Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak have spearheaded the forefront of Ford’s sponsorship in the Formula DRIFT series, and now they have taken it one step further. Preparing for the 2014 season, Ford is giving away a Fiesta ST as part of their 2014 promotional sweepstakes.
Ford is definitely looking to turn the heat up some for their second year as an official sponsor of the Formal Drift series. On the heels of the 50th anniversary Ford Mustang being announced, it’s a busy time for the Blue Oval.
The Fiesta ST giveaway sweepstakes kicked off during the opening round of the series in Long Beach, California, and will end before the end of the drift season. One lucky winner will drive away in a brand new 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, powered by Ford’s popular 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine.
“The competitiveness of Ford Mustang and the passionate fans convinced us to return to Formula DRIFT this year,” said Steve Ling, Ford North America car marketing manager, in an official Ford statement. “Outsiders sometimes ask why we support Formula DRIFT so strongly. Anyone who follows the sport knows that it’s the perfect place to connect with enthusiasts who value performance as much as we do at Ford Motor Company.”
He’s not kidding either. As one of the first supporters of the then-growing motorsport, Ford upped the ante in 2005 when they introduced the 4.6 Whipple supercharger ready V8 crate engine. Behind drivers like Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak, Ford continues to carve a name out for itself in drift fans.
“Fans enjoyed seeing Ford’s capabilities on the track last year,” says Mickey Matus, Ford Racing marketing communications manager, in a press release statement. “While we eventually finished third, our two Mustang drivers consistently finished at the top, keeping Ford in the hunt for the manufacturer’s cup throughout the first year of the championship. We believe that Vaughn and Justin are poised for great success in their Mustangs this year.”
Similar to Octane Academy and other giveaways from Ford, the Fiesta ST is definitely one of their favorite cars. And lots of aftermarket manufacturers like Agency Power are stepping up to the plate to help develop, build and learn about the robust EcoBoost engine.
Make sure to stay tuned for more Formula DRIFT coverage, including Round 2 just around the corner at Road Atlanta May 9th and 10th.
With new additions in Team Falken’s and Dai Yoshihara’s BR-Z, and last year’s champion Michael Essa, the duo of Pawlak and Gittin Jr have their work cut out for them. But it would be foolish to bet against them, we’ll just say that.
In the meantime, here are a few videos highlighting the driving dynamic duo of Justin Pawlak and Vaughn Gittin Jr. Watch these two terrific drivers hit the Streets of Long Beach in their Ford Mustangs for the 2014 Formula Drift season opener. from Round 1 of the 2014 Formula DRIFT season.
For more information on the Fiesta ST giveaway, visit the Formula DRIFT website or the official Formula Drift Facebook page, and as always stay tuned for more drift news, how-to articles and motorsport videos!
Happy Tuning!