TANNER FOUST, Temporary RETIREMENT From Formula DRIFT

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Tanner Foust Announces Temporary Retirement From Formula DRIFT;
Papadakis Racing and Team Need For Speed Announce the Signing of 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo


Long Beach, Calif. – February 10th, 2011 – Formula DRIFT has announced that 2-time Formula DRIFT champion, Tanner Foust will temporarily step away from the sport of drifting. In conjunction, Papadakis Racing and Team Need For Speed have announced the signing of the 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo.

“Tanner’s semi-retirement is bittersweet for the Series as he has become one of the most recognizable drivers on the circuit and is one of the most competitive spokesmen for Formula DRIFT,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “As with the growth and progression of the Series we can expect to see opportunities brought to many of the drivers and wish Tanner more success in his career both on and off the track. His departure will leave a spot open for a future star of drifting to rise, which we are excited to see.”

Foust has announced his temporary retirement from drifting due to a demanding 2011 schedule of European Rally events, X-Games and television responsibilities. The 2-time Formula DRIFT champion and Tires.com Triple Crown bonus winner will be competing one last time in the Rockstar / Papadakis Racing Scion tC on February 25, 2010 during the Formula DRIFT UAE Invitational competition.

“I owe a lot to Formula DRIFT and Stephan Papadakis. This sport, Stephan and his team have been, and will remain, an integral part of my motorsports life,” said Tanner Foust, from his home in San Juan Capistrano. “This was a hard choice to make, but with my schedule looking even busier than last year's I will not be able to fully commit to the 2011 Formula DRIFT season. However, I am looking forward to competing in the Rockstar Scion tC for one last time in Abu Dhabi this month.” With an open seat, team owner, Stephan Papadakis has enlisted the highly touted and talented driver, Fredric Aasbo. In addition, a newly created partnership with Team Need For Speed has solidified the alliance. Aasbo will be competing in the brand new Need for 2011 Scion tC this season with the competition debut during Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 8-9, 2011.

"Our new partnership with Need For Speed and having Fredric behind the wheel of the new Need for Speed 2011 Scion tC is very exciting,” stated Stephan Papadakis, team owner of Papadakis Racing. “To be aligned with such a top brand in the gaming world is a dream of ours. The synergy between our programs is a natural fit. We build crazy cars for competition and they have the technology for the world to drive them! It has been a pleasure to work with Tanner for the past 5 years and our team thanks him for his hard work and determination and wish him nothing but the best."

The 2011 Formula DRIFT season begins on April 8-9, 2011 and will mark the debut of many cars, drivers, and teams. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com

[Bebop]

It was a good run

GOAT in my opinion (state side), you don't know what you got til its gone folks!

[Justin Banner]

Well, that's kind of a shame. I really wanted to see what Foust had for 2011 with the 4 cylinder. Rumor is that Ford has put him as the star for Rallycross, which could a great deal if it becomes more popular here in the US.

[3gInOc]

WOW! Major bummer. He is my favorite drifter. I've had the pleasure of speaking with at several events. Totaly down to earth guy. He is one of the major reason why I love drifting.

[YOitzJDM]

In 2008, he said in an interview that he wanted to find an OEM where he could have full support on both the rally-x side as well as the drifting side. It sounded like he was hinting to Ford that he wanted to be their golden child. When JR was the one to slide the TwentyTen mustang in front of press people, I knew Foust's days in drifting would be limited.

He gets paid WAY WAY WAY more money to do Rally-X and Rally than he does for drifting. That win in X-games rally in 2007 was the launching point of his career, and winning double gold in 2010 solidified his future away from drifting. It's just sad that Rockstar has now completely left the game

[INFO]

the full press release is was just added to the first post

[Shadowhuntr]

Dang, got broadsided by this one, hope he returns soon he is an amazing driver.

[fast-datsun]

Tanner GOOD LUCK and hope to see you back drifitng again soon...


Mack McKinney

[alex]

I hope that Tanner returns! he was always a nice person

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by blaze1

It was a good run

GOAT in my opinion (state side), you don't know what you got til its gone folks!

My thoughts exactly.

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