CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA DRIFT DRIVER FREDRIC AASBO’S ALL-NEW ROCKSTAR ENERGY / NEXEN TIRE 2019 TOYOTA COROLLA HATCHBACK UNVEILED AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

• New-for-2018 competition Toyota Corolla hatchback is outfitted with Nexen SUR4G tires; debuts April 6 at Formula DRIFT Round 1: Streets of Long Beach
• Fredric Aasbo renews with Nexen Tire Motorsports for two more years; continues trust in patented Nexen Tire racing technology for superior grip, handling and weather performance in the most demanding scenarios

2015 Formula DRIFT champion Fredric Aasbo with the all-new Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback

PHOTO: Louis Yio / Larry Chen, Papadakis Racing

NEW YORK (March 28, 2018) – Nexen Tire Motorsports unveiled the all-new Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback during Toyota’s press conference at the 118^th annual New York International Auto Show.

• World Champion Formula DRIFT driver, Fredric Aasbo, will compete this season in the vehicle redesigned by Hawthorne, Calif.-based Papadakis Racing-- and has renewed for two years as a part of the Nexen Motorsports family.
• Nexen’s N-Fera SUR4G tires – engineered with patented ‘extreme ultra high performance’ technology for superior grip, handling and weather performance – will be trusted to maximize the vehicle’s potential.
• The hatchback, built for optimal Formula DRIFT performance by Papadakis Racing, features the Nexen SUR4G street-legal tires, a four-cylinder turbocharged Toyota 2AR engine, a dog-engagement manual transmission, a Papadakis racing-designed roll cage, a Borg Warner EFR turbo, AEM Infinity 8-fuel injection and RS-R suspension.

"One of the things that people may not realize about drifting is that it is a motorsport that requires an incredible amount of grip,” said 2015 Formula DRIFT champion and 2017 second overall driver Fredric Aasbo. ”We make 1,000 horsepower in our Rockstar Energy Drink / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla Hatchback and we need a sticky tire like the Nexen N'Fera SUR4G to succeed on track."

PHOTO: Louis Yio / Larry Chen, Papadakis Racing

Nexen Tire Motorsports Team: Two-Year Renewal

Norway-born Aasbo captured both the Formula DRIFT Series and World championships in 2015, smashing the series record for most wins scored by a driver in a single season along the way. In 2016, he was named a runner-up, and was crowned second overall driver in 2017.

“I’m honored to be joining Nexen for another two seasons of Formula DRIFT,” said Aasbo. “Not only do the N’Fera SUR4G tires maximize on-track performance for myself and the vehicle, but the support of the entire Nexen Tire Motorsports team along the way has been invaluable.”

Representing the Nexen team at US, European and Japanese Formula DRIFT events –Aasbo will also appear on the brand’s behalf at this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show and various dealer events.

“We are thrilled to have Fredric as part of the Nexen family for the next two seasons,” said Paul Jho, senior motorsports manager at Nexen Tire USA. “The incredible combination of the newly redesigned Papadakis Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla hatchback, the Nexen N'Fera SUR4G extreme performance tire and Fredric’s world-class talent has the team going into the 2018 with big momentum.”