SIGNAL HILL, Calif.—Formula Drift has designated Giti Tire USA Inc. as the official tire supplier this year for its PROSPEC Championship, a second-tier series designed for drivers looking to gain experience and move up to the Pro series.
All drivers in the 2021 PROSPEC Championship will compete on GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires, size 255/35R18, which are made at Giti's plant in Chester County, S.C., Formula Drift said.
PROSPEC, an evolution of the PRO2 Championship from previous seasons, will allow fields of up to 32 drivers to compete in four events throughout the year alongside the Formula DRIFT PRO teams.
The season begins in Orlando, Fla., on May 21-22 and ends at the series finale in Irwindale, Calif., on Oct. 22-23.
Giti, which returned to Formula Drift competition in 2020 after a three-year hiatus, also plans to compete in Formula Drift's Pro series in 2021 with eight drivers signed up.
Following the "solid performance" from the Champiro SX2 RS during the 2020 Formula DRIFT season, Giti decided to start producing the SX2 RS at the company's plant in South Carolina, according to Mike Meeiem, GT Radial USA motorsports manager.
Giti Tire describes the Champiro SX2 RS as an evolution of the "venerable" SX2 design.
Among the tire's features are:
- Race-inspired compound formulated for both the street and track.
- Advanced construction engineered to limit sidewall flex for predictable handling.
- Asymmetric tread design that delivers "exhilarating" driving performance for sports car enthusiasts.
- Extra-large dual shoulder blocks for improved cornering and grip.
- Wide center rib for stable handling and dependable traction and braking performance.
"Evolving the PRO2 category into the new PROSPEC Championship will allow us to provide teams and drivers with an affordable, competitive championship designed to appeal to drift fans around the world," Formula Drift President Jim Liaw said.
"Part of its development includes standardizing a number of components to control costs and keep performance levels close. So, we are delighted to introduce GT Radial as the first element in this new venture and look forward to a long relationship together."
