Michael Essa
{{short description|American Drifter and racing driver|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{COI|date=March 2015}}{{notability|Sports|date=March 2015}}}}
{{Infobox racing driver|name=Michael Essa|image=|imagesize=180px|caption=|nationality={{USA}}|birth_date=|birth_place=Los Angeles, California|related to=|current series=Formula D|first year={{d1|2009}}|current team=Essa Autosport|car number=101|former teams=|starts=|wins=2|poles=|fastest laps=|best finish=1st|year=2013|prev series=|prev series years=|titles=Formula D|title years=2013|awards=|award years=}}Michael Essa is an American drifter and racing driver who competed in the Formula D series, winning the championship in 2013 in a BMW M3.{{Cite web |title=Michael Essa |url=https://www.formulad.com/drivers/michael-essa |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=www.formulad.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://autoweek.com/article/other-motorsports/michael-essa-wins-2013-formula-drift-championship|title = Michael Essa wins the 2013 Formula Drift championship|date = 13 October 2013}}
Career
Essa started his career in autocross racing at the age of 16. He has also worked as a precision driver and advisor for the entertainment industry.
In 2009, Essa joined the Formula D drifting series roster. He has driven a variety of different cars in his drift career, including a Mazda RX-7, BMW E92 M3, BMW Z4 and a BMW E46 M3. He has won a championship and became the first privateer to become a Formula Drift Champion. In the 2015 season, Essa switched to a Chevrolet Camaro.{{Cite web |title=Michael Essa Makes Camaro and SLP Sponsorship Official for 2015 |url=http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/blog/2015/02/13/michael-essa-makes-camaro-and-slp-sponsorship-official-for-2015/}}{{Cite web |title=Michael Essa Profile - Bio, News, High-Res Photos & High Quality Videos |url=https://www.motorsport.com/driver/michael-essa/17378/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=www.motorsport.com |language=en}} Essa then switched back to a BMW E46 M3 for 2016 onwards.{{cite news|last=Korecki|first=Danny|title=This is what it's like riding shotgun in a tire shredding, 1,000 horsepower Formula Drift race car |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/13/watch-riding-shotgun-in-a-formula-drift-race-car.html |accessdate=4 April 2019|newspaper=CNBC |date=4 April 2019}}
In January 2023, Essa officially announced his departure from Formula D after 14 years.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/FormulaDRIFT/photos/10159616859136491/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.facebook.com}} Since then he has become a part of Daily Driven Exotics{{Cite web |title=Daily Driven Exotics YouTube Channel |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj_ARBxhCoF5JxUItcEUs7Q |website=youtube.com}} YouTube channel, where he applies his skills and expertise on various projects such as rebuilding a modified McLaren 720S and applying custom modifications to Ferrari F12.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essa, Michael}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
{{US-autoracing-bio-stub}}