Scion Racing announced today that it will debut its new drift team at Round 1 of the 2011 Formula DRIFT series.
The new team begins with the return of team owner and veteran crew chief Stephan Papadakis of Papadakis Racing. Papadakis will join forces with Team Need for Speed in the all-new 2011 Scion tC. The Team Need for Speed Scion tC will be piloted by Formula DRIFT’s 2010 Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo.
“I can’t begin to describe how excited the Scion Racing team is to welcome Fredric Aasbo and Team Need for Speed to the Scion family,” says Steve Hatanaka, Scion auto shows and events manager. “Together, the new team, new driver and the new tC will be an extremely competitive trio that will yield some excellent results this season.”
Aasbo joins Scion Racing as a two-time Nordic Drifting Series champion and 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year. Aasbo will step out of a 1998 Toyota Supra and into the cockpit of the all-new 2011 Team Need for Speed Scion tC. “I’m truly honored and excited to get behind the wheel of the Team Need for Speed Scion tC,” says Aasbo. “It’s not going to be easy to follow in the footsteps of my idol Tanner Foust, but I know that the combination of the new tC and my thirst for victory, will help get the team on top of the podium.”
Tanner Foust, former Scion Racing drifter, will not be competing in the 2011 Formula DRIFT series due to transitions in his career. “No offense to Papadakis, the team, the fans or the competitors, but the thing that I will miss the most about not drifting this year is that crazy NASCAR TRD V8-powered Rockstar Scion tC,” says Foust. “It’s been an amazing two years behind the wheel of the Rockstar Scion tC. Best of luck to Aasbo and the new Need For Speed Scion tC.”
“There aren’t many people that can match the driving talent and personality of Tanner Foust,” says Hatanaka. “Scion Racing thanks him for a phenomenal two years and wishes him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.”
Aasbo and the Team Need for Speed Scion tC, will join the Scion Racing camp with returning veteran drifter Ken Gushi and the Scion Racing/RSR/Hankook Tire Scion tC. “Gushi and Aasbo are young and gifted drifters that have the determination to get the job done,” says Hatanaka. “Scion Racing looks forward to introducing the new team to the enthusiastic Formula DRIFT fans at Round 1.”
