Corvette Forum Gets in on the Action at Formula Drift 2019
Three Corvettes tore it up at Formula Drift, one of which had a 99 point qualifying run at the Long Beach competition.
This past weekend marked the start of the 2019 Formula Drift season in Long Beach, California. In the field of drivers, there were Corvettes new and old who came out to battle.
Long Beach doubles as both the round of competition that drivers use to shake off the cobwebs, as well as being one of the more tougher courses on the schedule. Formula Drift uses part of the Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit; turns 9, 10, and 11 to be exact. The Grand Prix pits function as a hot pit area for Formula Drift, where the drivers can quickly swap tires and make car adjustments.
Currently, there are three Corvettes in the Formula Drift field. Matt Field pilots a C6 Corvette. Dirk Stratton is behind the wheel of another C6 Corvette. Formula Drift rookie Brazilian Joao Barion is competing with a new C7 Corvette.
Stratton has been competing with a Corvette for a few years, while Field jumped on the Corvette train last year building his own. Barion’s Corvette is the first C7 to race Formula Drift. Not only that, it might be one of the cars in competition that is as stock as you can get.
During competition Barion’s C7 sadly did not qualify for Top 32, but both Stratton and Field qualified. Stratton qualified at 25, while Field shocked all by putting down a 99 point qualifying run giving him the top spot.
When the dust settled Field’s C6 was the only one to fair well, he finished in 5th place.
Formula Drift has the Super Drift Challenge Invitational on April 12 alongside the Grand Prix of Long Beach. After which, Round 2: Scorched picks up in Orlando, Florida on April 25 to 27.
In the meantime, check out more tire-smokin’ shots from Formula Drift…
Photos for Corvette Forum by Danny Korecki
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