On October 18-19, the 2024 Method DRIFT season reaches its climax at Irwindale Speedway, and FD president Ryan Sage is anticipating a really particular finale, significantly from factors chief James Deane.
Sage declared: “As we stand on the precipice of the ultimate occasion of the season, we’re all struck by the centered dedication of James Deane. Not solely has he established one of the vital dominant seasons in Method DRIFT’s 21-year historical past, however he’s poised to seize the championship title in a novel means that’s the direct results of the format modifications we launched for Season 21.
“Barring any catastrophic observe incident, the second James rolls as much as the road within the High 32 Competitors heats – having pre-qualified for the occasion due to his fourth place end at Spherical 7 in Utah, and with the factors tally he has amassed – Deane solely must exhibit an ordinary of participation on his first aggressive run to understand his fourth championship title! Finishing the warmth will bag him sufficient factors to make sure the title.
Champion elect James Deane flanked by Simen Olsen and Aurimas Bakchis, who’s at the moment Deane’s closest challenger. / Picture: Method DRIFT
“As a sequence, we plan to have a good time this unbelievable achievement of a file fourth title for the primary time in sequence historical past, which is once-in-a-season and once-in-a-lifetime. It highlights the talent and dedication James possesses as an athlete. His achievement will surpass each different FD driver. And whereas others may in the future equal or surpass his file, we could by no means see an athlete like him in competitors once more, and so the second he wins turns into extraordinarily vital to the historical past of our sport.”
Sage can also be enthused by the venue of the season-closer.
“We’re excited to return to Irwindale Speedway,” he mentioned. “Not solely is it the Home of DRIFT however certainly one of solely a handful of operational tracks in Southern California and the closest to our Los Angeles residence. It holds so many particular reminiscences for followers, groups and drivers and continues to be an integral a part of our sequence.”
Method DRIFT has added a brand new spectator footbridge from the paddock to the reserved trackside grandstands. The sequence has additionally created twin burnout packing containers, and added a fourth grandstand to the reserved trackside seating choices.
Followers wishing to witness the occasion in particular person can nonetheless buy tickets from formulad.com, and the motion will likely be proven on the sequence livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift and on MAV TV.
2024 FD PRO championship standings after Spherical 7
| 1 | James Deane | 566 |
| 2 | Aurimas Bakchis | 492 |
| 3 | Fredric Aasbo | 436 |
| 4 | Hiroya Minowa | 406 |
| 5 | Adam LZ | 350 |
| 6 | Matt Area | 350 |
| 7 | Ryan Tuerck | 338 |
| 8 | Simen Olsen | 336 |
| 9 | Dylan Hughes | 322 |
| 10 | Branden Sorensen | 322 |
| 11 | Conor Shanahan | 310 |
| 12 | Chris Forsberg | 308 |
| 13 | Trenton Beechum | 294 |
| 14 | Jeff Jones | 294 |
| 15 | Ken Gushi | 294 |
| 16 | Jonathan Hurst | 280 |
2024 Auto Cup standings
| Toyota | 872 |
| Ford | 692 |
| GM | 602 |
| Nissan | 490 |
| BMW | 434 |
2024 Tire Cup standings
| Nitto | 1102 |
| GT Radial | 1038 |
| Kenda | 686 |
| Vitour | 646 |
| Kumho | 462 |
| Nexen | 448 |
