Formula Drift Orlando 2019 - PRO and PRO2
Formula Drift back to Orlando for the second round of PRO drifting championship and first round of PRO2 championship. As always Orlando is hot and humid and even got a little bit of rain during second day.
After Ryan Tuerck totaled his Toyota 86 racecar in Long Beach, his team tried to build his streetcar for the pro championship. And they succeeded. As Ryan himself said this "new" build is much more solid and rigid while having less bracing - the old car was so banged up against walls that it had become soft. Also luckily they had used spare engine in Long Beach while their main engine was still being put together so it went into a nice and fresh chassis.

Top32 bracket didn't align in favor for the 86/BRZ drivers. Ken Gushi qualified 12th and went against his Toyota Racing teammate Jhonnattan Castro who qualified 21st. This was one of the most epic battles of the event, both Gushi and Castro did extremely close follow runs and judges gave them One More Time for two times.
In third battle Ken Gushi won and advanced to battle Long Beach winner Odi Bakchis. Odi Bakchis did better and advanced to Top8 and eventually got 1st place in Orlando as well.
On other side of the bracket was Dai Yoshihara who qualified in high 2nd position and went against Dan Burkett and won.
Ryan Tuerck qualified 15th and went against Travis Reeder. After winning the battle followed autograph signing and driver introductions for Top16 where Ryan Tuerck and Dai Yoshihara had to battle each other.
Dai Yoshihara won, but lost to Chris Forsberg in Top8. Chris Forsberg got 2nd place on podium.
For PRO2 there was only Riley Sexsmith with Subaru BRZ. With more than 30 drivers and only 16 qualification spots the PRO2 series is much more competetive. Unfortunately Riley Sexsmith didn't qualify high enough to get in Top16 battle.
Next up Road Atlanta on May 9-10th, stay tuned!
Photos: Alexandra Manakova, Valters Boze

After Ryan Tuerck totaled his Toyota 86 racecar in Long Beach, his team tried to build his streetcar for the pro championship. And they succeeded. As Ryan himself said this "new" build is much more solid and rigid while having less bracing - the old car was so banged up against walls that it had become soft. Also luckily they had used spare engine in Long Beach while their main engine was still being put together so it went into a nice and fresh chassis.

Top32 bracket didn't align in favor for the 86/BRZ drivers. Ken Gushi qualified 12th and went against his Toyota Racing teammate Jhonnattan Castro who qualified 21st. This was one of the most epic battles of the event, both Gushi and Castro did extremely close follow runs and judges gave them One More Time for two times.

In third battle Ken Gushi won and advanced to battle Long Beach winner Odi Bakchis. Odi Bakchis did better and advanced to Top8 and eventually got 1st place in Orlando as well.

On other side of the bracket was Dai Yoshihara who qualified in high 2nd position and went against Dan Burkett and won.

Ryan Tuerck qualified 15th and went against Travis Reeder. After winning the battle followed autograph signing and driver introductions for Top16 where Ryan Tuerck and Dai Yoshihara had to battle each other.



Dai Yoshihara won, but lost to Chris Forsberg in Top8. Chris Forsberg got 2nd place on podium.
For PRO2 there was only Riley Sexsmith with Subaru BRZ. With more than 30 drivers and only 16 qualification spots the PRO2 series is much more competetive. Unfortunately Riley Sexsmith didn't qualify high enough to get in Top16 battle.


Next up Road Atlanta on May 9-10th, stay tuned!
Photos: Alexandra Manakova, Valters Boze