Formula DRIFT (also known as Formula D or FD) is an American premier professional drifting series that was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, which had the same partnership that introduced D1 Grand Prix to the United States. Formula D does not include emphasized speed, but the new entity would solely own, operate and launch the first official drifting series in North America. Formula DRIFT is not associated with the FIA series of formula racing championships.
Formula DRIFT has 84 licensed drivers competing in PRO and PROSPEC (formerly PRO 2) as of June 2024. The series consists of an eight-round championship played out at race tracks across North America. Formula DRIFT is judged on line, angle, and style, where all contestants start with 100 points, and take away said points for mistakes. The hosts will honor an eight-round competition across the U.S.A., and also offer a car show called Offset Kings. Formula DRIFT expanded its presence into being a franchise. It is challenged into head-to-head battles, and total results, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time.
North America Drivers in North America can compete in regionally sanctioned PRO/AM organizations for licensing.
USDrift – Mid-Atlantic East10Drift – Southeast Evergreen Drift – Pacific Northwest Colorado Drift – Colorado ND Drift – Minnesota Southwest Drift – Las Vegas Spec-D Drift series – Bincent Shreklund Hot Pit Autofest – California Full Lock Drift – Oklahoma US Drift Circuit – Florida Great Lakes – Pennsylvania
Winners and high finishers of these feeders series are then able to enter the Formula DRIFT PROSPEC series, a secondary national tour where drivers compete to move up to the main series.
Tracks
Current tracks Long Beach Street Circuit in Long Beach, California. (2006–2019, 2021–present) Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia. (2004–2019, 2021–present) Orlando Speed World in Orlando, Florida. (2015–2019, 2021–present) Stafford Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. (2026) Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana. (2026) Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington. (2006–present) Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. (2008–2012, 2026)
Former tracks
Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. (2004–2005) Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. (2004–2013) Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California. (2004–2024) Wall Speedway in Wall, New Jersey. (2005–2007, 2009–2019) Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (2005–2006) Summit Point Motorsports Park in Summit Point, West Virginia. (2007) Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey. (2008, 2021–2025) Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. (2005–2010) Palm Beach International Raceway in Palm Beach, Florida. (2011–2013) Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (2013–2020) Homestead–Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (2014) Fuji Speedway in Oyama, Shizuoka. (2015) Autodrome Saint-Eustache in Saint-Eustache, Quebec. (2015–2017) Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. (2016) World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. (2018–2025) Lake Erie Speedway in Erie, Pennsylvania. (2021) Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantsville, Utah. (2022–2025)
Sister series Formula DRIFT Asia. Formula DRIFT Asia was created in 2008 with the inaugural FD Singapore competition. The first real international competition of its in Asia, held at the Changi Air Show Grounds. This historic event was sold out before the gates opened. Since then, Formula Drift Asia became its own championship series, the first Pan-Asian professional drifting championship. In 2009 and 2010, the Championship made stops in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. For the 2011/2012 Championship tour, Formula DRIFT Asia added an additional stop in Indonesia.Formula DRIFT 2011 ASIA Pro Championship Schedule FD Asia web site
Rd.1 Marina Bay Street Circuit, Marina Bay, Singapore Season 2010 Rd.2 Bangkok Wonderworld, Bangkok, Thailand Season 2010 Rd.3 Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Season 2010 The first Formula DRIFT Asia Champion was Tengku Djan.
Exhibition events
March 18, 2011, Formula Drift Ultimate Challenge – Qatar Racing Club February 25, 2011, Formula Drift UAE Invitational Competition – Yas Marina Circuit February 5, 2012, Demonstration – Figali Convention Center May 27, 2012, International Competition – Location TBD June 11, 2011, Formula Drift Ultimate Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas February 25, 2011, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE February 12, 2011, Figali Convention Center, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá January 17, 2010, Figali Convention Center, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá March 8, 2009, Figali Convention Center, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá August 23, 2008, Autódromo Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico April 27, 2008, Changi Air Show Grounds, Singapore January 18–19, 2025, ICC Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan
Regulations
Car eligibility Cars and their builds are constantly under review by the Formula DRIFT staff. The rule book is revised every year to promote fair and exciting drifting. Some cars and practices are written out of the rule book in order to keep a realistic and level playing field. During the 2004 season, the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe was permitted to compete; subsequently it was ineligible in Formula DRIFT.
Although Formula DRIFT does not permit front-wheel drive cars, it does allow all-wheel drive cars to be converted to rear wheel drive, such as the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi EVO. In the United States, the Scion tC is sold only in the FWD layout, but because it shares the same chassis as the AWD Toyota Avensis (sold only in the United Kingdom and Europe), it can be converted to a competition-ready RWD layout. This change sparked great debate between drifters in the series who felt that an original FWD vehicle should not be eligible due to the front cross member changes needed.
A trademark of Formula DRIFT competition cars is the very open engine rulebook. Formula DRIFT allows engines from other manufacturers to be swapped into competition cars. "Engine, transmission, ECU and/or final drive modifications are free, but only the rear wheels may propel the vehicle". This results in a huge variety of engine/chassis combinations as well as huge power outputs commonly in excess of 850+ whp. Vehicles wishing to compete for the Manufacturers Championship must use an engine from the same manufacturer as the chassis. Engine swaps remain very common with older models but can be seen with new builds as well. Naturally aspirated or supercharged first, second, third, fourth, and fifth generation Chevrolet small block V8 engines are often used because of their availability and lower operating costs, especially with their ability to produce torque, lower RPM's, parts availability, and ease of rebuilding.
Suspension modification is widely open to development as long as stock pickup locations are utilized. Suspension tuning is a vital part of any successful Formula DRIFT team.
To keep cars in check Formula DRIFT institutes a maximum tire size based on the vehicles total weight.
Formula DRIFT cars are given fixed numbers for their cars and are not necessarily based on rankings.
Scoring and judging Formula DRIFT uses its own scoring system that may differ from other drifting organizations. Often scoring systems for qualifying, tandem battles, and penalties are different.
Qualifying – Formula DRIFT competitors are allowed two non-consecutive judged solo runs to post their highest possible score in order to compete. The top 32 drivers with the highest qualifying scores are entered in a competition bracket pairing the highest scoring drivers against the lowest scoring drivers. 1st v. 32nd, 2nd v. 31st, 3rd v. 30th, etc. The drivers are judged on line, speed, angle, and overall impact. The judges can also make additional request at the drivers meeting for actions or techniques that will weigh in their decision making (ex; entry technique, racing line, proximity, etc.). Formula DRIFT drivers are scored on a points-deduction system where every driver will start their judged run with a perfect score of 100 pts. For every mistake, points will be deducted. These points will vary between .25 point to the most severe mistakes 1.75.
Competition – The top 32 qualifying drivers are paired up in an elimination bracket pairing the highest scoring drivers against the lowest scoring drivers. The biggest difference from qualifying is that now drivers face off head to head on the track in a tandem battle. The two cars run together side by side, each driver trying to show greater skill than the other. The highest qualifying driver leads on the first run, then on the second run the lower qualifying driver leads. Drivers are judged on the same basic criteria as qualifying but an emphasis is put on the interaction between the two drivers competing head to head. The lead driver will set the pace and driving line often trying to produce a gap between themselves and the following driver. The following driver will try to stay on top of the lead driver as close as possible without making contact with their vehicle. The goal is to mimic or "shadow" the lead drivers run while staying on their door throughout the run. It is possible for either driver to win either run. Often one driver will have a points advantage going into the second run. Driver mistakes (ex. 2 wheels off course, spinning out, avoidable contact, etc.) can also cause them to be given an automatic zero. The three-judge panel then will look at both runs and determine one of three outcomes; Driver 1 advances, Driver 2 advances, or if a winner can not be determined a "One More Time" will be called. In the event of a "One More Time" the drivers will then complete a new pair of runs. The drivers will face off again until a winner can be determined. The winner advance to the next bracket.
Competition Time Out – Drivers have a one-time option to utilize a "Competition Time Out" in order to attempt to fix their vehicle. In the event that a driver or car can not come to the start line in time for their tandem run the other driver will be allowed to run a solo lap to advance.
Overtaking – Follow cars are permitted to overtake or pass in certain instances. passes may only happen at inside clips, and can only be done so if the lead car is off line enough to allow the follow car to pass between them and the clip. If a successful pass is made the lead car run is deemed a zero.
The current judges are Robbie Nishida (2023–), Brian Eggert (2012–), Chris Uhl (2020–). Kevin Wells is the Competition Director for the series.
2026 Format Restructure Following a democratic majority vote during driver summits, the PRO Championship officially eliminated the head-to-head tandem Seeding Bracket format ahead of the 2026 season, returning to the classic individual Two-Run Qualifying layout to determine the final Top 32 bracket placement. Conversely, the developmental PROSPEC Championship voted to retain the tandem seeding system to prioritize maximizing competitive track and tandem seat time for its drivers.
Formula DRIFT Champions
United States Season Driver Car 2004 Samuel HübinetteDodge Viper Competition Coupe 2005 Rhys MillenPontiac GTO 2006 Samuel HübinetteDodge Viper SRT-10 2007 Tanner FoustNissan 350Z2008 Tanner FoustNissan 350Z 2009 Chris ForsbergNissan 350Z 2010 Vaughn Gittin Jr.Ford Mustang 2011 Daijiro YoshiharaNissan 240SX 2012 Daigo SaitoLexus SC430 2013 Michael EssaBMW M3 2014 Chris ForsbergNissan 370Z 2015 Fredric AasbøScion tC 2016 Chris ForsbergNissan 370Z 2017 James DeaneNissan Silvia S15 2018 James DeaneNissan Silvia S15 2019 James Deane Nissan Silvia S15 2020 Vaughn Gittin Jr.Ford Mustang RTR 2021 Fredric AasbøToyota Supra 2022 Fredric AasbøToyota Supra 2023 Chelsea DeNofaFord Mustang RTR 2024 James Deane Ford Mustang RTR 2025 James Deane Ford Mustang RTR