GT Radial Closes Book on Successful Second Season in Formula DRIFT

GT Radial made significant progress in its second season in Formula DRIFT competition, with one driver finishing in the top 16 and an event victory.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, USA, October 22, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- GT Radial¹ enjoyed a standout season in the ultra competitive Formula DRIFT Pro Championship in 2015, which came to a close on Oct. 11 at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California.

GT Radial became the newest tire player in the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship in 2014. For the 2015 season, the tire brand added veteran drivers Chelsea DeNofa and Conrad Grunewald to its roster, while Kyle Mohan returned for a second season.

DeNofa finished in the top 16 in the 2015 season championship, while Grunewald gave GT Radial its first victory in professional drifting earlier in the season at the KMC Wheels Super Drift Challenge in Long Beach, California.

The drivers compete on GT Radial Champiro SX2 tires², an extreme performance summer tire that excels on both the track and the street. The Champiro SX2 features extra wide shoulder blocks in a dual block design that increase cornering stability and grip. An innovative silica compound increases traction and grip in both dry and wet conditions.

“We made significant progress in our second year of Formula DRIFT competition and look forward to continuing our momentum in 2016,” said Mike Meeiem, motorsports manager for GITI Tire (USA) Ltd., which markets and sells GT Radial tires in North America. “Formula DRIFT provides a great showcase for our brand and technology. Our drivers certainly thrilled drifting fans at every event this year.”

DeNofa, Grunewald and Mohan not only put on a show for the estimated 15,000 people in attendance at Irwindale Speedway, but also for the large number of guests hosted by GT Radial. Driving the BC Racing/Chelsea DeNofa Motorsports/GT Radial BMW M3, DeNofa advanced to the top 16 at Irwindale, which placed him in the top 16 in the season championship.

"It's all fuel for next year,” said DeNofa. “We have our eyes on finishing on top, and I am a firm believer we are taking the calculated steps to do just that both on and off the track.”

Grunewald, in the Always Evolving/ReplayXD/GT Radial Chevrolet Camaro, advanced to the top-32 round of competition at Irwindale. “2015 has been a great developmental year for us in Formula DRIFT,” Grunewald noted. “We have unlocked a lot of potential from our car by focusing on aerodynamic and mechanical changes. It was great having such a consistent and reliable tire this year. We look forward to growing our relationship with GT Radial in the coming years.”

In his unique KMR/GT Radial/Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8, Mohan also qualified for the top-32 competition at Irwindale. “We fought very hard at Irwindale but we lost in a close battle,” Mohan said. “Irwindale is always a highlight since it is close to my home town, and we always enjoy fantastic support from GT Radial. It was a hard-fought season for Mazda and our team, but we were able to always count on the grip and consistency of our Champiro SX2 tires. We are already planning for another big year in 2016!”

In Formula DRIFT’s Pro 2 category, Ryan Litteral capped his season by advancing to the Great Eight in the final round at Irwindale Speedway. Litteral drives a Nissan 240SX (S14) powered by a Nissan RB25 engine.

“It was a great weekend and it's been a great season,” said Litteral. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but now finally, at the last event we managed to fix all of our flaws and run consistently and confidently. It didn't matter what was thrown at us, we are able to be calm, collective and effective. My car ran absolutely perfect, never once skipping a beat. I couldn’t have done this without the immense support of my loving family and friends. I want to give a big thanks to GT Radial for an absolutely awesome tire and opportunities to fulfill my dream. Thank you all for another great year, and I can't wait for the 2016 season.”

About Giti Tire (pronounced “G-T” tire)

Giti Tire Group, headquartered in Singapore, has been in the tire business since 1951. Giti Tire operates 8 manufacturing plants and produces a broad range of tire products, serving major original equipment vehicle manufacturers, auto-service outlets, tire dealers and consumers in more than 130 countries worldwide.

GITI Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for North America. It markets and sells a family of brands: GT Radial, Primewell and Dextero tires for high performance vehicles, passenger, SUV, light truck, and medium trucks through national retailers, independent retailers and distributors across the United States and Canada. For more information visit www.giti.com.

john taylor
GITI Tire (USA) Ltd.
6154773099
email us here

¹ http://www.gtradial-us.com/en/
² http://www.gtradial-us.com/en/CHAMPIRO_SX2.html
³ http://www.giti.com/corp/