After a long winter, everyone here at NV Auto was ready to start the season. They packed up the trailer and headed over to Atlanta for the first round of Formula Drift Pro 2, where Riley Sexsmith will have been prepared to fight for the number one spot.
The NV Auto team was in for a long weekend of early mornings and late nights with both the drift car and time attack car needing their attention.
They we’re all working hard and rooting on as Riley gave his all in the qualifying rounds. He shot his way up the leaderboard with his quick and clean work on the track and placed 3rd in the end. Both the crew and the fans were beyond excited to watch him battle it off with the other drivers.
As the sun began to set on Road Atlanta, all the drivers were warming up to compete in the Top 16.
Riley began in the leading position with Sebastien Gauthier in the chase. Riley, aggressive with his initiation but unfortunately drops his right rear tire and loses his angle. As Riley comes back into his line, Gauthier comes up right up behind and ends himself into the side of Sexsmith. The judges declared Riley at fault leaving him with an incomplete for his leading run. The two line back up after a short break and this time Riley with the chase that ends with Gauthier with an incomplete lead.
With both drivers having an incomplete lead, the judges decided on a “one more time” between them. Everyone on the edge of their seat with this all Canadian battle, Riley leads with a clean run around the track as Gauthier goes off course and is left stuck in the kitty litter. Despite a spin out on Rileys chase, the judges vote and lands Riley into the TOP 8!
Riley Sexsmith & Ryan Litteral for the Great 8.
Both Sexsmith and Litteral with their fast and aggressive styles was bound to make the “BATTLE OF THE NIGHT” as fans cheered from the stands and viewers around the world commented on the live feed of Formula Drift, anticipated to see who takes the win of this battle.
Ryan Litteral begins in the lead position with both of them finishing with a clean and well initiated run leaving everyone wondering how this will all end. Riley initiates his chase and stays close into Ryan, tapping his bumper leaving it hanging and neither of them back down. The whole run leaves the crowed cheering as they continue the show stopping battle of the night.
Ryan Litteral now on fire as they come to the final stretch and Riley, staying right on him, gets lost in the smoke and off track landing him into the barrier before the finish line.
Though Riley didn’t get to go on, he definitely had all eyes on him that night. His fans and team proud and rooting for him. Riley came out unmarked, though the BRZ... came out with a few scratches.
The Damage
The bash bars did their job absorbing the impact. The hit left little damage to the structure of the car and you can see the mostly cosmetic damage. Impressively, those tires were still holding air even with the damage the Rota wheel took and goes to show their insane quality.
All in all, a great weekend at Road Atlanta. Riley Sexsmith standing #5 in Pro2 for the first round and we can’t wait to see the team go off to St Louis for round two.
