The GT Radial brand is returning to Formula Drift, North America’s professional drifting competition, in 2020.
Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. says joining Formula Drift will demonstrate the engineering capabilities and product performances of GT Radial tires in the most extreme conditions.
The GT Radial brand has been in the U.S. market for more than 25 years. Several GT Radial product lines are produced in Giti Tire’s manufacturing plant in Chester County, South Carolina.
Giti hosted an event at its South Carolina plant on Feb. 13, 2020, where three drivers officially joined the GT Radial Formula Drift team. The drivers witnessed first-hand the production of the GT Radial extreme performance SX2 RS tires they will be competing on.
The day’s events included an introduction of the drivers to senior management, R&D team, the plant production team, and an official signing ceremony.
Some background on the three members of the GT Radial Formula Drift team follow.
- Travis Reeder was named Rookie of the Year in Formula Drift Pro2 competition in 2017 and won that series in 2018. He was named 2019 Rookie of the Year in the Formula Drift Pro Series and is a drift school instructor.
- Ryan Litteral, whose team is based in Atlanta, was named most improved driver in 2019 Formula Drift Pro Series competition. A fan favorite, his consistency, aggression and unwavering commitment gained him much respect in the drifting community, according to Giti.
- Kazuya Taguchi has been drifting for 10 years and competed in the Formula Drift Pro Series for the past two years.
“We’re excited about returning to Formula Drift with these three dynamic drivers competing on our SX2 RS tires developed by our motorsports R&D team and manufactured here in South Carolina.” says Thomas Okihisa, director of marketing.
GT Radial SX2 RS tires will also be available in the North America market and to drifting enthusiasts worldwide.
About Giti Tire
Founded in 1951 and headquartered in Singapore, Giti Tire Group operates eight manufacturing plants and produces a broad range of tire products, serving major original equipment vehicle manufacturers, auto-service outlets, tire dealers and consumers in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Giti Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for North America. It markets and sells the following brands: GT Radial, Primewell, and Dextero tires for high performance vehicles, passenger cars, SUV, light truck, and medium trucks through national retailers, independent retailers and distributors across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.giti.com.
