James Deane wins an all-Ireland Final to draw level with Fredric Aasbo at the top of the points table

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL
Event: Competition Results for Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 5

RESULTS FOR FD PRO ROUND 3

1. James Deane (Ireland) – AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
2. Jack Shanahan (Ireland) – Kumho Tires BMW 1 Series
3. Fredric Aasbo (Norway) – Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra

NOTES

• It appeared as if it might be business as usual for Round 5 of the FD PRO Championship until Rookie Jack Shanahan was the cat among the pigeons, splitting two Champions to claim his first ever FD podium
• Deane becomes the first driver to win two rounds this season, scoring enough points to draw level with Aasbo at the top of the Championship standings. Will we see a repeat of 2024 where Deane’s mid-season momentum took him to the Championship win, or can he be stopped?
• Aasbo lost a hard-fought semi-final to Deane, in which the Norwegian three-time Champion spun in Outside Zone 4 (OZ4) as he unsuccessfully gambled with entry speed to take the win. His third place finish left him equal-first overall
• Shanahan achieved something he never dared to dream by stepping onto the Formula DRIFT podium to collect his runner-up trophy. Having struggled to advance in previous rounds, the result saw him leap from 19th to eighth in the Championship standings
• Following the announcement of the winning driver, an emotional Deane paid tribute to his fellow Irishman: “It felt like practice day running against Jack. I knew it would be fun. And I’m proud to share his first FD podium with him because I sat with him on his first ever day drifting, and to see him go from a little 12 year-old kid to what he is today makes me very proud.”
• Shanahan’s result also cemented his lead in the 2025 Rookie title chase, placing him 26 points and six Championship places ahead of nearest rival, Connor O’Sullivan (USA) who was eliminated from the Top 16 by Jeff Jones (USA)
• The winner of Round 4, LZ, was jettisoned from the Top 8 by Shanahan after a close battle. Placing fifth, LZ remained third in the table but with a 60-point deficit to the leaders
• Fourth place was secured by Dylan Hughes (USA) in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW. He made a welcome return to the sharp end of the results, jumping from 13th overall to ninth
• Perhaps the biggest loser at FD STL was Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) who dropped a rear tire into the dirt in OZ1, launching the Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9 into the air. The damage meant he was unable to return to competition and scored no points. The driver, who placed second in 2024, dropped one place to sixth overall
• In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, Toyota continues to lead while GT Radial extended its lead in the Tire Cup

ROUND 5 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION	DRIVER	POINTS
1	James Deane	50
2	Jack Shanahan	40+6
3	Fredric Aasbo	30
4	Dylan Hughes	30
5	Adam LZ	20
6	Matt Field	20
7	Rome Charpentier	20
8	Jeff Jones	20
9	Connor O`Sullivan	10
10	Hiroya Minowa	10
11	Chris Forsberg	10
12	Tommy Lemaire	10
13	Conor Shanahan	10
14	Ryan Tuerck	10
15	Trenton Beechum	10+3
16	Andy Hateley	10

 

2025 FD PRO TOP 16 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION	DRIVER	POINTS
1	James Deane	180
2	Fredric Aasbo	180
3	Adam LZ	120
4	Hiroya Minowa	110
5	Matt Field	100
6	Aurimas Bakchis	100
7	Jhonnattan Castro	90
8	Jack Shanahan	76
9	Dylan Hughes	70
10	Chris Forsberg	70
11	Branden Sorensen	70
12	Rome Charpentier	60
13	Connor O`Sullivan	52
14	Dan Stuke	52
15	Conor Shanahan	50
16	Ryan Tuerck	50

 

2025 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Toyota	290
BMW	289
Nissan	242
Ford	199
Chevrolet	135

 

2025 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial	313
Kenda	304
Nitto	250
Kumho	158

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation