Rhys Millen

The newest Drift Alliance member Rhys Millen put on a showing at the end of the 2011 season with two podiums. The Wrecked office has been a big fan of his aggressive style he has brought out these two rounds. Even after doing two engine swaps during this weekend at Irwindale he was light hearted and even joined the DA. We might just find ourselves becoming Rhys Millen fans since apparently Formula Drift has a new crybaby driver (driver name withheld). Rhys Millen announced he will be back in 2012 (we have heard not a full schedule as a RUMOR) and when he does come back we sure hope he drives this aggressive in the Hyundai Genesis!

Posted in Formula D, Major Announcements, Rhys Millen | 2 Comments »

1st. Tyler McQuarrie
2nd. Rhys Millen
3rd. Chris Forsberg

Posted in Chris Forsberg, Rhys Millen, Tyler McQuarrie | 22 Comments »

The most winning driver in Formula Drift Sam Hubinette took the top qualifying spot this weekend at Irwindale Speedway which is something we haven’t seen from him in sometime. A huge congrats to his performance after a rough start to the 2011 season! Here is how the Top 32 stacked up with Rookie of the Year leader Odi Bakchis missing out with a 33rd place finish.

1.Sam Hubinette – 92.7 points
2. Justin Pawlak – 90.4 points
3. Tyler McQuarrie – 88.4 points
4. Ryan Tuerck – 86.1 points
5. Rhys Millen – 85.9 points
6. Dai Yoshihara – 83.5 points
7. Walker Wilkerson – 83.3 points
8. Robbie Nishida – 83.2 points
9. Conrad Grunewald – 82.3 points
10. Matt Powers – 79.4 points
11. Ken Gushi – 79.0 points
12. Vaughn Gittin Jr. – 77.7 points
13. Fredric Aasbo – 77.3 points
14. Dean Kearney – 77.1 points
15. Luke Lonberger – 77 points
16. Chris Forsberg – 76.9 points
17. Matt Field – 76.5 points
18. Toshiki Yoshioka – 73.1 points
19. Ryan Kado – 72.8 points
20. Kyle Mohan – 72.8 points
21. Michael Essa – 71.2 points
22. Taka Aono – 70.8 points
23. Ross Petty – 68.9 points
24. E. Armandio “Dio” – 68.6 points
25. Dennis Mertzanis – 68.3 points
26. Darren McNamara – 67.9 points
27. Jeff Abbott – 67.8 points
28. Pat Cyr – 66.3 points
29. Kenneth Moen – 66.2 points
30. Cyrus Martinez – 63.3 points
31. Charles Ng – 62.5 points
32. Patrick Mordaunt – 61 points

Posted in Charles Ng, Chris Forsberg, Conrad Grunewald, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Dean Kearney, Fredric Aasbo, Justin Pawlak, Ken Gushi, Kyle Mohan, Matt Powers, Michael Essa, Patrick Mordaunt, RESULTS, Rhys Millen, Robbie Nishida, Ryan Tuerck, Sam Hubinette, Standings, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Walker Wilkerson | 8 Comments »

We reported about the possible retirement of Rhys Millen after this weekend and mentioned they might be talking to Ryan Tuerck to hop in the car for 2012. Well apparently someone has a sense of humor because his rig has the Drift Alliance crest on it this morning at the track. If you remember a famous Rhys Millen interview with GT Channel he said “maybe he should just join the Drift Alliance,” and it looks like he has done just that! What do you think about these two Redbull powerhouses getting together in 2012?

Posted in Drift Alliance, Formula D, Rhys Millen | 8 Comments »

A reader submitted this image of Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Genesis going up in flames during Thursday practice. While a few of our staff members were at the track today we apparently missed this happening but did see the charred remains of the Redbull Hyundai Genesis on the tow truck. No word from RMR if he will be back on track tomorrow but unless the fire caused more internal damage than we saw from the pits he should be fine by qualifying tomorrow.

Posted in Formula D, Rhys Millen | 11 Comments »

A big news buzz floating around this week which was confirmed Rhys Millen is stepping down from driving in Formula Drift after this season. Rhys Millen and the Hyundai Genesis won’t be going anywhere for 2012 since RMR will continue to run the program and Rhys Millen will take over the team owner position.

To make this rumor even better we have heard he is trying to bring another Redbull athlete to fill the seat in the car for next season. Some sources have told us this is currently Drift Alliance star Ryan Tuerck! They are trying to get a deal together by the 2011 SEMA Show but nothing has been signed as they are still in talks. How do you feel about Ryan Tuerck driving the Hyundai Genesis in 2012?

Posted in Formula D, Major Announcements, Rhys Millen, Rumors/Gossip, Ryan Tuerck | 72 Comments »

Here are the drivers found on the poll for the 2011 Formula Drift Awards that are presented at the banquet after the season ends. Here are the nine questions which each have four options selected by Formula D. I heard they are going to make a new category this year called driver who missed driving their own race car the most but I don’t think we need multiple choice options for that one (this is a joke for you non sense of humored people).

1. Crew Member of the year (this person can be the crew chief, mechanic, suspension engineer, etc.)

A. Mike Kojima (Discount Tire S13/Dai Yoshihara)
B. Scott Dodgen (Discount Tire S13/Dai Yoshihara)
C. Kevin Wells (NOS Energy Drink 370z/Chris Forsberg)
D. Costa Gialamas (Team Need for Speed S14/Matt Powers)

2. Team Manager of the year (this person can be the manager, owner or the person instrumental in managing the team well)

A. Jonathan Bradford (Falken Tire)
B. Stephan Papadakis (Team Need for Speed Scion tC)
C. Chris Forsberg (NOS Energy Drink 370z)
D. Ron Bergenholtz (Full Tilt Poker Mazda Rx-8)

3. Hardest Charging Driver of the Year”
A. Matt Powers
B. Dai Yoshihara
C. Darren McNamara
D. Walker Wilkerson
E. Conrad Grunewald
F. Justin Pawlak

4. Best Drifting Style:
A. Matt Powers
B. Dai Yoshihara
C. Ryan Tuerck
D. Fredric Aasbo

5. Spirit of Drifting:
A. Joon Maneg
B. Ross Petty
C. Walker Wilkerson
D. Dai Yoshihara

6. Best Style (the person with the best overall style this season, not driving style)
A. Matt Powers
B. Matt Field
C. Ross Petty
D. Dai Yoshihara

7. Most Improved Driver:
A. Odi Bakchis
B. Cyrus Martinez
C. Justin Pawlak
D. Matt Powers

8. Best Comeback of the Year:
A. Rhys Millen
B. Fredric Aasbo
C. Odi Bakchis
D. Vaughn Gittin Jr.

9. Best Looking Car of the Year:
A. Dai Yoshihara
B. Matt Field
C. Fredric Aasbo
D. Chris Forsberg

Posted in Chris Forsberg, Conrad Grunewald, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Formula D, Justin Pawlak, Matt Powers, Odi Bakchis, Rhys Millen, Ryan Tuerck, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Walker Wilkerson | 17 Comments »

Check out the tentative drivers list here for Formula Drift Round 7. No big shockers in the drivers list (hopefully some last minute shocking entries show up) but read it up and down. The finals are going to be up in the air and we cannot wait until the main event:

1. Fredric Aasbo
2. Jeff Abbott
3. Emmanuel Amandio
4. Odi Bakchis
5. Tony Brakohiapa
6. Patrick Cyr
7. Michael Essa
8. Mike Feiock
9. Matt Field
10. Chris Forsberg
11. Vaughn Gittin Jr.
12. Otto Graven
13. Conrad Grunewald
14. Ken Gushi
15. Jim Guthrie
16. Sam Hubinettte
17. Jeff Jones
18. Ryan kado
19. Dean Kearney
20. Nikolay Konstantinov
21. Alex Lee
22. Luke Lonberger
23. Joon Maeng
24. Cyrus Martinez
25. Darren McNamara
26. Tyler McQuarrie
27. Dennis Mertzanis
28. Rhys Millen
29. Kenneth Moen
30. Kyle Mohan
31. Patrick Mordaunt
32. Charles Ng
33. Robbie Nishida
34. Justin Pawlak
35. Ross Petty
36. Alex Pfeiffer
37. Kyle Pollard
38. Saranon Pornpatanarak
39. Matt Powers
40. John Russakoff
41. Ryan Tuerck
42. Matt Waldin
43. Walker Wilkerson
44. Daijiro Yoshihara
45. Toshiki Yoshioka

Posted in Alex Pfeiffer, Charles Ng, Chris Forsberg, Conrad Grunewald, Daijiro Yoshihara, Darren McNamara, Dean Kearney, Formula D, Fredric Aasbo, Jeff Jones, Joon Maeng, Ken Gushi, Kyle Mohan, Matt Powers, Michael Essa, Odi Bakchis, Patrick Mordaunt, Rhys Millen, Sam Hubinette, Tanner Foust, Tyler McQuarrie, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Walker Wilkerson | 5 Comments »

Rhys Millen was fined for having non working brake lights on his Hyundai Genesis at Formula Drift Round 6 in Las Vegas. This is the second time (we are aware of) that he has been issued a fine from the sanctioning body. Several other people we have noticed had non working brake lights but we have no confirmation if they were fined or not. It is only a fine since this is just a visual aid for the judges and not impacting of official events during the race weekend. I am sure Rhys Millen won’t be concerned after winning Round 6 at LVMS and driving the best I have seen him perform since his championship run.

Posted in Formula D, Major Announcements, Rhys Millen | 26 Comments »

A great main event pushing the championship in flux and almost locking in a Rookie for the Year. The event had some minor slow downs and one of the greatest Top 32 battles in history! Rhys Millen and Sam Hubinette put on the 32 battle of a lifetime. Rhys Millen kept on his top performance and old champion form this weekend resulting in an amazing victory. Matt Powers visited the podium again in his Team NFS 240sx as well. Drama and team orders overshadowed a great performance by Team Falken from the weekend and it is all captured in this 1,000+ photo section! The most coverage from LVMS anywhere on the Internet.

Check Out the Gallery: http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=260

Posted in Daijiro Yoshihara, Formula D, Michael Essa, Rhys Millen | 1 Comment »