The end of 2014 marks my 10th year following professional drifting. I’ve probably shortened my life span a few years from all the tire smoke I’ve breathed in over the last decade, but it’s all been worth it.
This year, I focused my drift coverage on the very core events this wonderful sport has to offer. Although I didn’t attend as many drift events as I have in previous years, I am still very happy with my pictures. And that said, here are my favorite drift images from 2014. Enjoy!
Pathum Thani Speedway: Speedhunters driver Fredric Aasbø waits at the start line, the sky glowing red at sunset due to a thick layer of smog caused by Bangkok’s pollution.
Pathum Thani Speedway: A final goodbye for a drifting prince in the Speed City 700SX.
Pathum Thani Speedway: Spectators escape the harsh January sun to watch qualifying.
Pathum Thani Speedway: A Norway versus Thailand final. NASCAR V8 versus a three rotor RX-7. It could not have played out any better.
Somewhere in Norway: Fredric Aasbø takes his mother’s station wagon out to pick up groceries.
Sigdal, Norway: The 86X gets to stretch its snow legs on a frozen lake.
Sigdal, Norway: Car sinking into the lake, no big deal.
Willow Springs International Raceway: Blowing out the cobwebs at Southern California’s first drift competition of the year.
Streets of Long Beach: Eric Hill going #MaximumAttack into Turn 1.
Streets of Long Beach: The final year of professional drifting for Swedish driver Carl Rydquist.
Streets of Long Beach: Brandon Wicknick looks at the track ahead as he waits on the starting line.
Streets of Long Beach: Ken Gushi bounces from wall to wall like a pinball during qualifying.
Streets of Long Beach: Ryan Tuerck destroys a set of tires as the sun begins to set behind the Long Beach Convention Center.
Streets Of Long Beach: Chris ‘The Force’ Forsberg has gone to the dark side.
Road Atlanta: A little dirt drop never hurts. Just ask Charles Ng.
Road Atlanta: Carl Rydquist goes in hard for one of the few dry qualifying runs of the event.
Road Atlanta: Version 3.0 of the Scion GReddy FR-S, piloted by Ken Gushi.
Road Atlanta: The longest qualifying session in Formula Drift history. Everyone had two runs in addition to a practice pass.
Road Atlanta: Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s 2014 Mustang was sporting a razzle dazzle camouflage livery this year, similar to what was used on World War I warships.
Road Atlanta: Kyle Mohan learns the meaning of slippy-slidy racing.
Going Sideways
Road Atlanta: Chris Forsberg displaying some impressive tire slaying action.
Road Atlanta: The fans in the South are the best drift fans in the world.
Road Atlanta: Vaughn Gittin Jr. debuts Formula Drift Rallycross with his Ford Mustang RTR.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Ken Gushi takes a break from all the hustle and bustle of the FD paddock.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Tyler Wolfson suits up for battle in the scorching heat.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Smoke escapes from every possible orifice in Daijiro Yoshihara’s twin turbo LS-powered BRZ.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: The drivers faced triple-digit entry speeds going into the first corner on the brand new course.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Vaughn Gittin Jr. goes on to win two events back-to-back.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Justin Pawlak goes out for his second qualifying run in the Florida humidity.
Homestead Miami International Raceway: Tyler McQuarrie leaves no room for error during Top 32 practice.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: E-brake initiation going into the first corner during Thursday’s practice.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Dennis Mertzanis shows everyone the proper line to take on the outer bank.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Wall rides were plentiful at FD Round 4, although there were not as many wrecks as in previous years.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Waiting in a long line of drift cars for what little practice runs the drivers get at each round.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: The grid master noting the number of runs each driver gets during practice.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Heading back to the pits after a hard drift session.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: The sun dips behind the forest as the battles rage on in Top 32 practice.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: The Falken girls chat before the start of the Top 16 introductions.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Rays of light shine stream through Chris Forsberg’s cockpit as he awaits a decision on a battle.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Fredric Aasbø earns his first ever win in the Formula Drift Pro Championship.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Making some serious clouds of smoke coming off the New Jersey bank.
Circle Burners
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: triple donut action from the Team Falken drivers.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Chris Forsberg and Conrad Grunewald battling it out in the Top 8 bracket.
Wall Speedway, New Jersey: Justin Pawlak coming off the main bank during Top 32 practice.
Autodrome St-Eustache: Dean ‘Karnage’ Kearney steps out into the tire smoke that he and his Achilles teammates created in celebration of their very first podium sweep.
Texas Motor Speedway: Taka Aono enjoys the trackside view. This past year may be the last for ‘The Flying 86.’
Texas Motor Speedway: Just two rounds to go – time for Chris Forsberg to lock down a second championship.
Texas Motor Speedway: Rivals on track, forever best friends off it. Once a brother, always a brother.
Texas Motor Speedway: Vaughn Gittin Jr. struggled with some mechanical issues which put him out of contention for the championship title.
Texas Motor Speedway: Brandon Wicknick drifting at ludicrous speeds during qualifying.
Texas Motor Speedway: It looks like someone pressed the smoke screen button in their spy car.
Texas Motor Speedway: Ryan Tuerck gives his e-brake a slight tug as he drifts past the main grandstands.
Texas Motor Speedway: The battle of the Nissan Z teammates, both powered by VK56 engines.
Texas Motor Speedway: Fredric Aasbø eats away at Chris Forsberg’s lead by winning his second event ever in Texas.
Texas Motor Speedway: Dean Kearney is Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s shadow as the two battle it out under the lights in Texas.
Irwindale Speedway: Practice high on the bank for the final round of the Formula Drift Pro Championship.
Irwindale Speedway: Vaughn Gittin Jr. destroys a set of tires in qualifying.
Irwindale Speedway: Charles Ng, upset that his motor failed during qualifying, was not able to make a second run to secure a spot in the Top 32.
Irwindale Speedway: Matt Coffman finishes off his rookie year with a bang.
Irwindale Speedway: Joon Maeng warms up his tires on the grid as drift fans breathe in the tire smoke.
Irwindale Speedway: Top 32 battles rage on as the sun dips below the horizon.
Irwindale Speedway: Dean Kearney pushed a little too hard on the unforgiving Irwindale bank.
Irwindale Speedway: Chris Forsberg is hoisted up as he wins his second Formula Drift Championship title.
Irwindale Speedway: Fredric Aasbø is overcome with emotion as he gives me a ride to the podium ceremony.
Irwindale Speedway: The 11th running of FD Irwindale comes to an end. Daigo Saito, Fredric Aasbø and Forest Wang stand atop the podium.
Shenzhen, China: Ross Petty’s S15 gets pushed back to the pits after breaking its differential during practice.
Shenzhen, China: The best seat in the house is always from the judges’ tower.
Shenzhen, China: Ross Petty gives his S15 a much-needed pep talk as he heads into battle.
Shenzhen, China: I’ll leave you guys with a shot of Kyle Mohan standing next to his car after it caught on fire in the battle for 3rd place.
Larry Chen
Instagram: larry_chen_foto
larry@speedhunters.com