Chris Forsberg Formula Drift
By Brendan Todio
First of all, congratulations on your 2009 success with Formula Drift. Formula Drift Champion and Triple Crown champion in the same year - you're the first driver to do that! How does that feel to achieve that?
Totally awesome!! It's really funny though because when I won it, my first feelings were of relief. Because of a change in the schedule, there was a 7 week gap between round 6 and the final event, I spent that 7 weeks in complete suspense. I have never wanted anything so badly in all of my life and there are still moments when it doesn't seem real.
Your Formula Drift campaign resulted in two 1stplace finishes and one 3rdplace finish (in round events) and the narrowest of margins over (Ryan) Tuerck. To secure the series win, all you had to do was make it to the top 16 in the final round. However, you had to do a re-run on your top 32 run; what was the feeling like when you were waiting for the results?
It was actually the time in between the runs that was most stressful; on our first chase run, the car hiccuped in third gear and Doug pulled a big lead before we reached the bank. The run was solid but I think the judges may have thought I left a gap to play it safe which is why they ran us one more time. We called 5 minutes to check the car out before we ran the second time, everything looked fine but I was still so scared that it would happen again. It didn't and we had two solid runs.
When I pulled back to the start everyone was jumping up and down and screaming! There was no waiting for results because before I even heard on the radio that we had won I was ripped out of the car by my friends and crew and thrown into the air! It was one of the greatest feelings of my life!
Down here at Australia, we have access to Formula Drift on TV. However, we don't get to know 'that' much about Formula Drift drivers. So tell us a bit about yourself and your drifting history? How did you get into drifting? How long have you been doing it for? Where did you start drifting and how did you end up at Formula Drift? Is drifting your future?
I have been into drifting for just over a decade now. I first found out about it through the Initial D videos! Then I started searching around on the internet to find drift videos and I studied them to see what they were doing to make the cars drift. With no track days or anything out in Pennsylvania, my only practice was this one corner that I would go through once a week at best. After a year or so I was able to slide a car around pretty consistently. In 2003 I was involved with the start of the first organized drifting events on the east coast. I was able to get a lot of good practice in an open parking lot. With drifting growing in the states, myself and Tony Angelo made an effort to qualify for the D1 Grand Prix event by driving our cars on a flatbed out to California. After an unsuccessful weekend, we both knew that moving to California and competing with those drivers was going to put us on the next level. When I arrived in California in October for a Drift Showoff event, I earned a 5thplace overall finish and was approached by several sponsors. The very next month, Formula Drift announced their professional series and my new goal was to figure out how to get to those events. I have been running Formula Drift since their very first event and never missed a race. Drifting is my future, I love it and I am here to stay.
Given that you have competed in the Red Bull Drifting World Championship in the past, you are probably familiar with some of the Drift Australia drivers. Do you remember meeting any of them and what was it like competing on an international level?
The Drift Australia drivers were great! I feel the Australians have a more JDM style of driving than most drivers in the US. Their cars are looser, which makes them very smooth and able to hold big angle, which is what I like best in drifting. Seeing these types of differences in driving style and car set-up are what made the world championship most fun, that and knowing that you are there competing with the most talented and dedicated drivers from around the world.
Since you have been with Formula Drift, you have gone through a few cars and motor swaps. What influences these decisions? The desire to improve? Car issues?
My first chassis swap was from my 350Z coupe to an S15 which was provided to us by Falken for the 2005 season. I had always wanted an S15 and I had some right hand drive experience so I felt that I would be able to handle it. The car's initial setup proved to be very competitive, and it took me to my first Formula Drift win. Unfortunately, the S15 was no longer available to us for the 2006 season so my crew chief, Kevin Wells, and I chose to get back into a 350Z, which we did with the help of Nissan Motorsports who were nice enough to give us the convertible that I compete in today. For the Roadster, Kevin wanted to go with a big NA engine, instead of a wound up SR20. The plan was to simplify the car with no turbos, no piping, etc. The weight would be very similar but we would have the advantage of improved reliability.
So what are you running now? Tell us a bit about your car?
We are still running the 2006 Nissan 350Z convertible with the Titan 5.6L engine. It is by far the best drifting car I have ever driven. It is so suited to my driving style that I can jump into it and feel totally confident on almost any course. The car has a full carbon fiber body, weighs around 2750lbs, and makes about 450hp.
What are your plans for 2010 and what are your competition expectations now that it's the start of the season and there's an open slate.
We installed a new Quaife sequential transmission into the car to help me with upshifts in drift. This has been one of my biggest downfalls over the years, so with that worry out of my head I can push a little harder than I did before! With the consistency of my competitors improving, I needed to find a way to make myself more consistent as well.
It was a pleasure speaking to you Chris and hopefully we can see you competing against Drift Australia drivers in the near future. Good luck with repeating your 2009 success in 2010 and beyond!
Thank you so much, I appreciate you wanting to speak with me and look forward to seeing Drift Australia at the next world championship!
