Media Release
Achilles Formula Drift Singapore crowns Team USA
as Canon Nations Cup winners
Local fans were treated to a nail-biting finish as Team USA dethroned Team Japan in the Canon Nations Cup at Changi Exhibition Centre
28 June 2012 (SINGAPORE): Ken Gushi and Robbie Nishida won the Canon Nations Cup after beating Manabu Orido and Daigo Saito by a narrow margin of 0.3 points at the Achilles Formula Drift Singapore today at the Changi Exhibition Centre.
The partisan crowd was brought to their feet when the Singapore team of Jansen Tan and Ivan Lim secured third spot with some exhilarating overtaking maneuvers. Gushi and Nishida backed up their pre-race words of wanting to claim the title as they stormed down the track to nail a score of 20.8 while the Japanese duo of Saito and Orido had to settle for second with 20.5 points.
Six countries participated in the Canon Nations Cup including Oceania, Malaysia and Indonesia where contrary to the traditional Formula Drift tandem battles, the Canon Nations Cup saw drivers of the same country paired together for two tandem runs where points are awarded for teamwork and coordination; teams with the most stylish runs win.
Speaking after his thrilling win, Gushi said: "We are thrilled to have won the Canon Nations Cup here in Singapore and we went out on our run, wanting to have fun and give the crowd something to cheer about. This is not the first time Robbie and I have drifted together and I guess the judges liked the natural flow of our run. That is probably the reason for us winning it."
In the Qualifying Round of the Achilles Formula Drift Singapore, reigning champion Daigo Saito continued his fine form with a score of 94 while Indonesian drifter, Rio Saputro Budihardjo put on an amazing show to score a 92 to see Manabu Orido finish in third with 90 points.
With the Qualifiers completed, the Round of 32 will witness some interesting battles with Manabu Orido in his 1998 Toyota Supra, taking on the only female drifter in the competition, Hiromi Kajikuma while crowd favourite Ken Gushi in his Toyota Chaser will be up against Singapore’s new kid on the block, Geoveen Hi.
Singapore’s two best hopes of a podium finish, Ivan Lim will face off against Hanizam Bin Hamzah while Jansen Tan will seek to complete his comeback from injury when he takes on Rocker Loh.
An elated Ivan Lim said: "I feel really good qualify for the Top 16 considering the fact that I only had a total of four runs but there is still lot to improve. With more practice tomorrow, I would be able to lay the whole line on the track properly and get a better score. My target is the top eight so we’ll see if I can achieve it."
The action will continue on Day Two of the Achilles Formula Drift Singapore at the Changi Exhibition Centre where the Round of 32 will begin at 12.00pm while the Round of 16 will take place at 3.30pm.
Fans who missed out on the action from Day One can purchase your tickets at the event for SG$65 Grandstand tickets and SG$40 for Walkabout tickets. For more event information and updates, log on to www.formuladriftasia.com or www.facebook.com/formuladriftasia
For more information, please contact: Kelvin Leong (PR Agency)
Mobile: +65 9323 9965
Email: kelvin.leong@imsg.sg
Vivien Teo (PR Agency)
Mobile: +65 9763 3988
Email: vivien.teo@crowd.com.sg
Brigette Ponce (PR Agency)
Mobile: +65 9238 4946
Email: brigette.ponce@imsg.sg
Shazliana Heron (ESPN STAR Sports)
DID: +65 6216 6035
Email: Shazliana.Heron@espnstar.com
Elgen Kua (ESPN STAR Sports)
DID: +65 6216 6034
Email: kuae@espnstar.com
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