Runner-up Hübinette a Hit at Formula Drift Mexico
Team Mopar driver and current Formula Drift points leader Samuel Hübinette proved an effective ambassador for Mopar and the sport of drifting in the inaugural Formula Drift (FD) Mexico exhibition event. The fan favorite drew large autograph-seeking crowds, and then drove his NuFormz Racing Mopar Dodge Charger SRT8® drift car to a second-place finish on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Monterrey Autodrome.
NuFormz Racing team owner Shaun Carlson wisely decided to save Hübinette's Mopar Dodge Viper SRT10® drift cars for the two remaining FD points events, putting Hübinette behind the wheel of his 2007 ride for the Mexico exhibition. Hübinette lost a close final round battle with Justin Pawlak, but considering the "Crazy Swede" hadn't competed in the Charger in months, his performance was remarkable.
"I was very happy with this weekend overall," said Hübinette, who has also scored two runner-up finishes in FD points events this year, at Long Beach, Calif., and Monroe, Wash. "We took second in my old Charger, but most importantly I was mobbed by fans for the entire event. They loved the HEMI®-powered Charger. This was the first time many of them had ever seen drifting. And we had great media coverage, including ESPN. So I think it was great exposure for my sponsors, Mopar and BFGoodrich, and also for drifting. I think we helped grow the sport in a new market."
Next up for Hubinette and the NuFormz Racing team is the Round Six: Locked and Loaded event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., scheduled for September 13. For more info on the Formula Drift Series, visit formuladrift.com.