Tanner Faust Signs Racing Deal With Ford

[Hach1r0k1d03]

PRESS RELEASE:
X GAMES CHAMP TANNER FOUST PARTNERS WITH FORD
Action sports star to race multiple platforms while representing Ford Racing and Rockstar

DEARBORN, Mich. – April 15, 2011 – Over the last few years at X Games, two things have been a constant at the top of the podium – Ford Fiesta and Tanner Foust. And neither plans on that changing anytime soon.

The winningest rally driver in X Games history has chosen to ensure he'll be in a Ford for many years to come. Tanner Foust announced a multi-year partnership with Ford Racing today to represent the 'Blue Oval' in the Global RallyCross Championship (GRC), European RallyCross Championship (ERC) and at X Games 17 in Los Angeles.

Tanner Foust has carved a unique niche for himself in the world of action motor sports, showcasing the skills that have made him a three time gold medalist at X Games as well as a champion drifter and rally driver. He balances an ever expanding broadcast career that has seen him host various programs on SPEED Channel and now serve as co-host of the critically acclaimed Top Gear USA on the History Channel.

Foust first drove the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta at X Games in 2009, in what proved to be a turning point in his career. His experience with the Fiesta and his 2010 exposure to a limited European RallyCross schedule has turned his focus to RallyCross fulltime in 2011. He will run a full ten event ERC schedule as well as the inaugural four event GRC.

"There is no doubt that Ford is on fire right now with its complete line-up of cars and trucks," said Foust. "Internationally small cars with 2-liter engines are considered affordable sports cars as opposed to the perception we have in in the United States that cars like the Fiesta only get great fuel economy. RallyCross and X Games are a great showcase of the performance capabilities of these platforms. For Ford this is nothing new as they have been at the top of the racing world in compact cars since the early 70s."

Foust spent several years as a child in Scotland where he discovered rally racing and learned to drive on the country roads near his home. He returned to the US and went into a pre-med track at the University of Colorado, earning a biology degree. He spent his summers at the track, trading seat time in racecars for mechanic work and driver coaching jobs. After college, he began working as an ice driving coach, an instructor at automotive marketing events and competing in anything he could, including rally and drifting. He made the transition to full time racing in 1996 and has split his time between Formula Drift, Rally America and now RallyCross. He moved to California to begin stunt driving for Hollywood films such as the Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, in the Bourne Ultimatum, Iron Man 2 and in the upcoming Red Dawn.

"Tanner brings that rare combination of skills and experience honed in racing, winning championships, stunt driving and getting most out of everything from supercars to subcompact cars as part of his TV shows. He is one of the most versatile drivers competing anywhere today," said Jamie Allison director Ford North America Motorsports. "I have known Tanner for a few years and his involvement with Ford Racing in our action sports program allows us to connect with a new generation of enthusiasts who are growing up on actions sports."
Foust impact spans from racing to broadcast TV channels to Rockstar Energy Drink and Etnies, two very influential lifestyle brands aimed at millennials. All of which, when combined, provide unique promotional opportunities.

While Foust will compete primarily in a Fiesta, he was involved in the launch of the 2012 Ford Focus as part of Ford's Global Focus Test Drive and will support upcoming launch of the 2012 Focus ST, the EcoBoost turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder version of the Focus due later this year.

"The automobile has always been part of pop culture, but it could be said that the passion kids have for cars today isn't what it once was," said Foust. "I am excited to work with Ford especially on development projects like the Focus ST that are designed to put the fun back into driving. Driving for me is simply the most fun thing I do. Together with Ford we're going to help define what fun to drive truly means – on the track and off."

Foust is exploring opportunities outside of his global RallyCross program including opportunities in off road truck and sports car endurance racing.

[my 1 88 u]

Only a matter of time before he is in WRC

[YOitzJDM]

this was clearly signed a few months back.... foust wouldn't have quit drifting without this signed

[Gibbs]

The stig = best rally driver ever

[Kieran]

Originally Posted by Gibbs

The stig = best rally driver ever

colin mcrae is one of the best rally drivers ever. his dad jimmy was a legend.
juha kankkunen , legend
ari vatennen
tommi makkinen

these guys are rally legends

the stig isn't even playing the same game

but thats off topic.

foust is a solid driver over multi disciplines and is a great promotional tool for ford. he'll do well out of this no doubt!!!

[MonkeySlide]

Foust's plan is only to take a year off drifting. With this deal announced I would reckon that when he comes back to Formula D it will be in a Mustang. Interesting!

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by MonkeySlide

Foust's plan is only to take a year off drifting. With this deal announced I would reckon that when he comes back to Formula D it will be in a Mustang. Interesting!

Did you hear this from a direct Tanner Foust source?

Only saying because alot of us knew he was going to take some time off from the sport months before it was announced but were sworn to secrecy until the press release.

[MonkeySlide]

Originally Posted by Bebop

Did you hear this from a direct Tanner Foust source?

Only saying because alot of us knew he was going to take some time off from the sport months before it was announced but were sworn to secrecy until the press release.

No, just kinda going off the logic of the events here. The Ford deal is a multi-year contract and from what it seemed in the "retirement" press release and what Tanner has said he only wanted to take a 1 year break from drifting.

So that would mean if he came back next year he would still be a Ford contracted driver. I don't think they would take too kindly to him getting back in a Scion. Then again maybe there is a clause that would allow him to drive a different make when it comes to drifting. Who knows?

[Jonny Fonseca]

before vaghn got the new mustang wasnt tanner supposed to get it?

[MonkeySlide]

Originally Posted by Jonny Fonseca

before vaghn got the new mustang wasnt tanner supposed to get it?

I never heard anything about that.

[Jonny Fonseca]

Originally Posted by MonkeySlide

I never heard anything about that.

that was a rumor i heard when JR was in the old mustang and was gonna get the new one that tanner was going after that or supposed to get it.

[Ckmatsu]

it would be cool to see him driving in a fiesta or focus next year in formula D

[Cavi Mike]

Originally Posted by Hach1r0k1d03

"Internationally small cars with 2-liter engines are considered affordable sports cars as opposed to the perception we have in in the United States that cars like the Fiesta only get great fuel economy.

That's rubbish. We don't care for the Fiesta or any other one of Ford's compact cars because the US hasn't seen a proper RWD or AWD version since the 70's whereas Europe and most of the rest of the world always get AWD options and turbos.

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by Ckmatsu

it would be cool to see him driving in a fiesta or focus next year in formula D

I cant tell if you are joking or not.

[Kieran]

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

That's rubbish. We don't care for the Fiesta or any other one of Ford's compact cars because the US hasn't seen a proper RWD or AWD version since the 70's whereas Europe and most of the rest of the world always get AWD options and turbos.

sorry but europe doesn't get an awd option. yes we have the 2.5 turbo'd focus in the st or the rs but both are fwd.

ford haven't made a rwd car in europe for a long long time.

infact the last rwd converted ford was the american focus with a v8 from ford's svt

[Bebop]

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

That's rubbish. We don't care for the Fiesta or any other one of Ford's compact cars because the US hasn't seen a proper RWD or AWD version since the 70's whereas Europe and most of the rest of the world always get AWD options and turbos.

IIRC ford hasn't made a AWD street fiesta in the MKV or the MKVI... can you show me one, being totally serious here no blaze1 sarcasm...some times I miss things.

Me personally I think us Americans should care about these compact fuel efficient cars. If you haven't noticed gas in at a all time high right now and it doesn't look like its going down. And our dollar ain't worth sh*t and the federal government wont let us start all over and make out own currency.

And honestly, fast rear wheel drive cars are not even fun on the street. I rather just have a dedicated track car or a motorcycle...or both. I'm actually thinking about Fusion hybrid, good gas mileage and not super small and semi luxurious trims available.

But hey, even the new V6 mustang gets around 285hp to the wheel and gets 29mpg if you drive it right. That's RWD still if hell hasn't frozen over yet lol.

[Cavi Mike]

I stand corrected but at least you had the cosworth Escort. We didn't get that. There's no possible way I'll ever buy a Fiesta or Focus just because they have been converted to AWD for rally racing. That makes as much sense as buying a Taurus because of THIS.

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

I stand corrected but at least you had the cosworth Escort. We didn't get that. There's no possible way I'll ever buy a Fiesta or Focus just because they have been converted to AWD for rally racing. That makes as much sense as buying a Taurus because of THIS.

Or a scion TC because of...

[Cavi Mike]

Exactamundo.

[Kieran]

Originally Posted by Cavi Mike

I stand corrected but at least you had the cosworth Escort. We didn't get that.

that was like 18 years ago

nothing newer.

even the new focus rs is fwd.

cosworth are now doing production subaru's in europe