(engine revving)
(music)
what's up guys
The "off season" is in full effect. As we know, there's really no such
thing, but I've been reflecting on how amazing 2016 has been.
I wanted to share some of my favorite moments with y'all.
you know, formula drift this year was absolutely insane for us.
We brought out our brand new Ford Mustang RTR that we developed the previous year.
The thing drove on three wheels more than it did four, and it was just a blast to
drive, but a huge challenge, learning a brand new car throughout the insane
competition that is Formula Drift.
I'm extremely proud of how we performed as a team.
I mean, bringing a brand new car out in its debut year
and chasing the championship all season to the final round and still taking home.
third overall is a huge accomplishment for us.
And next year is going to get even better. Formula Drift is made up
of the best drivers in the world
and I had the opportunity to battle most all of them throughout the entire season.
if I had to choose my favorite battle, it was against rookie Alex Hillbrun
in New Jersey and it was neck and neck, head to head
door to door the entire time.
In the end, Alex made a small mistake, which gave me the
win, but had he not done that
I think we would have went one more time, all day.
That's such a big statement.
You know, I've been in Formula Drift since 2004, he's a rookie,
and he gave me everything he had and made me work
for every bit of it, it's just a testament to the progression and what's
coming in the future of our sport.
I had the opportunity to head to Europe in my Mustang RTR spec 5D to do
some demos at some world Rallycross rounds.
Up first was Lowy at France, where the majority of the course was dirt
and it was amazing for me to take my 700 horsepower Mustang
blasting it through the dirt, hittin' a little bit of the asphalt
going over the little jump
60,000 screaming french fans, absolutely loved it
and my smile was huge behind my helmet.
Next stop on the European tour was Barcelona Spain, one of my
favorite countries that also has an amazing F1 circuit.
I had a blast doing demos on the rallycross course, but my favorite
part was having a no holds barred-access
to the entire circuit.
It was that access that allowed us to film Forever Drift.
Forever Drift is one of my favorite projects I've done to date, only because I did something
I didn't think was going to be possible.
you know
when I was driving the track initially to look at the lines, the link between turn
three and turn four is just so massive, but I was able to get enough speed
carry it all the way through turn three
and link it all the way down the street to turn four. When you're drifting
you never want to stop that feeling
and this track, that section gave you that, that ultimate satisfaction of just
being set and being in the perfect drift, forever.
(sound of car drifting on track)
I also headed over to the UK to participate in the Goodwood festival of speed
which is a bucket list for myself and just about everybody
I know to have the opportunity to drive up Lord March's driveway.
Sorry
Drift up
Lord March's driveway, smoke flying off my illuminator XS screaming
sharing the track with groupie rally cars, turbo era F1 cars
and so many more amazing machines
it was just epic.
I had the opportunity to attend some of my favorite events
that are just all about driving, having a good time and hanging out with my people.
I hit up Hyper Fest, Mustang Week, Grid Life, and Auto Enthusiast Day
had a absolute blast
no pressure, just went out there with the fun fleet, gave a bunch of rides,
put a bunch of smiles on faces and hung out with fellow enthusiasts.
We finally released the Ford Mustang RTR that everybody has been waiting for.
We're about a year late on our launch plans.
But it was simply refining the car to be exactly what we expected it
to be and having a few challenges
but at the end of the day, I will never let something out that I'm
not 100% proud of
and I can't wait for everyone to start seeing these things on the
road and for the owners to test all the effort that we put into 'em.
SEMA this year was a good time.
I had fun out front, running door to door and Mustang RTRs with Matt powers.
And for the first time ever, our debut vehicles
were not Mustangs.
I debuted a Ford focus RS which is all wheel drive. The thing has got launch control
from the factory and does amazing varial donuts and drifting.
We also debuted Brocky my Ford performance-powered Ultra 4 race Bronco
built by Jimmy's four-by-four which I'll be returning to King
of the Hammers with in 2017.
This year, I had the amazing opportunity to race in the ultra 4 series King of the Hammers.
King of the Hammers is arguably the toughest race in off-road.
So last year I raised a 4,800 class over a hundred vehicles started
not even half of them finished.
And I ended up in the top 10 becoming the first ever crossover driver to
place that well. I got bit by the bug and I had to build my own race truck
and that's why Brocky was born.
I cannot wait to raise the 4,500 pro class come February.
2016 has been absolutely epic.
I want to thank each and every one of you for supporting everything that we do.
2017 is shaping up to be another incredible year
We're making a lot of improvements on a Formula Drift car.
I've got a new livery to show you guys, and some big news around the
Formula Drift program that we will let you all in on soon.
Looking forward to seeing you all next year, wooh!
(car drifting down track)
(outro music)