As the 2024 Formula DRIFT season inched closer to its climactic finale, the spotlight was on Utah Motorsports Campus for Round 7, where the stakes were high for both the PRO and PROSPEC competitions. Fans gathered not just to witness the crowning of the Link ECU PROSPEC Champion but also with the possibility of seeing James Deane (Ireland) make history by securing a record-breaking fourth PRO Championship title - potentially before the final round at Irwindale Speedway. However, Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) ensured the title race would go down to the wire, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The weekend was marked by intense competition, amplified by a revised track layout and scorching temperatures, adding layers of complexity to an already high-pressure environment.
In the K&N Seeding Bracket, the top 24 drivers earned their competition spots based on Round 7 results, while the remaining eight positions were decided through tandem runs. Ten drivers battled for the final spots, with Andy Hateley (USA) emerging victorious in his E46 BMW after a technical issue sidelined Ben Hobson’s (USA) Pennzoil/BC Racing Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD. Hobson’s qualification was bittersweet, marking only his second of the season, but leaving his team scrambling to resolve the Mustang’s issues. Rudy Hansen (USA) secured third place in his Supercharged Nissan S13, while Dmitriy Brutskiy and Robert Thorne were eliminated.
The tension was palpable throughout Round 7 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, presented by AutoZone. Bakchis, determined to keep his title hopes alive, delivered under pressure, starting with a smooth run against Diego Higa (Brazil), who retired his Toyota GT86 after an off-course excursion. Meanwhile, Deane advanced past Ryan Litteral (USA) in a relatively straightforward match, keeping the pressure on Bakchis.
In the Top 16, Deane’s Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD bested Hateley’s BMW, maintaining his edge over Bakchis, who faced Rookie Conor Shanahan (Ireland) in a closely contested battle. The judges called for a One More Time (OMT) after the first two runs, with Bakchis narrowly edging out Shanahan.
Deane stumbled in the Top 8, dropping a tire into the dirt and bumping Dylan Hughes (USA) in his E46 BMW 2JZ, leading to a collision. However, Hughes was deemed at fault for being late on the throttle, allowing Deane to advance. Bakchis, on the other hand, faced Chris Forsberg (USA) in a fierce battle, ultimately winning due to Forsberg’s errors.
The semi-final saw Deane and Bakchis face off in a high-stakes match that could have decided the championship. Deane’s mistakes, including another tire drop and a collision with Bakchis, handed the victory to the Lithuanian, ensuring the title race would continue to Irwindale.
In the final, Bakchis went up against Fredric Aasbo (Norway), a championship contender throughout the season. Bakchis clinched the win with superior proximity on the chase run, keeping his championship hopes alive.
“This Round 7 win means I’m still in the hunt for the Championship!” Bakchis said. “I couldn’t let James take it before Irwindale, and it worked out well. I just took one battle at a time with the goal of winning the event, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Now I need to focus on Irwindale where there’s still a chance to take the title and hold onto second place at the bare minimum. The other guys are driving so hard that I need to fight to stay on top.”
Aasbo’s second-place finish put him third overall, but the 130-point deficit effectively ended his title hopes for 2024. Trenton Beechum (USA) took third place, marking his first FD PRO podium and his best result since joining the Championship in 2021. Deane, finishing fourth, saw his points lead over Bakchis reduced from 104 to 74, setting up a thrilling final round at Irwindale.
The PROSPEC Seeding Bracket featured a larger field, with only the top 16 positions pre-set based on Round 3 results. The remaining 30 drivers competed for the final spots in a sudden-death format, adding significant pressure to the competition.
The spotlight was on points leader Connor O’Sullivan (USA), who faced double PROSPEC Champion Dmitriy Brutskiy in a heated battle. After several OMT calls, Brutskiy ultimately edged out O’Sullivan, putting the championship in Tommy Lemaire’s (Canada) hands.
Lemaire, needing just one win to secure the title, faced DJ Stubstad (USA) in a tense Top 32 match. Despite a last-minute misfire issue, Lemaire returned to the track and capitalized on Stubstad’s mistakes to win the heat and clinch the 2024 PROSPEC Championship.
Lemaire’s season included a win in the opening round and consistent podium finishes, cementing his position at the top. He finished fifth in the final round after being knocked out by Margaritis Katsanidis (Greece).
Brutskiy, building on his Seeding Bracket success, dominated the competition to win Round 4, marking a significant comeback from 23rd to sixth in the PROSPEC standings. Katsanidis, with a second-place finish, achieved his first Formula DRIFT podium, while Austin Matta (USA) rounded out the top three.
As the leading Rookie driver, Nik Jimenez (USA) placed 12th in Round 4 and secured the 2024 PROSPEC Rookie Driver of the Year award, capping off an intense and memorable weekend in Utah.
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