2008 PRO/AM Drift East Divisional Championship Event presented by Mazda
held in conjunction with GTLIVE and the KONI Challenge Series on October 3-5, 2008
on the 1.1 Mile Patriot Course at VIRginia International Raceway.

ADMISSION:
Admission is required for all drivers, crew, and spectators per track policy. You can purchase your advance tickets here.
3-day Super Ticket: Advance: $40 Gate: $50
Friday: Advance: $20 Gate: $20
Saturday: Advance: $20 Gate: $25
Sunday: Advance: $20 Gate: $25

DETAILS:
Practice sessions, qualifying, and competition rounds will take place only in turns 10, 9, 8, and 7 running clockwise (in front of the Patriot timing and scoring tower). New for 2008; since the series has now been split in half across the Mississippi River, both the PRO/AM and Formula Drift non-point scoring drivers will compete together for one competition (as opposed to the previous 2 years of 2 competitions). The competition format will be a standard Top16 single elimination round which will progress down the ladder until a winner is declared.

Qualifying and competition rounds will be judged by a 3-member panel for this event. Judges to be announced shorty. Judged criteria includes; entry speed into the turns, overall speed carried throughout the judged portion of the run, drift angle (the bigger, the better – without sacrificing speed), clipping points (apex of the turns), use of the entire track (performed in a controlled manner). Extra points can be awarded to drivers at the discretion of the individual judges and may include, but are not limited to, close proximity to barriers, amount of tire smoke, tire smoke that causes a change in the following driver’s line, and if minor contact is made with an object, but the drift is still maintained (i.e. bumper gently tagging a barrier).

2009 Formula Drift Professional Series licenses will be awarded at the discretion of the Formula Drift approved judges, in accordance with Formula Drift and their on-site representatives.

Drivers meetings are mandatory for ALL participants in order to drive on track for that session. Attendance will be taken and failure to attend will forfeit your right to participate in that session. Grounds speed limit is 10 mph and paddock speed limit is 5mph, both will be strictly enforced. Event is held rain or shine.

Please refer to the 2008 PRO/AM Drift Rulebook for specific information regarding the 2008 PRO/AM Drift East Divisional Championship Event. Note: Please read the new rulebook to ensure proper compliance. For any additional questions or information, please visit the PRO/AM website. For information on the Formula Drift Professional Series, please visit the Formula Drift website.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE:
QUALIFIED DRIVERS:
This group consists of drivers who have attended one or more 2008 PRO/AM Qualifier Events and scored high enough to qualify for entry to the 2008 PRO/AM Drift East Divisional Championship Event. There are currently 53 qualified drivers, 33 East Divisional and 20 West Divisional. This list can be found on the main page of the PRO/AM website.

NON-POINT SCORING FORMULA DRIFT PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS:
This group consists of drivers who either (a.) previously held a full season license (not a provisional license) in the Formula Drift Professional Series prior to the current season and have not earned at least 1 point in the current season or (b.) currently possess a valid 2008 Formula Drift Professional Series full or provisional license and have not earned at least 1 point in the current season.

NON-QUALIFIED DRIVERS:
This group consists of drivers who either (a.) failed to attend a 2008 PRO/AM Qualifer Event or (b.) failed to qualify at a 2008 PRO/AM Qualifier Event.

REGISTRATION:
Registration deadline is 11:59PM on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008. Click here to register. No refunds* are available for this event. Driver's who register incorrectly (i.e. Qualified registration, when not actually a qualified driver) will not be issued a refund.

QUALIFIED DRIVERS:
Registration = $200 refundable* (check for full event registration refund will ONLY be issued upon arrival and participation in the event)

NON-POINT SCORING FORMULA DRIFT PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS (2008 Season):
Registration = $200

NON-QUALIFIED DRIVERS:
Registration = $1000

FORMAT:
Practice sessions will take place on a full track configuration. Qualifying and tandem elimination rounds will use only turns 10, 9, 8, and 7. The qualifying and tandem elimination rounds will be judged by a 3-member panel for this event. Judged criteria includes; entry speed into the turns, overall speed carried throughout the judged portion of the run, drift angle (the bigger, the better – without sacrificing speed), clipping points (apex of the turns), and use of the entire track (performed in a controlled manner). The judged sections of the track will be the same for qualifying and tandem eliminations, and will be discussed in detail at the drivers' meeting.

On tandem runs, the aforementioned factors will still be used, with the addition of the leading and following cars maintaining their respective lead or pursuit over the other driver. Passes are not required for a winning run, however, if the lead driver has gone off line and the following driver executes the pass in a safe manner or to prevent a crash, that is acceptable. The “One More Time” clause will only be used once per match-up. Extra points can be awarded to drivers at the discretion of the individual judges and may include, but are not limited to, close proximity to barriers, amount of tire smoke, tire smoke that causes a change in the following driver’s line, and if minor contact is made with an object but the drift is still maintained (i.e. bumper gently tagging a barrier on purpose and under control).

SCHEDULE:
***All drivers' meetings will be held at the drivers' registration booth at the red barn locatd next to the Patriot Course paddock.

FRIDAY:
9:00AM - Vendor setup
12:00PM - Driver and crew setup
1:00PM - Registration/Check-in
1:00PM - Technical Inspections
2:30PM - Drivers' meeting (MANDATORY)
3:00PM - Practice session begins
6:00PM - Practice session ends

SATURDAY:
1:15PM - Drivers' meeting (MANDATORY)
1:45PM - Practice session begins
4:15PM - Practice session ends
4:30PM - Drivers' meeting (MANDATORY)
4:45PM - Qualifying (if time remains, will become practice session)
6:30PM - Qualifying/practice ends
7:00PM - Top 16 announced

SUNDAY:
1:30PM - Drivers' meeting (MANDATORY)
2:00PM - Top 16 practice session begins
3:15PM - Top 16 practice session ends
3:30PM - Drivers' meeting (MANDATORY)
3:45PM - Top 16 eliminations
5:30PM - Award ceremony

MISC:
Volunteers interested in helping out with this event, please email brian@proamdrift.com. All volunteers must be 18+ years old.
Sponsorship inquiries for this event should be directed to brian@proamdrift.com or call 804-545-2822.
All media requests must be approved by GTLive and you can apply here.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:
GT Sim Race: The GT Sim Race brings you closer to the racing action than you ever thought possible by offering passenger rides in the hottest cars with the coolest drivers. Participation is free.
Red Line Time Attack: Time attack has grown tremendously over the last few years and Redline is quickly becoming a battleground for the hottest cars in the country.
Tarzan's Lapping Sessions: Not happy going to a race event unless you can get on the track yourself? If you have a helmet and street legal car you can get time on the world famous Miller and VIR tracks.
Mazda Drift Experience: Mazda will be bringing their three car Formula Drift Team Drift competition drift team for five 20-minute ride along sessions. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Grand Am Koni Challenge: The Koni Challenge features battles in two different classes including sports cars from Mazda, Acura, Ford, Nissan and BMW.
Karting Zone: Almost every successful professional racing driver in the world today got their start in karting. You'll get your chance to test your skills at both Miller's and VIR's world-class tracks.
SCCA Auto-X: Auto-X is the most fun, cost-effective and safest way to get into racing. It requires enormous amounts of skill and teaches a lot, yet all you need is your street car to do it.
WRX Track Attack: WRX Track Attack gives you the chance to be one of the first to get behind the wheel off the new 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX, or 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI at Virginia.
GT Live Fan Festivals: In 2006 GT LIVE started the concept of Fan Festivals. Now we are taking the game to a new level. Rather than us being involved in each individual Fan Festival, we'll put you in charge.
GT Live Model Search: GT LIVE will be holding a model search contest at our events in 2008 and pick 4 finalists and 2 alternates in each city.

TRACK INFO:
VIRginia International Raceway
1245 Pine Tree Road
Alton, VA 24520

Phone: 434-822-7700
Fax: 434-822-8033

12 miles east of Danville, VA
20 miles west of South Boston, VA
15 minutes from Danville Regional Airport
One hour from Raleigh-Durham or Greensboro, on the NC state line
Mild climate permitting year-round operation

GPS COORDINATES:
The turn from the public road into VIR is located at N36.54984 W79.19271, (in hddd.ddddd format) or N36i 32’ 59.4” W79i 11’ 33.7” (in hddi mm’ ss.s” format)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

Driving from Roanoke, VA

• Take US 220 South towards Martinsville, approx. 50 miles
• Exit onto US 58 East to Danville, VA, continue through Danville, approx. 40 miles
• Turn right onto VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
• Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Richmond, VA

• Take I-95 South, 22 miles
• Take I-85 South, 56 miles
• Take US 58 West near South Hill, 70 miles
• Turn left on VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
• Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Raleigh, NC

• Take US 70 Bypass West to I-85 South
• Turn right onto US 501 Bypass North, becomes US 501
• Stay on US 501 to Roxboro, approx. 27 miles
• Turn left onto Court St. in Roxboro,
• Turn right onto NC-57, 17 miles
• Turn right onto Race Track Rd. VIR is 1 mile on the left

Driving from Greensboro, NC

• Take US 29 North, 45 miles
• Turn onto US 58 East towards South Boston, 5 miles
• Turn right onto VA-62 South to Milton, NC, through the traffic light and onto NC-57 South.
• Continue one half mile and turn left onto Race Track Road. VIR is 1 mile on the left

LODGING: