In a new initiative for 2024, Formula DRIFT will launch The Driven Experience, designed to inspire school-age kids, introduce them to motorsports, and hopefully find potential career paths to give them a head start in life.
Formula DRIFT has secured a number of partners for the program, including Acceler8 Education; the Official Community Outreach Program of the series. With support from FD for the last three years, Acceler8 has already helped more than 1000 at-risk youth to discover fulfilling career opportunities. Their aim has been to help individuals to avoid being sucked into a life of crime and negative interactions with law enforcement. Not only has the program been incredibly successful but FD will utilize the experience of the Acceler8 team to help organize and run the 2024 Driven Experience given their shared goals.
Additionally, as a major series sponsor, the United States Air Force will lend its support, helping people find a possible career path within its ranks. While the University of Northwestern Ohio – the Official Education Partner of Formula DRIFT – will be able to highlight its higher education opportunities, including its High Performance Motorsports program.
“Our joint mission is to offer an interactive experience to school-age students at Formula DRIFT events,” said Ryan Sage, President of Formula DRIFT. “It will comprise presentations from series staff and competitors, a track walk to learn more about the sport, and a day immersed in the action at a Formula DRIFT event, discovering the energy and excitement of our dynamic sport. We’re excited to introduce a program that will not only help to inform young people, but we hope it will also nurture automotive interest both as a hobby and profession. We’ve all benefited from and enjoyed our passion for motorsports and look forward to introducing the next generation to everything we love.”
Aiming to exceed the incredible number of students reached in previous years with Acceler8, the Formula DRIFT Driven Experience intends to host up to 100 high school-age students from local areas to each round of the 2024 Formula DRIFT national series. This will be done in cooperation with schools and organizations at each location.
“While the drift action is what the kids come for, we’ve been very fortunate to have guest speakers donate their time from within the Formula DRIFT community, including the series staff, professional drivers, crew chiefs, brand ambassadors, Air Force personnel, and more. Their presentations are an opportunity to connect the students to the automotive industry, the motorsports world and beyond,” explained Charles Woodruff, CEO and co-founder of Acceler8.
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the 2024 Driven Experience is free for both students and schools. Acceler8 and Formula DRIFT will manage the operations of the Driven program at all eight rounds of 2024 Formula DRIFT season.
Acceler8 team members will be present at each round, assisted by Air Force and FD staff. The team on the ground will not only supervise activities but also manage program sign-ups and event logistics to ensure students can attend. Each participant will be gifted a swag bag with promotional items.
“The Air Force is excited to be part of the Formula DRIFT Driven Experience,” said Barry Dickey, Strategic Marketing Division Chief at Air Force Recruiting Service. “Programs like this, which positively support youth interest in STEM careers, is beneficial to all of us and align well with our target audience’s interests and the Air Force’s commitment to teamwork and technology. Partnerships reflect our Air Force core values and have a positive impact on generating public awareness about the opportunities in the US Air Force, as well as our people and our mission,” he continued. “Like Formula DRIFT, much of our work is based on science, technology, engineering and math principles, and this sponsorship is a great way to highlight that connection and meet the fans who have similar interests.”
The Formula DRIFT Driven Experience is seeking schools and organizations to participate in the exciting program. Space is limited, but schools in the selected areas should contact the team at the email address below to register interest and receive more information.
The 2024 Formula DRIFT series will visit the following areas during the year:
- Greater Los Angeles (twice)
- Atlanta/Braselton, GA
- Orlando, FL
- Englishtown, NJ
- St Louis/Madison, IL
- Seattle/Monroe, WA
- Salt Lake City/Grantsville, UT
For reference, the 2024 Formula DRIFT schedule can be found here: formulad.com/schedule
If you’re a school, youth organization or student who would be interested in attending the Formula DRIFT Driven Experience, please contact driven@acceler8education.org
“Our vision is to work together – Formula DRIFT, USAF, UNOH, Acceler8, schools, and industry professionals – to provide inspiration and motivation, directing youth to the automotive industry and beyond as an outlet for their energy and a potential source of employment,” Woodruff concluded.
OPENING ROUND
The 2024 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship kicks off on the Streets of Long Beach on April 12-13. The PROSPEC Championships will join the PRO teams for Round 2 at Road Atlanta on May 9-11. Please visit formulad.com for the competition schedule, tickets, livestream, Championship standings, driver bios and more.
ABOUT ACCELER8
Accelerate Education Group (Acceler8) is an independent non-profit organization supported by the Los Angeles Police Protective League. It is committed to providing substantive alternatives to crime and substance abuse that will change lives and help build future leaders in Los Angeles County. It does this by providing a curriculum designed to help enhance knowledge within the automotive field, as well as mentoring, life skills, job skills, and hands-on experience. Please visit acceler8education.org to learn more about the Acceler8 program, enrol a student, volunteer for the program, or donate.
ABOUT UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win – airpower anytime, anywhere. For 2024, the Air Force Recruiting Service is hiring more than 41,300 new Airmen for service in the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve for more than 130 enlisted career opportunities. The Air Force recruits to retain, so we recruit the best and brightest candidates possible, then provide them with tough, highly technical training that gives them the right skills to sustain the combat capability of America’s Air Force. For more information about Air Force benefits and opportunities, go to airforce.com
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO
Founded in 1920, the University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit university located in Lima, Ohio. There are five colleges within the university: College of Applied Technologies, College of Business, College of Health Professions, College of Occupational Professions, and the Graduate College. The University is known worldwide as a leader in Automotive, Diesel, and High Performance Motorsports Technology education. UNOH also offers world-class degree programs in Business, Health, Marketing, Information Technology, Robotics, and many other fields of study. UNOH has educated students from all 50 states and 76 countries, and currently has approximately 3500 students enrolled from 48 states and 41 countries. UNOH awards Master’s, Bachelor, Associate, and Diploma programs to more than 1000 students each year at graduation. For more information, visit unoh.edu
ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT
Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver’s skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com
WATCH FORMULA DRIFT
The series livestream is available at youtube.com/Formuladrift and on MAV TV (please check your local provider)
