Formula DRIFT Round 7: Elevated – Preview & Livestream
Drivers prepare to tackle Utah’s technical track and scorching temps for Round 7 of the 2024 season before the grand finale at Irwindale.
As Formula DRIFT gears up for Round 7: Elevated at Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville from August 29-31, the 2024 season enters its critical phase.
With only this round and the finale at Irwindale remaining, drivers face not only each other but also the challenge of high temps, which will add to the mechanical issues that have already been prominent this season.
Event Schedule & Livestream
The action starts on Thursday with the PROSPEC Main Event and PRO practice sessions. Friday sees PRO qualifying, while Saturday hosts the main PRO competition from Top 32 through to the Finals.
Fans can catch all the action via the free livestream links below:
Friday, August 30, 2024
12:00PM – 2:30PM: PROSPEC Main Event Top 32
4:00PM – 7:15PM: Livestream: PROSPEC Opening Ceremony + Main Event Top 16
7:15PM – 7:30PM: PROSPEC Trophy Ceremony
Saturday, August 31, 2024
12:00PM – 2:30PM: Livestream: PRO Main Event Top 32
4:00PM – 7:15PM: Livestream: PRO Opening Ceremony + Main Event Top 16
7:15PM – 7:30PM: PRO Trophy Ceremony
Who We’re Looking Out For
Irishman James Deane leads the PRO championship with 496 points, maintaining a 104-point advantage over Aurimas (Odi) Bakchis.
After a rare mistake from Deane against Jeff Jones saw him exit the competition in the Top 16 last round in Seattle, he then went out in the Top 32 due to mechanical issues at Drift Masters in Hungary last weekend, in a reminder that even the most dominant drivers aren’t immune to technical problems.
Watch out – he’ll undoubtedly be looking for redemption here.
Hiroya (Hiro) Minowa, sitting in third with 364 points, has shown remarkable consistency recently, with two consecutive second-place finishes going into the round.
The young driver, who recently turned 15 years old, is also very familiar with mechanical issues, which potentially robbed him of clinching the win during the last round in Seattle after failing to make the start line in the final.
After Ryan Tuerck’s recent victory in Seattle, his first since the 2022 season opener, he’ll be looking to cause another upset this time. His leap from 15th to 8th in the standings proves how quickly fortunes can change.
Adam LZ’s comeback story also continues. After a devastating crash in St. Louis totaled his chassis, LZ’s team built the E36 2.0 from scratch in just one week before securing a shock podium finish in Seattle.
LZ will undoubtedly feel he has nothing to lose after previously declaring his season finished before going on to land the podium spot. Like many top drivers, including Conor Shanahan, LZ also faced setbacks in the recent European Drift Masters event.
Other drivers to watch include Aurimas (Odi) Bakchis, Fredric Aasbo, and rookie Conor Shanahan.
Bakchis, currently second in the overall rankings, has been a consistent performer throughout the season and will look to close the gap to James Deane.
Aasbo, the three-time Formula DRIFT champion, is always a threat on any track and currently holds fourth place in the standings. In the video above, he states, “This is a track that I really, really like,” indicating that he’ll undoubtedly be hoping to cause an upset.
Despite a challenging debut season plagued by mechanical issues, Shanahan has shown flashes of brilliance we all know he’s capable of, including a victory in Orlando. Currently sitting in 10th overall, he’ll be eager to end his rookie season on a high note and potentially climb a few spots in the standings.
The Utah Challenge
The desert heat and elevation of the Utah track add another layer of complexity to the mechanical challenges teams face. As drivers push their cars to the limit in this penultimate round, the harsh conditions could escalate issues.
With the weekend temps expected to be over 90°F, finding the balance between performance and reliability will be crucial, especially with the Irwindale finale looming.
The battle for championship points is intensifying, not just for the top spot but throughout the standings. Drivers in the middle of the pack, like Tuerck, have shown that a strong performance in these final rounds could dramatically alter their season outcome.
Photography credits
We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:
Written by Joe Terrell
Joe is an avid writer and car enthusiast. When he's not cruising the streets alongside his friends in his Nissan Silvia S15, he's drifting on his VR racing simulator.
Joe's passion for cars is always on display. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the automotive industry, he hopes his writing conveys his excitement and knowledge of cars and games.
Joe's work has been featured on many platforms including drivetribe.com, 180sx.club, carthrottle.com, smartdrivinggames.com, smartbikegames.com, databox.com and ceoblognation.com.
When he's not behind the wheel or at his keyboard, he's likely daydreaming of his ultimate ride - the legendary Lexus LFA.
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