News
Strong Finish for Team Achilles PRO2
September 12, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Strong Finish for Team Achilles PRO2
IRVINE, CALIF., September 12, 2017 – Team Achilles returned to Texas Speedway for the sixth round of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and the Finals of the PRO2 series.
Drivers competing on Achilles Radial tires in PRO2 had a total of eight podiums this season, with seven drivers from Team Achilles finishing in the Top 10 of the championship. Five Team Achilles PRO2 drivers have earned their 2018 PRO license, and will be eligible to move to the PRO Championship next season. Here are the results for the 2017 PRO2 Championship:
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2 |
Travis Reeder |
PRO LICENSE |
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3 |
Matt Vankirk |
PRO LICENSE |
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5 |
Randall Waters |
PRO LICENSE |
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6 |
Dirk Stratton |
PRO LICENSE |
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8 |
Szilveszter Gyorgy |
PRO LICENSE |
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9 |
Austin Meeks |
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10 |
Brody Goble |
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11 |
Brandon Schmidt |
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13 |
Alec Robbins |
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16 |
Donovan Brockway |
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17 |
Dylan Hughes |
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18 |
Andy Hateley |
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19 |
Riley Sexsmith |
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21 |
Hooman Rahimi |
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23 |
Luis Lizardi |
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24 |
Kelsey Rowlings |
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26 |
Kevin Phillips |
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|
29 |
Chris Johnson |
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30 |
Bear Rzesnowiecky |
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32 |
Adam Knapik |
Team Achilles PRO struggled to gain any ground at the famed Texas Motor Speedway. Robbie Nishida would see a mechanical failure during practice, and would instead compete in the PRO2 car of Team Achilles driver Hooman Rahimi. Nishida was able to pilot the car to a number 23 qualifying spot but was unable to advance past the Top 32. Dean Kearney would also retire after the Top 32 after struggling through mechanical gremlins throughout the weekend. Kristaps Bluss qualified eighth, but had contact with the tire wall during the Top 32. The Latvian driver would advance to the Top 16 where he would retire after a hard fought OMT battle. The top qualifying Achilles driver was 2013 Champion Michael Essa. Essa made quick work of his Top 32 battle and only retired in the Top 16 after a massive crash into the tire wall. Both Essa and the car sustained minor damage, and will be back in plenty of time to attack his home track, Irwindale Speedway. Achilles Radial currently sits in third place in the tire manufacturer cup with one round of competition remaining.
The current points standings for Team Achilles PRO are as follows:
4th Place – Kristaps Bluss
6th Place – Michael Essa
11th Place – Dean Kearney
22nd Place – Robbie Nishida
Up next, Team Achilles PRO will compete at Formula DRIFT Round 8 at Irwindale Speedway on October 13th and 14th in Irwindale, California. For more information on Achilles Tires USA, please visit www.achillestiresusa.com and follow us on social media – Facebook www.facebook.com/achillestire and Instagram @achillestire
For more information on Formula DRIFT, visit www.formulad.com