# Michael Essa

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**Michael Essa** is an American [drifter](/source/Drifting_(motorsport)) and racing driver who competed in the [Formula D](/source/Formula_D) series, winning the championship in 2013 in a [BMW M3](/source/BMW_M3).[1][2]

## 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](/source/Mazda_RX-7), [BMW E92 M3](/source/BMW_E92), [BMW Z4](/source/BMW_Z4) and a [BMW E46 M3](/source/BMW_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](/source/Chevrolet_Camaro).[3][4] Essa then switched back to a BMW E46 M3 for 2016 onwards.[5]

In January 2023, Essa officially announced his departure from Formula D after 14 years.[6] Since then he has become a part of Daily Driven Exotics[7] YouTube channel, where he applies his skills and expertise on various projects such as rebuilding a modified [McLaren 720S](/source/McLaren_720S) and applying custom modifications to [Ferrari F12](/source/Ferrari_F12).

## References

1. ["Michael Essa"](https://www.formulad.com/drivers/michael-essa). *www.formulad.com*. Retrieved 2023-04-12.

1. ["Michael Essa wins the 2013 Formula Drift championship"](http://autoweek.com/article/other-motorsports/michael-essa-wins-2013-formula-drift-championship). 13 October 2013.

1. ["Michael Essa Makes Camaro and SLP Sponsorship Official for 2015"](http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/blog/2015/02/13/michael-essa-makes-camaro-and-slp-sponsorship-official-for-2015/)

1. ["Michael Essa Profile - Bio, News, High-Res Photos & High Quality Videos"](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/michael-essa/17378/). *www.motorsport.com*. Retrieved 2023-04-12.

1. Korecki, Danny (4 April 2019). ["This is what it's like riding shotgun in a tire shredding, 1,000 horsepower Formula Drift race car"](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/13/watch-riding-shotgun-in-a-formula-drift-race-car.html). *[CNBC](/source/CNBC)*. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

1. ["Facebook"](https://www.facebook.com/FormulaDRIFT/photos/10159616859136491/). *www.facebook.com*. Retrieved 2023-04-14.

1. ["Daily Driven Exotics YouTube Channel"](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj_ARBxhCoF5JxUItcEUs7Q). *youtube.com*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael Essa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Essa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Essa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.