in Long Beach, CA.
GT Radial driver Simen Olsen of Norway claimed 2nd place in his Feal Suspension Nissan S14.9, while Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis of Lithuania finished third in his Feal Suspension/GT Radial Nissan S15 in the rain-soaked competition on the Streets of Long Beach. James Deane of Ireland was awarded first place.
Olsen was comfortable in the slick conditions thanks to years of winter ice drifting. He finished 4th overall last year after joining Bakchis at Team Feal. Bakchis is no stranger to the podium, claiming a number of wins since joining the series in 2011. Many pundits feel it’s a matter of time before he claims his first season championship.
“It was a challenging event with the inclement weather, but the GT Radial tires performed extremely well in the wet and we’re off to a good start for the 2024 season,” said GT Radial Motorsports Manager Mike Meeiem. “It was an excellent showing by Team Feal with two drivers on the podium.”
Teams on GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires, which are manufactured at the company’s 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. In 2023, GT Radial achieved a total of 13 podiums and three wins 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.
About GT Radial
The GT Radial brand, manufactured and marketed by Giti Tire, has been sold in the US for more than 26 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/.
