Accomplished Formula DRIFT competitor Matt Field joined the GT Radial team this year to help the brand build on a successful 2022 campaign. So far so good, as Field stood atop the podium on Saturday at the completion of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 1 on the Streets of Long Beach.
Field, who finished 2nd in driver points standings in the 2022 Formula DRIFT season, won the hard way in his Borla Performance/GT Radial Corvette after qualifying 27th in the opening round. Field’s first battle was against three-time FD PRO Champion Chris Forsberg, which went to One More Time (OMT), requiring both runs to be repeated before Field took the win.Field then had a minor collision with Dean Kearney in the Top 16 and an epic battle with Chelsea DeNofa in the Top 8, which saw the RTR Motorsports driver slide into the tire wall.
In the Top 4 heat, Field clouted the wall at Outside Zone 1 (OZ1) while chasing reigning FD PRO Champion Fredric Aasbo. Aasbo had slowed to regain control after tapping the wall himself, forcing Field to take evasive action. Field’steam had reinforced the Corvette after a bigger incident with Aasbo last year. As a result, they were able to repair the car, defeat Aasbo, and reach the Final where Field beat Rome Charpentier.
“After qualifying 27th, Matt had to compete against the very top drivers and he came through spectacularly in every round,” said GT Radial Motorsports Manager Mike Meeiem. “We’re thrilled to kick off the 2023 season with a win!”
Field noted before the opening Formula DRIFT event, “I am truly excited for the next chapter of my career with GT Radial. I know how much performance the SX2 RS has and can’t wait to see how it does on our new C6 competition car. There were quite a few rounds last year that my team and I thought the GT Radial was the best tire on the grid, and now I get to experience that performance!” Experience the performance he did! Field rode GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires to a thrilling win in Long Beach.
Field, founder and owner of Drift Cave Motorsports, is in his 11th year of Formula DRIFT competition. He has become known for his aggressive driving style and won the Fan Favorite Award for the 2019 season.
In the Formula DRIFT PRO Series, GT Radial clinched second position in the 2022 FD Tire Cup after achieving six podium finishes. After finishing fifth in its first year, GT Radial rose to third in 2021 before securing second at the final round of 2022.
GT Radial has renewed its partnership with Formula DRIFT for another three-year term to provide tires to teams in the PRO Championship. Additionally, GT Radial will remain the Official Tire of the PROSPEC series for up-and-coming drivers for another two years.
GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS, which is also available for street use, is manufactured at the company’s plant in Richburg, SC.
