Chris Forsberg Wins 2014 Formula Drift Championship in 370Z

The 2014 Formula Drift Championship was basically down to two competitors: NISMO USA's Chris Forsberg in his 370Z and newcomer (and already popular) Fredric Aasbo of Scion's Team SpeedHunters. The Final Four competition over the weekend had Forsberg, after beating out storied competitor Vaughn Gittin Jr., and Aasbo winning over Daigo Saito, a former champion and who offered a tough win for the young newcomer.

The final competition was filled with speed, showmanship, beautiful tire smoking, and close action. The 370Z is one of the few cars in the competition that hasn't had its powerplant replaced with a bigger American-made V8, instead opting for the Nissan VK56; though that engine's 1,000 horsepower isn't anything to shake a stick at.

"To put a Nissan-powered Nissan back on the podium is amazing. We won it back in 2009," says Forsberg. "Since then, we've had a few close calls the last two years with a third and a second. Taking number one spot, nothing beats it."

After a long and tense deliberation between the judges, the 2014 Formula Drive Championship was indeed given to Forsberg and his 370Z. As for the driver and his Z car, they're now headed for Red Bull Drift Shifters, a competition based on telemetry rather than judge impressions. Forsberg may or may not be excited about that proposition.