Formula DRIFT Final: Irwindale Speedway – Preview & Livestream

James Deane looks to clinch a historic fourth title as Formula DRIFT returns to “House of Drift” for the 2024 season finale.

The 2024 Formula DRIFT season is set for an intense conclusion as the series returns to its spiritual home, Irwindale Speedway, the legendary “House of Drift,” for the season finale, Round 8, on October 18-19.

As the House of Drift once again prepares to be transformed into a smoke cloud, it will conclude one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons in FD’s 21-year history.

All eyes are on the championship battle and the fight for the coveted top spots in the overall standings. For fans of the series, it’ll come as no surprise the rankings are currently dominated by a certain Irishman you may be familiar with!

Deane’s (Seemingly) Simple Route To Victory

James Deane stands on the verge of making Formula DRIFT history. After narrowly missing out on the 2024 Drift Masters GP (DMGP) title in a nail-biting stadium finale in Poland last month, Deane has a golden opportunity to secure an unprecedented fourth Formula DRIFT championship.

Thanks to his fourth-place finish at Round 7 in Utah, Deane has already qualified for the final Top 32 of the season at Irwindale. Right now, all that stands between him and the record books is getting to the finish line of a single lap in the Top 32. Doing so will enable him to collect enough points to secure the title.

However, the competition remains fierce. Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis sits in second place, determined to close the 74-point gap and snatch the unlikely victory from Deane’s grasp. Fredric Aasbo, always a threat, rounds out the top three and will push hard to topple Odi and take second overall.

Overall Standings Going Into The Final

  1. James Deane (566 points)
  2. Aurimas Bakchis (492 points)
  3. Fredric Aasbo (436 points)
  4. Hiroya Minowa (406 points)
  5. Adam LZ (350 points)
  6. Matt Field (350 points)
  7. Ryan Tuerck (338 points)
  8. Simen Olsen (336 points)
  9. Dylan Hughes (322 points)
  10. Branden Sorensen (322 points)
  11. Conor Shanahan (310 points)
  12. Chris Forsberg (308 points)
  13. Trenton Beechum (294 points)
  14. Jeff Jones (294 points)
  15. Ken Gushi (294 points)

Shakeups & Surprises In 2024

The 2024 season has significantly reshuffled the traditional Formula DRIFT hierarchy with plenty of upsets throughout the year.

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the incredible performances of (then) 14-year-old Hiroya Minowa, who recently turned 15.

The youngest driver in series history, Minowa has consistently punched above his weight, causing major upsets, and currently sits in fourth place overall. He looks set to clinch the Rookie of the Year title, cementing his place as one of the sport’s brightest rising stars.

Another unexpected name in the top rankings is Adam LZ. The popular YouTuber has proven he can compete with the world’s best drifters, overcoming numerous challenges throughout the season and now sitting in fifth place heading into the final round.

Proving his FD streak isn’t down to sheer luck, LZ also recently made it into the European drifting history books by landing a podium spot at the DMGP final in Poland.

Event Schedule & Livestream

As we head to the final round, it will undoubtedly once again produce its fair share of upsets, so make sure you tune into all the action live with these links:

Friday, October 18, 2024

2:00PM – 4:00PM – Practice

5:45PM – 7:45PM – Warm-up (LIVE)

8:00PM – 10:00PM – Seeding 16 bracket (LIVE)

Saturday, October 19, 2024

11:30AM – 1:30PM – Warm-up

1:45PM – Main Event Top 32 (LIVE)

6:30PM – 10:00 PM – Opening ceremony & Main Event Top 16 (LIVE)


Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

Larry Chen | Formula DRIFT


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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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