The schedule change for the Formula Drift Pro Championship – which put the events in Seattle, Washington and Sonoma, California a mere two weeks apart – strained most of the Formula Drift teams. Luckily, Kyle Mohan had used up all of his bad luck at the Seattle round, as his team had to do an engine swap during Thursday practice.
Early in the practice, the team discovered a minor water seal had failed. With a spare engine on hand, the decision was made to install the backup instead of repairing the water seal, so as to repair it back at the shop. The backup engine went in the car, and with limited practice, Mohan qualified 21st and faced fellow Cooper Tires driver Tony Brakohiapa in the first round. After two close runs, the judges advanced Brakohiapa.
The Kyle Mohan Racing / Cooper Tires / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 made it through Seattle with no major damage and only needed customary pre-race preparation from Mohan and his crew before heading to Sonoma. Last year, driving the KMR Mazda RX-7, Mohan qualified in the top-16 and is thus looking forward to the event this weekend.
“Sonoma is a really, really fun track with its fast entry and long initiation,” said Mohan. “What will also be really fun is that we will be sharing the venue with the Indy Racing League. It is great exposure for Formula Drift, and a great way for us to show our 2009 Mazda RX-8 and our sponsors to a new audience.”
Earlier this season, Mohan was a part of the Team Drift exhibition at the Long Beach Grand Prix, which was also headlined by the Indy Racing League. On Saturday, Mohan will also drift the full Infineon Raceway course as part of a Formula Drift exhibition.
“The fans at Long Beach really respond to drifting,” said Mohan. “I think the crowd in Northern California will do the same. And, on a personal level, I am really excited to get to drift our Mazda RX-8 on the Infineon Raceway course. We have lots of road racing friends and customers that have raced there and they all tell me it is the most epic course they have driven. I can’t wait.”
Mohan will take to the track for top-32 competition on Friday, and the exhibition on Saturday ahead of top-16.
