Formula DRIFT Orlando 2024: Pro Rookie Conor Shanahan Makes Waves

Event Coverage Adam Gordon

The third round of the 2024 Formula Drift PRO Championship unfolded on June 1st under clear skies at Orlando Speed World, concluding under the night lights with the dazzling Type S undercar lighting. The competition was fierce, with Conor Shanahan (Ireland) taking the top spot in his Red Bull / Garagistic E36 BMW after an all-Irish final against James Deane (Ireland) in the AutoZone Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD. Shanahan's win was secured when Deane made contact with the wall in Outside Zone 1, leading to an off-track excursion. This victory propelled Shanahan from 25th to 11th in the standings, making him the leading rookie in Orlando.

The competition saw some notable performances and events, including a surprising early exit for Fredric Aasbo (Norway), who spun out during a close battle with Diego Higa (Brazil) in the Top 32. Despite this, Aasbo moved up to fourth in the overall standings. Simen Olsen (Norway) was knocked out in the Top 16 by 14-year-old Hiroya Minowa (Japan), who continued his impressive debut season by finishing fourth and climbing to sixth overall. Branden Sorensen (USA) claimed his best result since joining FD PRO in 2021 by finishing third, moving him from 14th to fifth in the standings. The average age of the Top 4 finishers was under 22, marking the youngest final field in Championship history and hinting at a potential shift in the competitive landscape. Despite these individual shakeups, Toyota and Nitto retained their leads in the Auto Cup and Tire Cup, respectively.

The next round of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship will take place at Englishtown Raceway on June 20-22, alongside PROSPEC Round 2. Fans can catch all the action live at the event or via the series livestream on YouTube.

For full competition results and standings, visit FormulaD.com

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