GT Radial Becomes Part of History at Formula DRIFT Event
ENGLISHTOWN, NJ (June 25, 2024) – GT Radial tires were part of history this past Friday when driver Amanda Sorensen became the first female driver to ever stand on a Formula DRIFT podium. She came in second place in the Formula DRIFT PROSPEC Championship Round 2 – all drivers in this series compete on GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires.
Sorensen’s second place finish with her team, US Air Force/Sorensen Motorsports BMW, represents her best result since joining the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship in 2021. It also meant she climbed from 36th to seventh in the points race with her outstanding performance at the Old Bridge Township Raceway.
“Our company is very supportive of women competing in professional motorsports, so we were thrilled to see Amanda on the podium in New Jersey,” said GT Radial Motorsports Manager Mike Meeiem.
In 2019, Giti Tire (which produces GT Radial tires) debuted a racing team of all-female drivers, coach and crew. This groundbreaking team has successfully competed at the world famous 24-Hours Nürburgring and in numerous VLN Endurance races in Europe.
In addition to being part of history with Sorensen, GT Radial tires made the podium in Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship in New Jersey the following day (June 22) when Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis of Lithuania finished second in his Feal Suspension/GT Radial Nissan S15. Bakchis is now in second place in driver’s point standings, behind only James Deane who grabbed first place in New Jersey.
GT Radial began defense of its 2023 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup Championship on April 13 with a double podium finish at the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 1 in Long Beach, CA, that included Bakchis.
Teams on GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires, which are manufactured at the company’s 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. In 2023, GT Radial achieved a total of 13 podiums and three wins in the 2023 season’s eight races.
GT Radial renewed its partnership last year with Formula DRIFT for another three-year term to provide tires to teams in the PRO Championship. Additionally, GT Radial is the Official Tire of the PROSPEC series for up-and-coming drivers.
About GT Radial
The GT Radial brand, manufactured and marketed by Giti Tire, has been sold in the US for more than 26 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/.
