Aasbo Finishes Top 8 at 2022 Formula DRIFT Seattle

With three events remaining in the 2022 Formula DRIFTPRO championship, the Papadakis Racing team is still in strong contention for the title, especially in an action-packed season that’s seen a different winner at every round.

Approaching the Seattle round, ENEOS-sponsored driver Fredric Aasbo held second place in his Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. Qualifying ninth with a score of 89 points, Papadakis Racing had to scramble to fit a new engine after his first practice run on Saturday morning. A connecting rod put a hole in the block but the team was extremely well prepared and was able to swap the engine in less than an hour, and even allowed Fredric to complete a few practice laps at the end of the session.

In the Top 32 competition heats, Aasbo met Joshua Love. Following a powerful lead run and a superior chase, Aasbo was awarded the win. He then advanced to the Top 16 where he faced Toyota Racing teammate Ken Gushi. After a good chase run, Aasbo took the lead for the second run but was knocked into the concrete wall at Outside Zone 4 after Gushi failed to leave Aasbo enough room to transition from Outside Zone 3. Despite damage to the car, Aasbo was awarded the win and fortunately the team had time to make repairs.

His weekend ended in the Top 8 with a battle against “Rad” Dan Burkett in an old school Supra. On his lead run, Aasbo hit the wall in OZ1, causing him to make a big correction that saw the car straighten out. With the run ruled incomplete, Burkett did enough on his lead run to take the win and send Aasbo home.

Finishing sixth overall, Fredric retained his hold on second place in the FD PRO Championship but with a total of 450 points, he’s now 56 points behind table leader Matt Field. He’s also just three points ahead of the third place driver, teammate Ryan Tuerck.

“I wanted to do well, but I’ve made several mistakes the last few events and another one in Seattle,” Aasbo told us. “It’s time to figure out how to regain my focus.”

NEXT RACE

Aasbo prepares to take on a brand new track for Round 7 at Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville, UT on September 15-17.