Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. Partners With Ford
Action sports icon to expand motorsport presence while representing Ford Racing. Check out the press release on Vaughn in today's blog.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. is living the American Dream. From an early age “JR” knew that motorsports was going to be at the center of his life. Maybe it was the fact his father rocked him to sleep by taking his colicky baby for a ride in his latest hot rod or that at the tender age of four Gittin Jr. had his first go-kart. All in all a life spent in the pursuit of competitions has bred a passion for speed and smoke that Gittin Jr. sums up in a self description as “being a constant adrenaline junkie.”
In 10 short years the former IT professional, who taught himself to drift, stands at the pinnacle of his sport in North America having won the 2010 Formula D Championship and having notched a pair of historic wins (2005 USA vs. Japan, and 2007 World Championship) in the D1 Grand Prix Series, the highly acclaimed international drifting series.
Ford Racing announces today a partnership today with Vaughn Gittin Jr. A key component for Gittin Jr.’s success has been his alliance with Ford. Likewise for Ford within the partnership with Vaughn lies the root of Ford Racing’s ever expanding action motorsports program.
“I’ve been building a relationship with Ford since 2007. What I didn’t realize was that we were laying the foundation for this action motorsports movement within Ford Racing,” said Gittin Jr. “On this, the 110th anniversary of Ford Racing, it is pretty cool to look back and see that I have been involved in starting something that in its own right is historic at Ford. I am very fortunate I have reached a point of my career where I can pick and choose the people that I want to work with and represent. I choose to be with Ford and I have chosen the Ford Mustang because it gives me a distinct advantage out on the track.”
Gittin Jr. delivered a championship to Ford Racing and has played a key role in several Ford Mustang initiatives. Gittin Jr. appeared at the Mustang 45th Anniversary celebration in 2008 and helped launch the 2010 Mustang with a series of viral videos in Mustang Unleashed in which he traveled with his ’10 Mustang to the cradle of drifting, Japan.
“Vaughn’s Formula Drift program was certainly a non-traditional motorsports program for Ford Racing, but to his credit he has taken that opportunity to showcase Mustang to a new fan base and has now becomes synonymous with Mustang drifting worldwide,” said Jamie Allison, Director, Ford North America Motorsports. “The Mustang was born to race and Vaughn’s passion for Mustang has carried its racing DNA to new challenges. Ford Racing is proud to have him become a larger part of our motorsports program.”
“It is crazy to step back and see what started as a drift program has grown to include other forms of action sports,” said Gittin Jr. “I am extremely excited to see what the future brings.”
About Ford North America Motorsports
Ford North America Motorsports, based in Dearborn, Mich., is responsible for major racing operations in North America, including NASCAR (Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Camping World Trucks), Grand American sports car racing, NHRA drag racing, RallyCar and USAC midget car racing. The department also oversees the development and marketing of Ford Racing Engines and Performance Parts, the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts, and the marketing of the Ford Racing brand. For more information regarding Ford Racing’s activities, please visit www.fordracing.com.