Its the off season and rumors are starting to pop up left and right. Walker Wilkerson just posted through his Facebook, and Twitter page that he’ll be driving a teal and blue Falken Tire silvia during drift demos at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. Since Tyler McQuarrie left Team Falken Tire there’s a seat to fill. Could Walker be hinting at whats to from this 2012 Formula Drift season?
In case you don’t follow the former Falken Tire driver Tyler McQuarrie on Facebook he threw up some mentions about being in New Jersey. Following his firing and telling Bill Wood he had some offers form other teams (and Ryan Tuerck being looked at by RMR) our eyes perked up at these posts. Well it turns out that after a few phone calls I made that Tyler McQuarrie did pay a visit to Gardella Racing on the trip. Not sure that was the only purpose of his trip but it sure seems to be that way. He did quite a bit of hanging out with Gary Gardella and around Gardella Racing HQ in New Jersey in general. What would everyone think about Tyler McQuarrie driving the Gardella Racing Chevrolet Camaro in Formula Drift for 2012?
Tony Angelo announced his retirement from the judges stand and a return to driving in 2012 last night at the 2011 Formula Drift banquet. The blog post has turned into a hot buzz of talk who people think should be his replacement in the hot seat. Who do you think should take the judges stand next year and why!? If we can get a few names said over and over again we will launch a poll later in the week.
Another buzz around the paddock this weekend is the return of Mad Mike in his Redbull Mazda Rx-8 next year. Rumor has it a company currently in Formula Drift as a title sponsor has been courting him to make a return next season. We are going to work on getting more details tomorrow but it sounds like this could very well bring back Mad Mike Whiddett next season. Would you like to see him return to the series next year?
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?
Ken Gushi has been documenting all the issues his RS*R Scion tC has had this year on more than one occasion through his blog. Long Beach I feel like he vented the most which you can see here in this,”Ken Gushi Blogs About Lack of Top 32 Competition and Long Beach.” I have heard from several other FD teams over the past week (unconfirmed with RS*R) that they have heard a buzz about the RS*R program not being together next season. The off season is all quiet right now with Irwindale coming up but we think some big driver changes are going to be happening this off season and we of course will be the only ones reporting on the rumors of the industry.
RS*R has been running a Scion program since inception of the car in Formula Drift but this year they have suffered many vehicle malfunctions. Even if RS*R stays on board in 2012 I find it hard to believe Ken Gushi would stick around given the opportunity to find another ride in the sport. Ken Gushi is one of the 16 elite drivers since the sports creation in 2004 to win a round of the series. This was back in Houston 2005 when he was with Ford Racing and it more recent time I feel like people have forgotten about his great achievements in this sport.
The guys over at APEXi have been on the buzz lately about a possible return to Formula Drift. With the loss of Full Tilt Poker and Mazda (since the Rx-8 is going out of production) I wonder if it is possible they are teaming back up with the Bergenholtz Racing guys to campaign for next year? Just a thought I am throwing out in the universe but I imagine the V8 will stay in it’s place for the future.
The new Formula Drift Insider Episode 6 highlights Ross Petty complaining about judges being in an “alliance” along with the announcer. Apparently he didn’t check out our report we made earlier this year on bullshit judging conspiracies in Formula Drift. You can start listening to Ross Petty around the 4:30 mark where he vents about his Formula Drift complaints. Is it possible other drivers feel the same way on this issue?
Watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q1sX_uR-uY
Funny story is that last year on September 13, 1010 I made a post called “Titan Motorsport Has Eye on Formula Drift for 2011 [RUMORMILL]” and nothing really came to pass. Just 72 hours before the anniversary of that post the rumors are back again and strong! So either Titan Motorsports just loves getting rumormill posts made about them on our website or they are working hard to get a team together with some former NHRA cars we are told (see above for what kind of Toyota we think it will be). More information is coming around the rumormill this year that they might even be hunting for some young drivers to pilot these Toyota Supra beasts next season.
Former D1GP champion Daigo Saito was seen all around LVMS this past weekend. In fact, he was even spotting for Robbie Nishida who performed amazing this weekend in his Silvia. This photo with team owner Gary Gardella gives us hope that he can provide a ride for the D1GP champion a ride in 2012. He has been rumored and rumored to come stateside time and time again. We do know he has some spare chassis sitting around the shop back home in New Jersey so maybe he could field a ride for both of these guys in 2012?
