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05/04/2021 -- FCP Euro is renewing its partnership with Michael Essa for the 2021 Formula DRIFT season thanks to great results in 2020. Grasping last year’s compressed schedule by the horns, the 2013 Formula DRIFT PRO Champion drove with his trademark aggression and precision, completing the year in a respectable eighth place overall and the highest finishing BMW thanks to two podium finishes.

 

FCP Euro came to Formula DRIFT because of its tire-burning, bumper-bashing, engine-screaming, adrenaline-filled competition. Its motorsport team also noticed a sharp increase in BMW-mounted drivers, particularly in the PROSPEC Championship. This was why they committed to the series by sponsoring the most successful BMW driver in the series – Michael Essa – the only driver to retain a BMW engine, albeit with a custom turbocharger and nitrous injection. 

With a solid partner in Essa Autosport, FCP Euro has signed up for the 2021 season with the team and is looking forward to the traditional eight-round calendar that will once again open its gates to Formula DRIFT’s passionate, knowledgeable fans. And as a rapidly growing parts supply business specializing in European vehicle brands, FCP Euro has been able to bring together several of its partners to provide a full sponsorship package. It includes joint title sponsor LIQUI MOLY, which specializes in oils, lubricants, and additives, as well as Corteco, the largest seal manufacturer in the world, and a return to suspension masters, Bilstein, which helped Essa win the championship in 2013. The combination has allowed each brand to maximize its exposure and allows Michael to focus on driving.

For the 2021 season, Essa Autosport has carried out a number of upgrades to the FCP Euro/LIQUI MOLY/GT Radial BMW M3 competition car. One of the most pressing problems was the original BMW S54 M3 engine: developing approximately 1000hp at the wheels, its reliability had become an issue. So, the team is now working with VAC Motorsports, which is building a sleeved block that should reliably produce 1200hp at the wheels on nitrous. 

“If you look at the big match-ups we lost in 2020, it was often because some of our competitors were able to open a gap on us. It seems incredible that 1000whp is no longer sufficient to remain competitive, but such is the pace of development in the Formula DRIFT series,” Michael explained.

The VAC S54 engine will retain the same EFR 9280 turbocharger as last year (the largest available). The team is confident it will produce the power they need and will, of course, be protected by LIQUI MOLY fluids. 

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Another big change for 2021 is a switch to GT Radial tires. “I was thrilled to see GT Radial step into Formula DRIFT,” Essa continued. “Not only to provide rubber for the PROSPEC series but also to support a number of PRO drivers, such as myself. I’ve had a chance to run on the new tires and I’m really looking forward to pressing them into action once the season starts.”

As for the renewed sponsorship agreement, Michael had this to say: “It’s great to partner with FCP Euro again and to have them bring along LIQUI MOLY, Corteco, and Bilstein. After a challenging 2020, we’re looking forward to a full season and developing our relationship with our new partners. It’s encouraging that they stand behind all their brands, giving me the confidence to compete with them.”

In turn, Michael Hurczyn, FCP Euro Brand & Partnerships Director, was very enthusiastic about the new season. “It was great to see the FCP Euro name, along with our friends at LIQUI MOLY, on Michael Essa's E46 BMW M3 in 2020; however, we’re all looking forward to the upcoming season and to seeing fans in the grandstands again. The number of BMWs in the drift community has exploded over the past few years, and we're proud to have Michael Essa showing fans what the only BMW in Formula DRIFT with a BMW engine is capable of. To help him compete at the top level, FCP Euro has again partnered with LIQUI MOLY and brought Corteco and Bilstein into the program as well.”

The 2021 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship kicks off on May 7-8 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. You can visit formulad.com for event details, ticket purchases, livestream information, and more.

 

2021 FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

VENUE

LOCATION

DATE

Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

May 7 & 8

Orlando Speed World

Orlando, FL

May 21 & 22

Englishtown Raceway Park

Englishtown, NJ

June 18 & 19

Lake Erie Speedway

Erie, PA

July 9 & 10

Evergreen Speedway

Monroe, WA

July 30 & 31

World Wide Technology Raceway

Madison, IL

August 27 & 28

Streets of Long Beach

Long Beach, CA

September 17 & 18

Irwindale Speedway

Irwindale, CA

October 22 & 23


ABOUT FCP EURO

Since inception, we have continuously reinvested profits back into the company, and the incredible growth and dedication to our customers has put FCP on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list for 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Located in Milford, CT, our 100,000 square-foot Distribution Center stocks more than $20 million of inventory and has developed a highly efficient distribution model that gives us the ability to ship out most orders within 24 hours. We’ve committed ourselves to building our company based on service, quality, and continuous improvement because we know that if our employees care deeply about both the quality of our products and service to our customers, it will reflect in our long-term customer relationships. We know that the service and quality you receive from all of us at FCP Euro is second to none. For more information, please visit fcpeuro.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Michael Roselli – roselli@fcpeuro.com

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Written by :
Evan Madore

Writer/Editor at FCP Euro and owner of a daily R53 MINI Cooper, a track-built R53 MINI, and a 1997 Dakar Yellow E36 M3 Sedan. ••• Instagram: @evan.madore


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