Tuerck takes second after damaging a wheel.
Fredric Aasbo secured his first win of the 2021 Formula Drift season in St. Louis over the weekend, wheeling the black-and-gold Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota Supra to a top finish ahead of Papadakis Racing teammate Ryan Tuerck in the Gumout Toyota Corolla Hatchback.
Aasbo's win follows three previous podiums this year, with the Formula Drift St. Louis result arriving as the Norwegian's first top-place finish since the 2020 Final at Irwindale.
Aasbo entered the Final 4 alongside reigning Formula Drift Pro Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr., with Aasbo leading the first run against Gittin's 1,200-horsepower Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR. However, a Gittin spin resulted in damage that had the RTR Motorsports team set to replace the Ford's rear axle and suspension subframe, a feat which could not be completed in the allotted 5-minute timeframe, leading to an Aasbo-Tuerck Final.
Aasbo led the first run in the Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota Supra, with Tuerck in the Gumout Toyota Corolla Hatchback nipping at his heels, but Tuerck hit the wall in transition and lost his angle. The collision also damaged a wheel, and although the Corolla hatch was back on track in time for the second run, a clean finish by Aasbo handed the Norwegian the win.
"Ryan had my number in the Finals but he ended up tapping the wall, and here we are – number 1!" Aasbo said. "It's the first win of the year for us and we're absolutely delighted. We're also getting closer to the Championship lead, and it's going to be a thriller going to the team's home course in California."
Aasbo's win lands him in third position in the 2021 Formula Drift Pro Championship standings with 466 points, behind Chelsea DeNofa in second with 471 points, and Matt Field in first with 485 points. Ryan Tuerck rounds out the top four with 418 points.
Formula Drift next heads to Long Beach, California for Round 7.
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