Both Falken Tire Corp. and Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. are participating in drifting events to help market their tires.
Falken recently announced its 2005 contingency program for the Formula Drift series. As part of the program, the company will award payouts for drivers/teams competing on Falken tires.
"Tires are by far the most costly recurring expense in drifting," says Nick Fousekis, Falken's performance marketing manager. "We want to help drivers and especially the privateer teams who earn their way to the winner's circle on Falken tires.
"Not only will the contingency program participants have this opportunity to win cash payouts, registered teams will also receive trackside tire mounting support at all six rounds of Formula D from one of our two Falken Motorsport rigs supporting Team Falken this year."
Falken will supply its new Azenis RT-615 tires to its teams.
Kumho is expanding its participation in motorsports by providing tires for Enjuku Racing in professional drifting events sanctioned by Formula D, World Drift Challenge and D1Gp.
"We've been evaluating the sport of drifting for the last few years," says Rudy Consolacion, Kumho's motorsports manager. "Drifting is really popular among import car enthusiasts, and Kumho is a popular brand with that crowd.
"We were looking for the right time and the right opportunity to get involved with drifting, and the right time and opportunity have arrived."
Falken and Kumho are not the only tire companies involved in drifting. Earlier this month, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp. announced it will run a "Catch Our Drift" sweepstakes from June 1 through Dec. 31, 2005.
The grand prize is a tricked-out replica of the 2005 Toyo/Ford Racing Performance Parts Mustang GT drift car. The Mustang GT is splashed with Toyo tires graphics, Konig 18-inch wheels and Toyo's new Proxes T1R ultra-high performance tires.
