Formula Drift Pro Championship: Long Beach Round 1 Qualifying Results

On April 10, 2026, Formula Drift returned to the Streets of Long Beach. The day hosted qualifying for Round One of the PRO Championship.

Qualifying format and running order

Drivers voted to restore solo qualifying runs for the 2026 PRO season. Each driver received two attempts, with the better score counting.

PROSPEC drivers kept tandem Seeding Bracket qualification. The qualifying order ran in reverse of the prior championship standings.

For Round One, rookie drivers went first. The 2025 champion ran last in the session.

Data systems and judging changes

Formula Drift partnered with Race Data Labs to deploy the Universal Drift Scoring Method. The move aimed to speed judging and control event scheduling.

UDSM automates roughly 80% of a PRO driver’s qualifying score. Line and angle are measured and scored by telemetry.

Driving Style remains a human-assessed 20% of the score. The three-person judge panel evaluates nuance and stylistic elements.

RDL hardware was installed in all competition cars for the weekend. The system records proximity, comparative angle, speed, and deceleration patterns.

UDSM can detect tires off course, count off-track events, and provide data after collisions. It also feeds live graphics and replays.

Top qualifiers and notable stories

Thirty-three drivers attempted to secure 32 competition places. One driver failed to advance from qualifying.

James Deane topped the qualifying order with an 89-point effort. Deane is the reigning five-time FD PRO Champion.

Jack Shanahan was second with 88.46 points. He campaigned a BMW he assembled in 16 days.

Chris Forsberg finished third in his Destined Industries Nissan Z. Forsberg is a three-time series champion.

Ryan Tuerck placed fourth in the Rain‑X Toyota GR Corolla. He announced plans to leave the series at season’s end.

Ben Hobson held the early lead with an 86.26 first run. A spin on his second run prevented improvement and left him seventh overall.

Cole Richards was the top rookie in a Richards Racing Toyota GT86. He posted an 83.46-point run and moved into the PRO ranks this season.

Rome Charpentier was the lone non-qualifier. He failed to complete his opening run and scored 48.3 on his second attempt.

Rookies and PROSPEC graduates

Three notable PROSPEC drivers stepped up to PRO this year. Cole Richards, Cody Buchanan, and Nate Chen all made the jump.

Cody Buchanan is the 2025 PROSPEC Champion. The newcomers are expected to contest Rookie of the Year honors.

Championship points and standings

The top qualifier earned three championship points. Second place received two points, and third place got one point.

The Top 16 provisional qualifying standings follow below. The Top 32 competition bracket is preliminary pending official confirmation.

Filmogaz.com will continue coverage as Round One progresses. Expect final confirmation of bracket results soon.

Note: This report references Formula Drift Pro Championship, Long Beach, Round One qualifying results. Final results remain subject to official confirmation.