Formula D Diaries - Maxxis Tire - Import Tuner Magazine

Chris Forsberg
Despite a Top 16 knockout in Long Beach, Chris Forsberg qualified First in his Nissan 350Z, leaving him Sixth overall for the season. One of the most talented drifters in Formula D, when Chris is on his A-game there's no telling what he can do. But beyond skills, Chris has something not every driver has or can ever learn: class.

Dear Diary,
Where do I begin? Atlanta is such an up and down track for us! At the inaugural Formula D in 2004, we earned Second Place. In 2005, we had insane drivetrain issues where we broke everything behind the tranny . . . twice, leaving us with a Top 16 finish. 2006 saw the debut of the Titan-powered 350Z, and it did not go well--we made it through the course without spinning maybe three times, resulting in a Top 16 finish as well. In 2007, we came back with a First place, followed by a Top 16 knockout in 2008. Which leaves us with 2009 and another First Place finish!

The weekend started out great. We got into town early and headed up to Charlotte, NC for Kyle Busch's birthday party with NOS. From there, we headed back to the track to get ready for the weekend. A lot of new faces showed up, like D.A. aces Wilkerson and Wagner, and the other guys who couldn't make it out to Long Beach.

Friday's practice session for qualifying started off smooth for the most part. Going into practice however, the judges started to push the starting line back to see how fast we could go into the first turn. They moved the start line back four times with only a few minutes left in practice, and now, my gearing was too short for the straightaway! Without changing the rear end, I had to think fast since I had one pass left before Qualifying. I jumped back in line and changed up my entry style allowing me to enter earlier. It worked out, and I made it through Qualifying tied for 11th. Not bad.

Saturday started late, so we got to cruise into the track around 11 a.m. My spotter Blair and I worked on how to watch the other drivers, and our communication was great throughout the entire ladder. My first matchup was against Chris Kregorian. Chris was getting through the course, but his lines were not very consistent, so I had to be cautious while chasing him. Good thing too, because when I chased him into the first corner, he overshot the clip and went off-track. I had to grab the handbrake and try to maintain drift as he jumped back on course in front of me! I finished the run clean and was awarded the win!

Moving to the Top 16, I saw that Samuel Hubinette was next--I wasn't very excited to have to run Sam so early in the competition. The new Top 32 format really tests the drivers earlier on! I had to chase on the first pass, so I knew I had to get on the gas quick to keep up with him down the hill. He still pulled three car lengths on me, but I was able to catch up in the horseshoe. On my lead lap, Sam was very close to me throughout the run, so the judges gave us a One More Time. We paired off again, and this time, I jumped on the throttle a little sooner since Sam was hardly giving me the pace cone. He still pulled two car lengths before the first corner, and once again, I had to fight through the course to get door-to-door with him in the horseshoe. On the lead lap, Sam, once again, is all over me and the judges call for another OMT! This time, on my chase run, I launched down the hill like it was Qualifying. He still had no trouble driving 800 hp of Viper faster than me down the hill. We entered the course, and this time through the horseshoe, I was so close to him that I got a little choked up at the top clipping point. I was told that Sam slowed from his average of 38 mph, to a crawling 30 mph exiting the horseshoe. The judges counted it against Sam. On my lead lap, I drove down the hill as hard as I could, threw the car in, and as I got on the throttle . . . boom! Sam hit the side of my car! My head hit the roll cage and my car spun to a stop. Despite the crash, the Z seemed OK, since he missed the wheel/suspension. I was good to go.

Top 8 was another interesting matchup: Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken convertible 350Z. I lead first and threw down a nice clean run. On my chase lap, the lights dropped and I hit the gas. I immediately noticed that Tyler was not moving, so I jumped on the brakes about two car lengths ahead. I looked over my shoulder and saw the car shake and lunge forward. I got back on the throttle and we tore through the course for another tight chase . . . I had the win! After the round, Tyler and his crew chief came over and thanked me for my sportsmanship. I gladly replied that it wasn't a problem. The same thing happened to me in the past, and I promised myself that I would never do that to anyone else. I don't want a win by default.

We were now in the Top 4--two chances for podium! Fellow D.A. members Ryan Tuerck and Joon Maeng were there with me! I first went against Tuerck, who just came off his Long Beach win. We both knew it was going to be a fair match, so we just drove as hard as we could. In the end, I was awarded the win, and headed for the finals! Darren McNamara defeated Joon in the semis and it had just become a 2007 rematch! In my first chase lap, I tried to stay super close and the run seemed even. On my lead lap, I made a huge mistake and mis-shifted the car in the horseshoe! I thought it was over, but Darren followed that with a spin in the last corner . . . he was so close to taking the win! Next lap, I chased again and didn't hold back--I was door-to-door all the way around the horseshoe and down the hill. During my lead, I just tried to lay down a clean lap. I punched the Z into Third so hard, I thought the tranny was going to fall out. I didn't miss this time. Afterwards, the officials told us to go to the horseshoe where they would announce the winner. When they called my name it was one of the best feelings I've had in a very long time.

Next stop is Wall, NJ--hometown for me and many of my friends. Can't wait!

Chris Forsberg
www.chrisforsberg.com

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