Top 8 Finish in the Sin City-Formula D Las Vegas

Las Vegas track is known to be one of the most dangerous courses among all in the Formula Drift calender, in short words you are going close to 100mph(160km/h) on the straight line(4th gear for me), entering a "box" or an area that is surrounded by concrete walls at 80mph(130km/h) under braking and drifting, plus the judges wanted to see us scraping the wall and to get maximum angle, accelerating to the second wall with maximum speed, exiting the second wall hitting the 1st inner clipping point, followed by 2 consecutive S corners. It is highly technical and it takes much courage to get close to the wall. It is truly a drivers track where one mistake could lead to total destruction of the car! But once you get it right, it can also be very exciting and rewarding!

In the second qualifying run, I initiated the drift with full commitment, scraped the wall with my exhaust tip creating 8 feet tall of sparks, then I kept it floored and would hit all the marks for the rest of the course, 80.9 points it was. 13th qualifier!

In top 32 battle, I was up against fellow Rookie driver Fredric Aasbo, driver that I really respect and I like his fully commited driving style, also a great guy off the track. I knew it was going to be a tough match. I lead first, Fredric followed. Fredric initatied too hot and tapped my left rear tire, my car got pushed and led to a stop 2 feet next to the tire wall, luckily no damage! My following run I kept it clean and close to Fredric, I got the advantage and moved on to top 16.

Top 16 battle I was up against Formula D Champion and Redbull World Drift Champion Rhys "Mad Skilz" Millen, speaking of a tough bracket!! I led the run first since I qualified higher. I initiated early, nice and smooth through the outer clip, tried to keep as much momentum as possible through the S turns in the later part of the track pulling a decent distance  from Rhys. On my chase run, Rhys did a feint entry and I followed closely with a ebrake entry followed by  modulation of the throttle, clutch and ebrake. I didnt leave any space between my nose and Rhys' door, I tried my best to follow as closely as possible using the ebrake and clutch combination. The judges gave me a win. This could possibly be the highlight of my rookie year so far, Rhys has always been one of my favorite drivers and I have watched and studied his videos back then, this is like a dream come true for me!

Top 8 I was up against the current championship leader Vaughn Gittin JR, again, tough bracket! JR came up to me before we went, knowing the Horsepower differences, he said not to worry about him when I lead, but he will not pull away from me before the pace cone when he leads, thank you Vaughn for showing his class in being a top driver and his caring for rookie driver like myself! JR led first I then followed, I tried to stay close to him but it was tough, I managed to close up the gap in the later part of the S turns. My turn to lead, I tried to initate with maximum angle and speed knowing thats my only way to impress the judges, I didnt lift until the entry point, ebraked it hard and back on brake modulation and throttle control, throughout the later part of the course, I think I did a great job. However, that was not enough to beat the current championship leader, JR moved on. Congrats to JR for getting on the podium again, his consistency and showmanship are something I really admire!

All in all, this is the best weekend in my rookie season, I'd like to say big thanks to all my crew and sponsors, that will include Nitto Tires, Wilwood Brakes, West End Alignment, Akufuncture Clothing, Kaaz Differential, Rising Star Motor, Enkei Wheels, Ren Motorsports, K&N Filter, Extreme Dimensions, Just Drift(for the exciting drivers), Option Imports, the driveshaft shop, youdrift.net, Auto World Magazine(by-monthly, 949Racing, Trackhq.com, driftfotos.com.

See you next round in Sonoma!

CNR

100-101 200-120 350-001 350-018 350-029 640-460 640-553 640-760 640-822 70-410 70-411 70-480 c2010-652 C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414 70-533 2V0-620 070-461 640-554 100-101 642-999 300-101 C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 70-417 200-120 400-051 NS0-157 400-201 70-410 070-410 CISSP 400-101 70-411 70-461 220-802 PMP C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 70-417 640-554 70-488 MB2-704 70-480 70-346 PMP HP0-S41 C4040-252 640-554 70-413 CISSP 1Z0-060 70-346 CCD-410 9L0-422 1Z0-060 70-346 CCD-410 9L0-422 070-486 810-401 HP2-B115 070-461 70-480 HP2-H35 MB5-705 CCA-500 70-486 70-411 70-480 70-346 70-462 70-347 70-412 70-483 70-417 MB2-703 70-331 640-911 74-335 700-505 70-414 810-401 700-501 CCA-500 N10-005 70-243 E10-001 VCP-550 1Z0-062 70-466 200-101 70-489 MB2-701 640-864 A00-211 C_TAW12_731 70-410 70-488 70-461 MB5-705 200-120 C4040-252 MB5-705 70-410 C4040-250 70-461 200-120 70-486 810-401 70-483 70-417 640-554 70-488 MB2-704 70-480 70-346 70-461 220-802 PMP 70-488 MB6-703 70-462 1V0-601 2V0-621 070-480 300-115 70-414 642-874 200-120 70-410 70-488 70-461 MB5-705 200-120 70-486 70-411

CNR said:
Thx guys!!!!!!!
Terry Liu said:
Great Drift !! I was there and very enjoy the race!! nice job! Charles
Roy said:
Low budget private rookie with underpowered car knocked out europe champ and team redbull with just pure skills and balls. Hmm.... Sounds so hollywood to me!
Alex said:
Great work Charles!!! The new Enkei Wheels look awesome. PF01 and RPF1 for the win!! Rookie of the year!
kwong cih shing said:
That a big challenge of you to Vs US top drifters ...Rhys Millen & Vaughn Gittin Jr. .of this round..
Andrew Lee said:
Nice drift ! what tire size are you running of the Nitto NT-05?
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