FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM ROUND 1 IN LONG BEACH

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Location: Streets of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Event: Qualification for Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 1

RESULTS FROM FD PRO QUALIFYING

1. James Deane (Ireland) – O’Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
2. Jack Shanahan (Ireland) – Pulsar Turbos E82 BMW
3. Chris Forsberg (USA) – Destined Industries Nissan Z

PRO NOTES

• For the 2026 season, the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship is returning to solo qualifying runs following a vote by the drivers. Each driver will get two runs to set their greatest rating
• It’s price noting that the PROSPEC Championship drivers voted to retain tandem Seeding Bracket qualification runs this season
• The operating order for Qualifying is determined by the reverse of the Championship rating. For Round One, the Rookie drivers went first with the 2025 Champion operating final. For subsequent rounds, the order would be the reverse of the 2026 Championship standings
• To keep away from solo qualifying runs creating any scheduling points in the event that they ran lengthy on mixed Championship weekends, Formula DRIFT determined to collaborate with Race Data Labs on its UDSM (Universal Drift Scoring Method) system. The telemetry and information system is ready to automate the target features of scoring particular person qualifying runs to assist management the scheduling
• As a end result, roughly 80% of a PRO driver’s Qualifying rating can be automated. The drivers’ drift Line and automobile Angle can be quantified and scored completely by the UDSM system, serving to to hurry up the judging course of. Driving Style – the remaining 20% of the general rating – is topic to nuance and requires human reasoning to use classes not measured by UDSM, corresponding to transition snap and stability, use of e-brake and left-foot braking, diploma of problem and the mixture impact. Subsequently, Style continues to be assessed and awarded by the present panel of three Formula DRIFT judges
• The RDL programs can be integrated into all competitors automobiles for your entire weekend and can present the identical bodily information to the judges to reference throughout competitors. It will be capable to objectively measure the proximity between autos, comparative angle between drivers, and comparative pace
• UDSM will even present a dependable deceleration sample, which is able to construct on the present Formula DRIFT “Decel Lights” to detect deceleration and establish when deceleration has met a visible threshold. And within the case of collisions, it will possibly present information to assist reveal which driver was at fault
• The system will even detect whether or not a driver places one, two, three and even 4 tires off the prescribed course, making the scrutiny required to evaluate exact place far less complicated
• During Qualification, USDM is ready to transmit information to the FD manufacturing truck, which then applies graphics each dwell and in replay. This makes the information accessible to new and veteran followers alike, serving to them acquire a greater perception
• With 33 drivers trying to qualify for the Top 32 Competition locations, one could be eradicated, and sadly the axe fell on Rome Charpentier (USA) within the Garagistic / Pedal Commander /  Coco Love / Kumho Tire /  E36 BMW. He was unable to finish his first run and solely scored  after he solely scored 48.3 factors on his second
• The high qualifier was the reigning and five-time FD PRO Champion James Deane with a rating of 89 factors. As the highest ranked driver from 2025, he ran final and claimed the lead on the ultimate run of the session, bringing continuing to a dramatic climax
• Second place went to fellow Irishman Shanahan in a BMW he inbuilt 16 days and wasn’t certain it will even be prepared in time. However, he scored 88.46 factors on his second run to safe the place
• Third place went to Forsberg who confirmed the talents of a three-time Champion, presumably impressed by his new livery on his Nissan Z
• In fourth was Ryan Tuerck (USA) within the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla. Not solely was he celebrating his birthday, however Ryan additionally introduced he’d be leaving the sequence on the finish of the 12 months and promised to push to the tip
• Throughout the primary run session, the lead was held by Deane’s teammate at RTR Motorsports, Ben Hobson (USA) who scored a dominant 86.26 factors on his first run. However, a spin on his second outing meant he couldn’t enhance and positioned seventh total
• The main Rookie was Cole Richards (USA) driving the Richards Racing Toyota GT86. He scored 83.46 factors, putting him seventh total. He was one of many three main PROSPEC drivers to graduate into the PRO Championship and is anticipated to battle arduous for the 2026 Rookie of the Year award with the 2025 PROSPEC Champion Cody Buchanan (USA) and Nate Chen (USA)
• The high qualifier receives three Championship level, whereas second place receives two, and third will get one level

(*1*)

FD PRO ROUND 1 TOP 16 QUALIFYING RESULTS*

TOP 32 COMPETITION BRACKET FOR ROUND 1

* Preliminary standings. Final outcomes pending official affirmation