LAS VEGAS (Nov. 2, 2012)—Falken Tire Corp. is planning for an extensive motorsports program that includes continued participation in the American Le Mans Series, Formula Drift, King of the Hammers and Supercross.
"Racing in all its forms is the ultimate proving ground for research and development and the perfect environment to authenticate Falken´s product," said Nick Fousekis, Falken´s director of motorsports marketing and events.
"For many of the series in which we participate, such as Formula Drift and King of the Hammers, we utilize off-the-shelf tires, which allow us to showcase their key attributes under extreme conditions as well as learn from those experiences."
Falken engineers are continuing to ramp up efforts further in the GT Class ALMS competition, as the tire marketer plans an "intense testing schedule in 2013," according to Derrick Walker, team manager of Falken´s ALMS program for the third year.
Both Bryan Sellers and Wolf Henzler—who have scored three victories in their two years together as co-drivers of the Team Falken Porsche 911 GT3 RSR—will continue on in the 2013 season. Falken said the ALMS will come together with the Grand Am series in 2014 to form one North American sanctioning body and racing program.
"We are very happy to see the Falken Tire program continuing with the same elements for 2013," said Jens Walther, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsports, North America, in a Falken press release.
He explained that Henzler has been an integral part of the program for three years and is "the perfect complement to Falken´s program with his professional, competitive and team spirit."
"We are proud that Team Falken Tires has requested his services again in 2013 for their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR," Walther said.
Falken Tire´s Formula Drift team will return in 2013 with a three-car line-up.In Formula Drift, Team Falken will return with a three-car line-up featuring Justin Pawlak in his 2013 Mustang GT; Darren McNamara, driving a new V8-powered Nissan S14; and Daijiro "Dai" Yoshihara, who will again enter his 2011 Championship-winning Nissan S13, Falken said. There also will be a new collaborative effort with Subaru, where Yoshihara will campaign a new BRZ in 2014.
"Falken will continue its successful Falken Tire Cup contingency program for privateer drivers," added Jonathan Bradford, Falken´s drifting competition supervisor. The team will again compete on Falken´s Azenis RT-615K tire.
Falken also reported that it plans to expand its off-road program as entering the 2013 King of the Hammers competition with Japan-based Team Tsuda Racing while continuing to support Race Prep Racing for a second year.
Tsuda Racing features driver Masa Tsuda and co-driver Daiten Izumi, and Race Prep will have driver Richard Carte and co-driver Kristen Carter on board. Both teams will run on Falken´s WildPeak All-Terrain tires.
Falken also has signed its second multi-year contract as the Official Passenger Car and Truck of AMA Supercross as well as with the series´ 2012 Champion, Ryan Villopoto, who attended the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, making appearances at the Falken Tire booth.