14-Year-Old Driver Makes Formula DRIFT History on GT Radial Tires
ST LOUIS, MO (July 22, 2024) – Racing history was made here on Saturday when 14-year-old Hiroya Minowa became the youngest driver in Formula DRIFT history to stand on the podium. Minowa came in second at the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship on GT Radial tires.
Minowa became the youngest driver in the Formula Drift 2024 Pro Season when he joined the GT Radial team at the beginning of the season. He’s with Team Jerry Yang Racing and drives their newly built and very powerful Toyota GT86. Outstanding traction and durability are supplied by GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires.
“We are thrilled that Hiroya achieved a podium finish so early in his very promising career,” said GT Radial Motorsports Manager Mike Meeiem. “Our company is committed to supporting the younger generation of drivers. After Amanda Sorensen became the first woman to podium with second place in the New Jersey PROSPEC Round on GT Radial tires, we can now celebrate the youngest ever driver to stand on the podium. Hiroya missed the win by just a whisker.”
Series points leader James Deane captured first place in St. Louis, barely edging out Minowa in the final round. He paid tribute to Minowa’s ability to “wrestle the 1000hp Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86 with incredible finesse.”
GT Radial is defending its 2023 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup. Teams on Champiro SX2 RS tires, which are manufactured at the Giti Tire plant in Richburg, SC, scored the most points over the eight races in the 2023 season, enabling GT Radial to best four other tire brands to claim the Tire Cup.
About GT Radial
The GT Radial brand, manufactured and marketed by Giti Tire, has been sold in the US for more than 25 years. Comprehensive offerings of GT Radial passenger, light truck and commercial truck tires are available across North America through retailers and independent tires dealers. Giti Tire (headquartered in Singapore), which has been in the tire business since 1951, operates eight manufacturing plants and three technical centers globally, including the passenger/light truck tire plant and technical center in Richburg, SC. Giti Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for GT Radial in North America. For more information on GT Radial, visit https://www.gtradial-us.com/.
