Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Royal Purple will provide lubricants for Subaru Rally Team USA teammates Travis Pastrana and David Higgins, and support Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship drivers Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen. Photo: Vermont SportsCar | |
Royal Purple Announces Subaru Rally Team USA Partnership
Royal Purple has announced it has joined forces with Subaru Rally Team USA in a multi-year agreement. The team, managed by Subaru technical partner Vermont SportsCar, will begin to utilize Royal Purple products in each of its factory Rally and Rallycross teams. Subaru Rally Team USA has won the Rally America National Championship seven of the last eight years with drivers Travis Pastrana and David Higgins, and now also fields a two-car effort in the burgeoning Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship with drivers Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen.
Toyo Tires is the Official Tire of SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road in 2014
Toyo Tires has announced it is the official tire of SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road in 2014. As a result, all Stadium Super Trucks (SST) running in the series will compete on Toyo Open Country A/T II tires. The 600-plus-hp SST trucks tackle a serpentine race course with ramp jumps that can launch them 20 ft. in the air. Speeds can reach as high as 130-mph. This marks an expanded partnership between the two organizations as Toyo Tires supported the then Stadium SUPER Trucks in its inaugural season last year and celebrated winning the overall championship with Robby Gordon.
Formula DRIFT Announces Details on Canadian Events
Formula DRIFT has announced information regarding Formula DRIFT Canada, which will be composed of two events: Formula DRIFT Qualifier and Formula DRIFT Challenge at Autodrome St-Eustache, located just outside Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The Formula DRIFT Qualifier will be held June 8, 2014, at the Autodrome St-Eustache in Quebec, Canada. The goal of the Formula DRIFT Qualifier is to see which non-Formula DRIFT licensed driver will have the chance to compete against some of the best drifters in the world. The top eight-placed drifters and two wild cards chosen by the event promoters will be invited to compete at the Formula DRIFT Challenge on Labor Day weekend. Tickets will start at $25 and can be purchased online or at the gate. The event will feature a vendor village and car show.
The Formula DRIFT Challenge will be held August 31–September 1 at the same venue. For the first time ever, Formula DRIFT drivers will step foot on Canadian soil to compete in a top 16 competition against the best Canadian drifters. Tickets will start at $20 for on-site Sunday entry, while Monday’s on-site price will be $35. Tickets for both days will be $50 at the gate and $40 online for the weekend pass. The event will feature a vendor village, skateboard demo and Offset Kings car show. For more information, visit www.formuladrift.com.
 Andreas Bakkerud and Reinis Nitiss lead the way on track in Portugal. Photo: Olsbergs MSE | |
Double Podium for Olsbergs MSE Ford at FIA World Rallycross Championship Opener in Portugal
Olsbergs MSE Ford drivers Andreas Bakkerud and Reinis Nitiss scored a pair of podiums last weekend in the first round of the new FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Montalegre circuit in Portugal. The Olsbergs MSE Ford squad now leads the series' team standings. Bakkerud shot to the front on every start on his way to a second-place overall finish, and earned the Monster Energy Super Charge Award. Teammate Nitiss scored third place in his World RX debut with Olsbergs MSE. Both Nitiss and Bakkerud advanced to the final contest, where both drivers shot off the start and were within a car-length of each other for the entire six-lap race to the podium. The overall win last weekend went to 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg.
Nearly 50 cars across the Supercar, Super 1600 and TouringCar categories battled it out this weekend in Portugal. In addition, 10 Olsbergs MSE-built RX Lites competed in their first-ever outing in support of the new World Championship. Drivers Sebastian Eriksson and Kevin Eriksson scored a one-two finish in their Olsbergs MSE RX Lites.
Olsbergs MSE will next appear with Global Rallycross Championship drivers Patrik Sandell and Joni Wiman at the opening round of that series, May 17–18, at Top Gear Festival Barbados. Drivers Bakkerud and Nitiss will be back in action, alongside guest driver Andrew Jordan, in the World RX of Great Britain at the Lydden Hill Race Circuit, May 24–25.
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NMRA to Host All-Female Shootout at Norwalk, Ohio, Event
The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals series has announced that Royal Purple has stepped up to the plate once again to present the Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords All-Female Shootout at the 11th Annual McLeod Super Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, during the weekend of June 12–15, 2014.
NMRA lady racers will first compete in their own all-female TREMEC True Street class, presented by Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords magazine, on Saturday with their own cash prizes and awards. All-female True Street racers have the chance to win up to $250 and a 6-ft. trophy, which will go to the winner.
On Sunday, the eight quickest racers from Saturday's ladies-only True Street competition will race heads-up on a 4/10 Pro tree in the All-Female Shootout for cash, Royal Purple product, awards and the title of All-Female Shootout champion. All-Female Shootout racers will compete for up to $1,500. In addition, McLeod Racing is offering a $1,000 product certificate to the winner of the All-Female Shootout if the vehicle is equipped with a McLeod Racing clutch.
 Cooper MacNeil, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Bret Curtis will drive the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche RSR LMGTAM with Prospeed Competition at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, June 14–15. | |
WeatherTech Racing to Run Le Mans 24
WeatherTech Racing will run the 24 Hours of Le Mans with drivers Cooper MacNeil, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Bret Curtis. The trio will drive the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche RSR LMGTAM with Prospeed Competition at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, June 14–15. The team has joined forces with Porsche stalwart Prospeed Competition out of Belgium. MacNeil will run Le Mans for the second time in as many years and Curtis will put a second notch on his Le Mans license having run the race in 2012 with Prospeed. Bleekemolen will run his ninth French 24. MacNeil and Bleekemolen combined to win the 2013 American Le Mans Series GTC title. Curtis is currently competing full time in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Series and also has won co-driving with Bleekemolen.
 Brian Deegan, in his #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford, lengthened his lead over the competition while racing in front of his home crowd at Lake Elsinore, California. | |
Deegan Impressive Through Rounds 3 and 4 of the LOORRS
The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS) came to Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park, April 25–26, with Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2014 season. Brian Deegan, who took the early season points lead in Pro 2, lengthened his lead over the competition while racing in front of his home crowd at Lake Elsinore, California. Deegan in his #38 Rockstar Energy Drink Ford jumped to an early lead in Pro 2, which he never relinquished. He led every single lap, winning the event and posting the fastest lap of the day at 49.130 seconds.
In Pro Lite, Deegan used his pole position to get a great start, but was spun out late in the race in turn four by #37 RJ Anderson. He was bumped back in the competition and, with not enough time to make up ground, Deegan would finish eighth. On Saturday night in Pro 2, Deegan finished in second. With two pole positions and a first- and second-place finish in Rounds 3 and 4 of Pro 2, respectively, Deegan extended his points lead over Carl Renezeder and Rob MacCachren.
In Saturday’s Pro Lite event, Deegan took an early lead and stayed in front of the competition up until the final lap when Bradley Morris made a challenge for first. The two battled back and forth until a restart on the last lap put Deegan and Morris side by side. Deegan made a move out of turn two to capture the lead and held it all the way until the checkered flag. Deegan will soon wheel his Rockstar Ford Fiesta at the Global Rallycross Series, which debuts in Barbados, May 18, on NBC Sports.