BFGoodrich® Tires and TEN Crown Nation's Top Amateur Performance Driver in Driver Enough Challenge

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Jul 08, 2015, 01:38 ET

GREENVILLE, S.C., July 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BFGoodrich^® Tires, manufacturer of products designed to handle any adventure, and TEN: The Enthusiast Network's MOTOR TREND and FOURWHEELER, crowned Mike ller, from Redlands, Calif., the nation's top amateur performance driver after a two-day competition testing drivers with on- and off-road driving challenges.

Mike Iler (Redlands, Calif.) stood atop the podium after the two-day Driver Enough Challenge. Gardner Nichols (Boulder, Colo.) too second and Wade Koehl (Cypress, Texas) took third place.

Drivers competed to prove they were "Driver Enough" both on- and off-road, including in a 2015 Ford Mustang GT with BFGoodrich(R) g-Force(TM) COMP-2(TM) A/S ultra-high performance tires.

Competitors were challenged to prove they were "Driver Enough" off road in a 2014 Ford Raptor, equipped with the BFGoodrich(R) All-Terrain T/A(TM) KO2 tires.

Iler triumphed in the competition, which featured 56 amateur drivers who attempted to prove they were "driver enough" with two high-horsepower vehicles — the new 2015 Ford Mustang GT, outfitted with BFGoodrich^® Tires g-Force™ COMP-2™ A/S ultra-high performance tires: and a 2014 Ford Raptor, equipped with the BFGoodrich^® Tires All-Terrain T/A™ KO2.

Drivers were asked to perform on a customized road course as well as a rough and demanding off-road track at Willow Springs International Raceway in California. The road course challenged participants through a series of fast straights, tight corners and a host of elevation changes. Adjacent to the road course, a rugged off-road track was designed to test the drivers' skills behind the wheel on rocky terrain.

The Driver Enough Challenge champion was determined by the fastest combined lap times from both on- and off-road courses. Celebrity BFGoodrich performance pro driver Andrew Comrie-Picard and off-road pro driver Brad Lovell participated as expert instructors to set baseline lap times on their respective courses for the challengers to beat. Once the dust settled and the on- and off-road runs from all the challengers were calculated, Wade Koehl from Cypress, Texas, came in third, Gardner Nichols from Boulder, Colo., took second, and Mike ller took home first place with the grand prize of a new set of BFGoodrich^® Tires.

"I couldn't believe how great the BFGoodrich Tires performed for me," Driver Enough Challenge champion ller said. "The rear-end grip is awesome, which makes it easier to handle the courses. I want to thank BFGoodrich for this amazing experience. It feels great to be a champion."

The two signature BFGoodrich tires used on the vehicles provided the performance characteristics needed for participants to maintain confidence in their driving abilities. The new BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A™ KO2, launched in late 2014, is the most advanced and toughest light-truck tire ever built by the company that created the All-Terrain category. The new g-Force™ COMP-2™ A/S tire brings race-proven technology to everyday use in an ultra-high performance all-season tire that delivers the ability to accelerate faster, brake shorter and maintain control in all seasons.

Through an integrated partnership, BFGoodrich^® Tires and TEN: The Enthusiast Network, the world's premier network of enthusiast brands, selected six amateurs based on videos they submitted displaying their driving talents, and gave them an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the challenge, which was held May 9-10, at Willow Springs, Calif. Another 50 local amateurs signed up through the event website and made the trip themselves.

Next up for Iler is a chance to compete in a professionally sanctioned race series. BFGoodrich first will host Iler to fine tune his skills with BFGoodrich Performance driver and instructor Terry Earwood and the team at Skip Barber Driving School in Braselton, Ga. Then Iler will suit up and enter the starting grid of the final Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge MX-5 Cup series race of the season at Road Atlanta on Oct. 1-2 to prove he is driver enough to compete against current and aspiring professional race car drivers in equally prepared Mazda MX-5 racecars equipped with BFGoodrich g-Force R1 tires.

About BFGoodrich^®Tires
With more than 100 years of heritage, BFGoodrich^® Tires is dedicated to providing high performance tires for those who have a passion for driving in virtually any environment. Combining technical expertise with 40 years of motorsports experience, BFGoodrich^® Tires delivers tires for a full range of driving experiences from ultra-high performance street, to off-road terrain with one common theme – extreme performance. Come upgrade your performance with BFGoodrich and see where our tires can take you at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Twitter at @BFGoodrichTires.

About TEN: The Enthusiast Network
TEN: The Enthusiast Network is the world's premier network of enthusiast brands, such as MOTOR TREND, AUTOMOBILE, HOT ROD, SURFER, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, and GRINDTV. With more than 50 publications, 60 websites, 50 events, 1,000 branded products, the world's largest automotive VOD channel, and the world's largest action/adventure sports media platform, TEN inspires enthusiasts to pursue their passions. For more information, visit enthusiastnetwork.com.

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SOURCE BFGoodrich Tires