Formula D - Dai to drive rhys' GTO in '08

[Tsuchiya]

You may already have heard that Tanner Foust is on the Rockstar ticket for the 2008 season of Formula D. And if you follow the sport at all, you’ve already put two-and-two together. Rockstar was Daijiro Yoshihara’s primary sponsor for the Pacific Rim team in ‘07. Rockstar will be backing Foust in all of his motorsports so expect the AEM car with Rockstar livery, as well as his rally vehicle. That means Yoshihara is out for the energy drink.

While this turn of events would have normally left one of Formula D’s most talented drivers high and dry, it appears that Daijiro will continue drifting this year. Dai will be drifting for Rhys Millen as a two-car team for Redbull/Pontiac. Millen will take the Solstice and Yoshihara the Pontic GTO, with new Bridgestone livery for 2008.

According to a statement by Millen, he needed hire a driver who was equal to himself if not better. “Dai’s one of those personalities that has a name and he can perform on the track, so I felt he was the perfect fit for the team”.

Update:
We received a statement from Daijiro Yoshihara regarding the partnership, read on.

“Basically, we were still trying to land a team with Pac Rim. We lost the title sponsor and were still trying to get another title sponsor, but we couldn’t get one in time. At the same time Rhys was asking me to drive for him.”

And how does Yoshihara feel about the move onto a larger, OE-backed team? Always modest Daijiro replies, “I think it’s good for me. It’s going to be Bridgestone/RMR. I think it’s really exciting. It’s a one year contract at this point.”

Dai will go from a 350 hp Nissan Silvia to a 500 horsepower GTO (it’s getting an even stronger engine) to drive for the ’08 season. “Still I haven’t driven it yet. I know the car has a lot of potential. My biggest hurdle is that’s it’s Left-Hand Drive. So, yeah, I definitely need practice before the season starts. [It’s] still another two months away. Hopefully I can get practice for at least a month maybe at the beginning of March. I’m pushing to make it as soon as possible. ”

Two of the world’s most talented drifters and drivers on the same team in Formula D? This should make for another interesting season. Formula D 2008 kicks on in Long Beach, California. We wish Daijiro and Rhys the best of luck in the 2008 season.

Link -> http://exhaustnote.com/2008...ntiacredbull-racing-team/

Damn, i didn't think Rockstar would jump ship so fast, esp after there driver finished 2nd in the championship...oh well