Tanner Foust bids farewell to Drifting as he moves to a full schedule on both the U.S. and European RallyCross Championships.

Two-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust is stepping away from Formula DRIFT series competition for the 2011 season to focus on increased television commitments and a packed rallycross competition schedule.

"The past seven years of drifting with Formula D were incredible and I owe a lot to the sport that helped launch my professional career," said Foust. "I still believe it is one of the best places for grassroots racers to find their professional legs and learn to make a living behind the wheel."

Foust, the only driver to score back-to-back championship titles in the series, plans to remain involved in the sport. He will travel to Abu Dhabi with the Rockstar Energy Scion tC at the end of the month to participate in the Formula DRIFT invitational event at the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit, and will break out the same machine for the SPEED Dream Ride event in April to drift the entire Infineon Raceway track with passengers.

Tanner will be missed by the series and the fans as he has become one of the most recognizable drivers on the circuit and is one of the most outspoken supporters of Formula DRIFT, said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. His semi-retirement from drifting will open the door for other drivers in the series to make their own mark. We wish Tanner more success in his career both on and off the track.

After five years of full-time competition with Papadakis Racing, the team racked up numerous accomplishments in the sport of drifting.

They finished third in their first season together in a Nissan 350z, and then won back-to-back championships in 2007 and 2008. They debuted their Scion tC with a sixth-place series finish and then closed out the car s competition life in second overall in the 2010 championship.

"Thank you Scion, Rockstar, Hankook Tires, Motegi, AEM, and the amazing crew at Papadakis Racing for the drive and support," said Foust. "I look forward to watching Stephan and his new driver enjoy continued success."

For 2011, the driver is preparing to run the entire 10-event European Rallycross Championship season, as well as contesting the domestic rallycross series. His first US competition will be the Global Rallycross season opener on March 26, at Irwindale Speedway, in the Rockstar Energy Drink Ford Fiesta. His European season begins a month later in England. He is also planning to return to X Games to defend his dual gold medals.

"I'm going to miss being at each event in the series and hanging out with some of the greatest fans there are in motorsport," said Foust. "I've had a blast meeting, talking to and Facebooking so many drift fans. I'll still be lucky enough to stay busy in the world of racing so I hope to catch up with some of the Formula D regulars at various events throughout the year."

Photo ©Neil McDaid

Hyundai Returns to Rally

Febuary 9th 2011: Chicago Auto Show, Rhys Millen Racing and Hyundai USA unveil their latest creation. A purpose built Rally version of the Hyundai Veloster Coupe. The car has been developed to compete in the newly formed U.S. RallyCar/ RallyCross series in 2011, including an entry at 2011 Summer XGAMES.

It’s no real surprise to see Hyundai and Millen moving away from the dated WRC Accent that Rhys drove in the final three rounds of the 2010 U.S. RallyCross Championship. For Hyundai and Millen to be successful they need to be racing a current product that consumers can associate with on the showroom floor.

The power for the Veloster will come from a turbocharged 500-horsepower version of Hyundai’s 2-liter 4-cylinder, mated to an X-trac 6-speed sequential transmission and of course all four wheels will be grabbing the tar and gravel. What’s even more interesting is that several 2WD versions of the Veloster will be built in Rally form. It’s not out of the question that anyone of these cars could very well be a stepping off point for Hyundai to make a return to U.S.or World Rally stages.

"Ask Ken Block", Block answers Questions on WRC, Gymkhana and More

Where are the Solberg girls? Petter reveals his 2011 WRC Livery.

With much less fanfare than the introduction of Ken Block’s 2011 WRC Fiesta, Petter Solberg unveiled his new Citroën DS3 WRC for Rally Sweden. The livery is surprisingly tame, but somewhat expected based on the struggles Petter has gone through to get to this point. The team is structured under the name “The Petter Solberg World Rally Team”, there had been some talk of Petter joining Kimi Raikkonen as team mates in the "ICE 1 Racing Team" but that seems to have gone by the wayside for at least the WRC season opener in Sweden.

“I am so ready to start this rally now, says Petter Solberg. – I felt at home behind the wheel in my new Citroën DS3 WRC from the very first moment. I’m going to fight for a podium this weekend! Yesterday he laid eyes on his rally car for the first time, and he was impressed. – It is a masterpiece, with so many small fine details. It looks so cool, also inside the cockpit. The DS3 is easy drive and has a good balance, so I’m looking forward to finally start.

22 stages and 351 competitive kilometres are waiting for the drivers. A brand new stage is presented this year, SS4 and 7 Løvhaugen, which starts in Sweden, takes the drivers to Norway, and ends back in Sweden. The final stage of the rally, SS22 Gustavsfors, will be broadcasted live on TV. The stage is the weekends Power Stage, and drivers are able to score extra points.

To finish the rally with a Power Stage is a great idea, says Petter Solberg. – If you are fastest trough, you will be awarded with 3 points, and that is important points. I think that this may give the spectators some action at the end of the rally, and prevent us from just driving safely to secure our places”.

Source: PSWRT

Ken Block's all new WRC Ford Fiesta and 2011 Schedule

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team are upping the ante for 2011 with a bigger and broader schedule of races and events. In addition to taking on more WRC rounds this year in the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Block will also be competing in Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States. 

“2011 is going to be really big for me and the Monster World Rally Team,” says Block “We’re doing more WRC races this year, kicking off the Gymkhana World Tour, racing in Summer X Games, filming Gymkhana 4, plus hitting up a lot of other rally-related events worldwide. We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I’m a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it’s going to be an amazing year!”