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Vaughn Gittin Jr. Is First to Drift the 12.9 Mile North Loop at Nürburgring
Vaughn Gittin Jr. Is First to Drift the 12.9 Mile North Loop at Nürburgring
Sep 25, 2018
Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifting the Nürburgring
Drifting is not a sport for the faint of heart, and Vaughn Gittin Jr. is anything but. Since 2004—Formula Drift’s inaugural year—he has been a self-proclaimed “professional fun haver”; the rare combination of a fierce competitor with the heart and passion of a dedicated hobbyist. Always watchful for the next big challenge, Gittin Jr. recently completed a world first—drifting the entire north loop at Nürburgring.
Built in the 1920s in the Eifel mountains of Germany, the Nürburgring north loop (Nordschleife) is 12.9 miles of demanding turns with over 1,000 feet of elevation change. The former location for the German Grand Prix, the loop has earned the moniker “The Green Hell”. Gittin Jr. became the first driver to drift the entire course—demonstrating both his driving prowess and the power and agility of his Mustang RTR.
The Mustang RTR reached speeds of 150-mph on the track
Gittin Jr. began competing in Formula Drift in his personal Nissan S13, but quickly captured the attention of Ford Racing, who began a partnership with him in 2009. Ford and Gittin Jr. collaboratively launched the Mustang RTR in 2010. Today, Vaughn races in the Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Racing Mustang, which features a 900-horsepower, 9000-rpm engine built by Ford Performance and Roush Yates Engines.
The Mustang RTR features a 100-8578 filter assembly
He has an impressive list of wins—including three World Drift Series Championships (2011, 2012, and 2013), and the title of the only American to win two D1 Grand Prix events. He was honored as the Formula Drift Ace Driver of the Decade in 2013, which recognized his participation in all ten seasons of the series and the most tandem victories of any Formula Drift driver. He also owns RTR Motorsports (for which he races), based in Baltimore, Maryland.
Gittin Jr.’s Mustang RTR features a custom K&N® performance filter—which features the same technology as K&N®’s original High-Flow Air Filters, trusted for their ability to provide exceptional engine protection. You can search for one to fit your vehicle here. “I’ve been working with K&N on an official level for fifteen years now,” Gittin Jr. commented. “But prior to that, I ran K&N [products] on my first car that I used to race in industrial parks and parking lots. That started my love for K&N. It’s an honor, fifteen years later, to still be working with them. No matter what I’m doing—whether it is Formula Drift, Ultra4, or just general fun-having—and no matter where in the world I am, K&N Filters are ready to party with me and are my weapons of choice!"
You can see Vaughn Gittin Jr. compete in Round 8 of the Formula Drift Pro Series at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California on October 12-13.
