Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. has announced a new partnership with Formula DRIFT Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. Gittin is one of Monster Energy’s premier athletes and a Ford factory driver.
He is an icon of the sport of drifting, having competed every year since the start of Formula DRIFT in 2004. Gittin will also represent Nitto Tire in China’s World Drift Series and make appearances at a variety of exhibitions worldwide.
"I am pumped to be working with Nitto Tire,” says Gittin. “As I enter this new chapter of my career, it feels great to be aligned with a brand as committed to winning and progression as I am.”
Gittin’s Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR will be running the Nitto NT05 max-performance tire. During the off-season, Gittin and his team at ASD (Autosport Dynamics) thoroughly tested this platform and are confident it will provide them with a competitive edge.
"Through testing, we found the Nitto NT05 offers a high level of consistent grip through all temperature ranges and the high-quality construction of the tire allows it to handle excessive abuse,” adds Gittin. “These are both qualities that are crucial for drifting.”
"Vaughn has proven himself to be an incredible driver and champion,” says Harry Kong, marketing and social media strategist at Nitto. “We look forward to partnering with him for the upcoming 2013 drifting season. The Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR running NT05 tires will be an exciting combination to watch."
The first opportunity to see Gittin drifting on Nitto NT05 tires will take place at the St. Louis Auto Show Jan. 24-27, 2013, where he will be doing an exhibition and offering fans his famous ride-alongs.
For more information visit www.nittotire.com.
