Dai Yoshihara.com

Yoshihara Wins Second Championship In 2011

2011-11-11T14:21:55Z

It was only 1 month ago that Daijiro Yoshihara was crowned the 2011 Formula DRIFT champion. Yoshihara was again crowned champion this year for the 2011 MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Challenge TU (Tuner Under) Class while piloting a Nissan Sentra during last weekend's back to back races at the famous Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Race 1 of the 2-part competition was held on Saturday. Winning this race would clinch the championship for Yoshihara but an unfortunate accident on lap #7 with fellow competitor, Brian Smith, knocked Yoshihara out of the race due to a broken tie rod. Even after being knocked out of the race, Yoshihara was still in contention in winning the championship but would be decided in Sunday's race.

Race number 2 was full of action as Yoshihara started behind the other cars and had to make his way up to the front. After 5 quick laps, Yoshihara was able to catch up and gain the lead on Brian Smith. Yoshihara was able to create and maintain an ample amount of space between himself and Smith for the rest of the race and eventually took the checkered flag winning him his second championship of the year.

"Being able to compete in this awesome series was a great experience for me," explains Yoshihara. "Winning my second championship this year was even a greater experience! Thank you to MotoIQ, Costa GTI, Mike Kojima, my sponsors, and everyone who made this possible for me."

Yoshihara plans to continue to venture into different forms of racing in 2012. An announcement of his plans for 2012 will be released later this year.

For more information on the MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championship series, please visit www.motoiq.com.

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VIDEO - KW TV Episode 7: Formula Drift Final Fight at Irwindale

2011-10-15T17:42:04Z

The KW Suspensions uploaded "KW TV Episode 7: Formula Drift Final Fight at Irwindale" on YouTube. Thank you for your support, KW Suspensions!

Daijiro Yoshihara Named 2011 Formula DRIFT Champion!

2011-10-12T15:42:43Z

October 8, 2011 marked a day of hard work, vigilance, and the most interesting Formula DRIFT event in the history of the series. Daijiro Yoshihara came into the final round of the 2011 Formula DRIFT season as points leader and was looking to take the championship home. Host of the final round, Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA sold out to drift fans from all around the world with attendance records passing previous years.

During Top 32 battles, Yoshihara was paired up with Jeff Abbot. The competition went flawlessly as Yoshihara blazed through the rigorous Irwindale track eventually advancing him to the main competition of Top 16. Yoshihara's unexpected loss against Ken Gushi in the Top 16 round nearly closed the door on the chances of winning the championship. Fate will now only tell who the eventual champion would be.

Not being able to do anything but be a spectator of the event, Yoshihara and his crew waited patiently to see how everything would unfold. As the event moved forward, it would seem that Yoshihara would be destined to take the championship home. Justin Pawlak who sat in second in points eventually was knocked out in the Great 8, which brought Yoshihara back into the chase. Chris Forsberg who was also in contention to win was knocked out in the Final 4, which left Yoshihara waiting on one last battle to see how his fate would unfold. Teammates Tyler McQuarrie and Darren McNamara went head to head as Yoshihara and his crew waited in the pits to see the outcome. McQuarrie's flawless runs would knock out McNamara, which would finally name Yoshihara the new 2011 Formula DRIFT Champion.

Yoshihara and his crew celebrated as his team in great congratulatory fashion lifted him in the air. This would be Yoshihara's first championship since his first competition 8 years prior. "I am so proud of my team for all the great teamwork," explains Yoshihara. "It's because of my team, all my sponsors, my fans, and my friends; I was able to drive my best. Winning the championship this way was not my ideal situation but it definitely proves that it was a team effort and I am 110% honored to be a part of this team. I will prepare harder for next year and will try my best to defend my championship title."

Yoshihara was also crowned winner of Discount Tire's Triple Crown prize as he was able accumulate the most points throughout the season. It is the first time in history that a Discount Tire sponsored driver would win both the Formula DRIFT Championship and the Triple Crown.

Yoshihara is expected to continue his drifting later this year at the 2011-2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas. An announcement of his plans for 2012 will be released later this year.

Special Thanks

European Road Trip - Yoshihara Competes In Ireland and the U.K.

2011-09-27T16:09:20Z

Shortly after Round 6 of Formula DRIFT - Las Vegas, Daijiro Yoshihara travelled to Europe to compete in two professional drift series, Prodrift Series and Drift Allstars European Series. With over a 1-month break before the final round of Formula DRIFT, Yoshihara accepted the chance to compete in Europe to help keep his focus on drifting for the final championship round.

Yoshihara's first stop and his debut in European drifting was in Ireland. During his stay in Ireland, Yoshihara drove MG Crash Repair's SR20 powered Altezza. Held at Mondello International Racing Circuit, over 5,000 spectators were in attendance to take part in the series finale. Yoshihara was definitely in his element as he qualified 5th overall for the Top 16 qualifier round. With the help of Falken Tire U.K. and their tire support, Yoshihara easily moved to the Top 8 round where he faced Formula DRIFT competitor and teammate, Darren "D-Mac" McNamara. Both drivers drove hard with minor mistakes in chase runs; however, with two wheels going off course by Yoshihara, D-Mac eventually advanced to the Top 4 retiring Yoshihara's weekend prematurely.

Following the event in Ireland, Yoshihara travelled east to U.K.'s premier professional drifting series, Drift Allstars European Series where Wembley Stadium in London played host to the final round of competition for the year. Yoshihara teamed up with Driftworks, European's largest website dedicated to the sport of drifting. Piloting a Nissan Silvia S15, a familiar chassis Yoshihara had competed in before, it didn't take too long before he felt comfortable behind the 720hp 2JZGTE power plant. Yoshihara qualified overall in a respectable 6th place and eventually moved into the Top 8. During his Top 8 battle, Yoshihara's car straighten slightly but was enough to be eliminated ending his competition in the U.K.

"I was very impressed with the drifting in Europe," explains Yoshihara. "The cars, driving styles, and the level of interest for drifting was phenomenal. Seeing how much interest there is for drifting in Europe really proves that the sport of Drifting has literally gone worldwide. Thanks to everyone who gave me the chance to experience drifting in Europe!"

During his travels in Europe, Yoshihara was able to collect donations for his charity Relief For Japan. Fans from Ireland and the U.K. showed their support for his efforts and he was able to raise over $500.

Please visit the following sites for more event information and of Yoshihara's experience:

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Maintaining Status Quo In Sin City

2011-08-31T15:34:55Z

Daijiro Yoshihara returned to Sin City for Round 6 of the Formula DRIFT Championship Series to maintain his lead in championship points. With temperatures over 110 degrees during the day and cooling off to only slightly over 96 degrees at night, Yoshihara would have to remain cool and composed.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway was again host for drifting action in Las Vegas, and competition commenced on Friday evening with qualifying rounds. Yoshihara's first qualifying run was conservative and not a good representation of his normal driving style. However, his second pass was more his style which landed him a solid 7th place overall in qualifying order.

A sold out crowd filled the stands Saturday evening as the Top 32 battles were underway. Yoshihara was paired up against teammate Ross Petty and his Nissan Silvia S15. After two clean runs, Yoshihara was advanced to the next round. In the Top 16 round, Yoshihara was matched up with fellow Japanese driver Toshiki Yoshioka. The battle between the S13 chassis was tight and intense. After a too close to call first round, the judges called for a "One More Time." Although Yoshihara had a solid lean run in the OMT run, his chase run fell short as he came in too hot into the first turn. This mistake denied Yoshihara from moving on and unfortunately ended his weekend.

Even with the misfortunate loss this past weekend, Yoshihara maintains his lead in overall championship points. Yoshihara will be entering the final round of drifting this season in the lead, for both the Formula DRIFT Championship and Discount Tire's Triple Crown. The final championship round will be at the infamous "House of Drift," Irwindale Raceway, on October 7.

Yoshihara continued his efforts in raising money for his charity organization, Relief For Japan. During his breaks from practice and competition, Yoshihara met with his fans and supporters. Through his fans, Yoshihara was able to raise over $500 to add to his total donation for the relief efforts. For more information, please visit www.rfjp.org.

In addition to drift competition, CBS Morning News was track side interviewing a few of the Formula DRIFT drivers. Among those drivers was Daijiro Yoshihara. Yoshihara and the other drivers displayed their driving skills to help educate the Las Vegas locals on the sport of Drifting.

VIDEO - Hot Model Maureen Drifting in Mitsubishi Evo X MR

2011-08-21T07:00:42Z

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VIDEO - KW TV Episode 5: Formula Drift Battle in Seattle

2011-07-29T06:48:45Z

The KW Suspensions uploaded "KW TV Episode 5: Formula Drift Battle in Seattle" on YouTube. Thank you for your support, KW Suspensions!

First Place Finish and On Top For the Championship

2011-07-27T08:24:46Z

Three years ago, a major crash into the wall at the first turn denied Daijiro Yoshihara from competing in the Formula DRIFT event in Seattle, WA. This was not the case this past weekend; it was the extreme opposite. In front of a sell out crowd at Evergreen Speedway, Yoshihara worked his way past competitors to find himself on top of the podium in first place and back in the lead in overall 2011 championship points.

After qualifying 4th overall, Yoshihara was up against Jeff Jones in the Top 32 round of competition. After judges calling a "one more time," Yoshihara turned his driving skill up a notch and aggressively beat Jones securing him a spot in the main competition. Yoshihara's Top 16 match was up against Need For Speed driver, Matt Powers. First run lead by Yoshihara was a clean and satisfactory run. A spin from Powers in their second run automatically advanced Yoshihara to the Great 8 of competition.

Up against 2010 Formula DRIFT champion and teammate, Vaughn Gittin, Jr., it was a battle against Japanese agility versus American muscle. Both cars came out ultra aggressive displaying to the Seattle crowd what professional drifting was all about. After solid runs by both drivers, the judges deemed Yoshihara as victor. Yoshihara's next competitor was not going to be easy as he was paired up with Norwegian driver, Fredric Aasbo. All season; Aasbo has been showing the veteran drivers what rooks can do. However, this round was in favor of the veteran driver, and Yoshihara found himself in the finals for the fourth time this season.

Yoshihara was paired up with Chris Forsberg, 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, to battle for the top spot on the podium. It was tough enough to be in the finals after beating a former champion but to be in the finals up against another veteran and champion driver was going to be a tougher battle. From turn one, throughout the wide sweeping bank into the second turn, both cars were side by side as Forsberg applied pressure from behind on Yoshihara. As both cars approached the inner part of the course, Forsberg had mechanical problems with his car and bobbled as Yoshihara cleanly finished the course. With the mistake from Forsberg, Yoshihara secured first place as he continued with a solid second run.

Due to Yoshihara's first place finish, he gained enough points to be back in first in overall championship points. Yoshihara will be challenged to stay on top as the 2011 season is winding down with only 2 more events to go. "We have 2 competitions left so I need to focus on them still before I can think too much about the championship," explains Yoshihara.

In addition to the successful weekend, Yoshihara continued to promote his charity cause for the relief efforts in Japan. Yoshihara was able to meet with fans and raise an additional $850 for Relief For Japan over last weekend's event. "The Seattle fans were amazing and I thank all of the fans for their continued support," stated Yoshihara. For more information on Relief For Japan, please visit www.rfjp.org.

Special Thanks

Yoshihara Remains First In Championship Points

2011-07-12T05:09:05Z

Over the Independence Day weekend, Willow Springs Raceway was host to Round 4 of the MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championship. Races were held back to back on Saturday and Sunday with Daijiro Yoshihara competing in both competitions. Due to problems with the motor after being on the dyno Friday night, Yoshihara's car would not make it to the event. However, teammate and car owner Mike Kojima gave up his seat time so that Yoshihara could compete to stay points leader.

During Saturday's race, Yoshihara had unexpected electrical problems that landed him 3rd in qualifying start. As the race commenced, Dai found himself just short of first position as he battled it out with other competitors. After several laps, Yoshihara eventually found himself in second place. Having used up a lot his tires trying to catch up to be on top, Yoshihara eventually took second place overall.

Sunday's race proved to be a test of Yoshihara's driving skill. Qualifying first and securing the pole position, Yoshihara was in good in shape to win the race. However, due to damaged rear shocks and a spin at turn 9, Yoshihara quickly found himself giving up positions forcing him to turn up his driving skills up a few notches. Yoshihara's driving skill was truly tested for the rest of the race as he moved from behind to second. Yoshihara remained in second place for the remainder of the race and found himself on another podium spot.

Yoshihara continues to do well in the MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championship series. After only driving in 3 of 4 rounds, Yoshihara remains in first place in overall championship points.

Special Thanks

Yoshihara Secures Another Podium Spot At Formula DRIFT New Jersey

2011-06-22T03:57:02Z

Round 4 of the 2011 Formula DRIFT Championship Series commenced this past weekend in Wall, NJ at Wall Speedway. A vicious storm had rolled into town a few days before the event, but had passed through just in time for the much-anticipated drifting event. Due to the storm, Daijiro Yoshihara and his team, Falken Tire / Discount Tire, were left with little practice time to have his V8 powered Nissan 240SX setup perfectly for the event.

This event was a true test of teamwork and dedication as Yoshihara was still in the hunt for another podium finish to further his chances for the championship. Through the hard work of his team, Yoshihara was able to secure the number three spot in overall qualifying order. Qualifying third landed Yoshihara up against Dean Kearny in the Top 32 battle. With two consecutive spins in both chase and lead runs from Kearny, Yoshihara moved into the Top 16 battle.

Top 16 competition was up against Kyle Mohan and his rotary powered Mazda RX-8. Yoshihara powered through his lead run creating a gap that clearly gave Yoshihara an advantage. The chase run from Yoshihara was tight, and although a little wobbly, Dai managed to pull through for the win that landed him in the Great 8. Up against 2009 Formula DRIFT champion, Chris Forsberg, this round was anticipated to be challenging. In the first lap, Forsberg's car under steered into the rails allowing Yoshihara to take another advantage going into the second run. Although Forsberg was able to get his car fixed for the second run, it was not enough and Yoshihara found himself in the finals for the third time this season.

A repeat battle from Long Beach, Yoshihara was up against his teammate, Justin Pawlak, in the Final 4. Both drivers drove aggressively creating plumes of smoke with awesome angle. Although each run was tight, Pawlak came out on top giving Yoshihara the 3rd spot on the podium. "This weekend was crazy," explains Yoshihara. "The storm really had us scrambling to get the car ready. But my crew worked hard and was able to get my car ready for competition. I really attribute last weekend's podium finish to everyone's teamwork." With this third place finish, Yoshihara advances himself closer to the championship as he sits in second in overall championship points.

In a continued effort from earlier this year, Yoshihara continues to show his support for the relief efforts in Japan. Many fans showed their support this past weekend allowing Yoshihara to raise almost $1000 for his foundation, Relief For Japan. Since the launch of this foundation, Relief For Japan has been able to raise over $15,000 through the support of his fans, friends, and fellow Formula DRIFT competitors. For more information on Relief For Japan, please visit www.rfjp.org.

Round 5 of the Formula DRIFT series will be held at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA on the weekend of July 22nd.

More Pic >>> MotoIQ Event Coverage - Formula D 2011 New Jersey

Yoshihara In the Hunt For A Championship

2011-06-09T07:29:44Z

This past weekend marked the first Formula DRIFT event in Florida, which was held at the Palm Beach International Raceway. Coming off a win in Atlanta, Daijiro "Dai" Yoshihara and his team were pumped to get back on the podium. With a new track added to the championship series, all drivers were challenged with new car setups and course education.

During pre-competition practices, Yoshihara and his team found some minor mechanical problems that shortened seat time on the new track. However, Yoshihara was still confident and ready for his upcoming battles. Yoshihara qualified 12th overall and was paired up with Kyle Mohan for the head-to-head Top 32 competition. The first run was led by Yoshihara with Mohan following. Yoshihara's lead run was promising as he drifted with a clean line while Mohan gave chase. Yoshihara's day ended a bit earlier than expected on the second run. He slid into the first corner with too much speed and tapped Mohan from behind. Both cars spun out.

Although the day's result was unfortunate, Yoshihara remains in contention for the championship as he sits in 3rd place overall. "This weekend was one of those weekends that I just want to forget about," explains Yoshihara. "I wish I could have done better but I'm just happy that I'm still in the race for the championship this year. It's time to move on and concentrate on the upcoming events."

Off track, Yoshihara was diligently working to talk to supporters about his charity foundation, Relief For Japan. Through event supporters, Yoshihara was able to raise almost $500, which will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. "Although the earthquake was a few months ago, I still believe it is important to support Japan. It really is a great feeling to see all the support everyone has been providing, and I thank everyone," Yoshihara explains. For more information on Relief For Japan, please visit www.rfjp.org.

Another First Place Finish For Daijiro Yoshihara!

2011-06-01T16:34:26Z

May 29th, 2011 marked another eventful day of road racing at the famous Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA as drivers from around the nation competed in Round 3 of the MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championship. Among the competitors this past weekend was Daijiro "Dai" Yoshihara; current Formula DRIFT points leader.

Having to miss round 2 of the MPTCC due to scheduling conflicts, Yoshihara was very eager to get back into the driver's seat to compete in road racing action. Teaming up with Mike Kojima, suspension guru for Yoshihara's drift team, Yoshihara piloted a full race prepped Nissan Sentra supported by MotoIQ, GTI Technical Innovations, Technosquare, and Jim Wolf Technology. Throughout the race, both Yoshihara lead the pack of competitors in the Tuner Under class almost the entire race. Although having a brief fight over the lead with the APD Motorsports/Honda Racing Development Acura TSX, Yoshihara eventually came out on top as victor of his class and marked another win on Yoshihara's resume.

"This round of MPTCC was awesome," explains Yoshihara. "Going back in forth from 1st to 2nd with Brian Smith (APD Motorsports/Honda Racing Development Acura TSX driver) was a crazy rush, but I'm glad to have come out on top."

Special Thanks

Dai Competes In the 2011 Red Bull Soapbox Race

2011-05-25T06:14:14Z

In front of over 115,000 spectators, Daijiro "Dai" Yoshihara was asked to pilot a custom, one of a kind soapbox racecar in the 2011 Red Bull Soapbox Race held in downtown Los Angeles this past weekend on May 21. Team Import Tuner Magazine of Source Interlink Media, made up of highly regarded racecar designers and engineers, developed a soapbox racer that replicated the concept car Scion FR-S. Although Yoshihara and his team didn't get to see the podium, being able to build such an innovative soapbox car and be a part of such an amazing race was definitely a win-win result.

In a collaborative effort between Five:Axis and Design Craft, the designers and engineers developed a soapbox version of the original Scion FR-S. At initial glance, the Scion FR-S soapbox car resembles something out of a cartoon as the wheels sit almost as tall as the car. The shell was made of fiberglass and was painted in an eye catching metallic red paint which all sat on top of an all aluminum frame.

Being that this was the first soapbox race for Yoshihara, it was hard to know what to expect for this type of event. However, with Yoshihara's background in drifting and racing, it was certainly an easy transition. "At first, I was kind of nervous," explains Yoshihara. "I've never competed in this type of event before but as the day went on and watching the other competitors, I became more excited than nervous. It looked so fun so by the time it was my turn, I was ready to roll!"

Yoshihara navigated through Red Bull's challenging course swiftly and with minimal problems. The course consisted of jumps, tight turns and a 90 degree banked corner. Able to make it through the course in practically one piece, Yoshihara and Team Import Tuner Magazine crossed the finish line among 35 other teams.

VIDEO - KW TV Episode 3: Formula Drift at Road Atlanta

2011-05-21T16:21:06Z

The KW Suspensions uploaded "KW TV Episode 3: Formula Drift at Road Atlanta" on YouTube. Thank you for your support, KW Suspensions!

Yoshihara Places First at Formula DRIFT Atlanta Two Years In A Row

2011-05-11T13:56:12Z

Coming off a 3rd place finish in Formula DRIFT's Long Beach event just one month ago, Dai Yoshihara had the motivation needed heading into round 2 of competition. Being host for the 8th consecutive year, Road Atlanta was home of Formula DRIFT Round 2: Road to the Championship.

Pumped for competition, Dai came out of the gates strong and determined. After 2 rounds of qualifying, Dai landed himself the 4th spot in overall qualifying order. Still feeling strong from qualifying, Dai competed against Jeff Jones in the Top 32 battle and won advancing himself to the main competition of Top 16.

For Top 16 competition, Dai was paired up against Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo and his Team Need for Speed Scion tC. Probably the fiercest battle Dai had to face all night, both drivers drove near flawlessly. However, with cleaner lines and impressive style, Dai bettered his competitor and was advanced to the Great 8. Matched more than a handful of times, Dai went up against teammate and 2010 Formula DRIFT Champion, Vaughn Gittin. Exiting the horseshoe, a small hiccup from Gittin's Ford Mustang gave Dai the advantage that moved him to the Final 4.

By this time of competition, a podium finish was in sight and Dai was on cruise control to be on the top spot. During the Final 4, Dai went up against John Russakoff, a familiar competitor in the Formula DRIFT series. Due to Russakoff's car spinning, Dai was now guaranteed a podium spot and was one more step closer to a back-to-back victory.

The final round of competition was up against another teammate, Darren McNamara, who piloted Falken Tire's Saturn Sky. Lead and chase runs from both drivers were tight and faultless. Although extremely close in battle, the judges found Dai to be the victor and round 2's champion.

Defending his 2010 victory, Dai found himself on top of the podium once again and now the current points leader in the championship chase. "Winning back to back at one of my favorite tracks is amazing," explains Yoshihara. "There's a lot of drifting left in the season but I'm pumped and ready more than ever."

In addition to his back to back win, Dai was again out and about throughout the pits spreading the word of his charity organization, Relief For Japan. Reaching out to his fans and fellow competitors, Dai was able to raise nearly $2,500 for his organization that will be donated to Japan's relief effort from earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Japan earlier this year. For more information on Relief For Japan, please visit www.rfjp.org.