Beautiful sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted the Formula DRIFT Black Magic PRO Championship teams as they arrived at Wall Stadium Speedway in New Jersey for the Advance Auto Parts Gauntlet presented by Black Magic. With a good mix of drivers claiming podiums at the early rounds and some of last year’s favorites yet to shine, a sell-out crowd filled the grandstands around the banked track in preparation for another nail-biter.
As the 2019 Formula DRIFT season marches on, the teams arrived at Road Atlanta this weekend for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Road to the Championship presented by Permatex. It would see Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis defend his early lead in the Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship after wins in the first two rounds. Trenton Beechum would also attempt to defend his lead in the Formula DRIFT Link ECU Pro 2 Championship. However, both would be disappointed as new faces climbed on the top step of the podium.
For the Pro Category, rain showers brought an additional challenge to the competition heats but the capacity crowd witnessed exceptional skill as the drivers went wheel-to-wheel on the challenging Road Atlanta course.
Hot on the heels of the most thrilling Formula DRIFT Finals in the series’ 15-year history the organizers held their annual Awards ceremony last weekend. It gives them a chance to honor the top drivers, newcomers, fan favorites and the people who play an important part behind the scenes.
The 2018 Awards banquet includes categories for the Formula DRIFT Pro and Pro 2 categories, plus a special series of awards that bring to an end the FDXV celebrations.
Formula D made it triumphant return to the world famous ‘House of Drift’ Irwindale Speedway to cap of it’s 2018 Season. Defending champion and current points leader James Dean entered round 8 with a slight lead over Fredric Aasbo. Dean was looking to be the second driver to win back to back championships since Tanner Foust back in 2008
As Formula DRIFT returned to Los Angeles for the season finale, drivers, teams, fans and the series organizers were delighted to be back at Irwindale Speedway – the House of Drift. With only the Auto Cup decided at the previous round when Toyota amassed enough points to claim the title, there’s was everything to play. By Saturday evening we would all know the names of the 2018 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Champion as well as the 2018 Formula DRIFT Link ECU Pro 2 Champion, Rookie of the Year and the Tire Cup winner.
In what has been one of the closest season’s in Formula DRIFT history, it was as if Hollywood had scripted the most exciting event possible for the fans. There was drama in qualifying, unexpected lightning storms and title chasers watching from the sidelines as the action unfolded. This was, without doubt, the most exciting Formula DRIFT weekend ever witnessed in the series’ 15-year history.
With only two rounds remaining in the 2018 Formula DRIFT season there are nine drivers in the Pro category and the entire Pro 2 grid with a mathematical chance to win their respective championships. This meant nobody could afford to relax as the Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship and Link ECU Pro 2 Championship arrived in Fort Worth, TX for Round Seven: Autozone Showdown presented by Rain X.