Opening Round of the 2025 season scheduled for Belo Horizonte race track on March 22-23
Formula DRIFT and Ultimate Drift have entered an agreement in which the Brazilian organization will operate as an Formula DRIFT Affiliate. Established in 2020, the goal of Ultimate Drift has been to promote drifting within the country and strengthen existing drift competitions by introducing fair and transparent organization structure.
In 2024, Ultimate Drift represented the largest championship ever held in Brazil, but series founder and Formula DRIFT PRO Championship competitor Joao Barion recognized, “I believe we are still a new championship in the process of growth and learning. We’ve seen a significant increase in the level of cars and driver skill year after year, especially with the simulator training used by younger drivers.
“Attendance varies between 5000-10,000 people per round, depending on the location. And the fans are still learning about the sport, so one of our challenges is to make it easier for fans to understand and appreciate the complexities of the sport,” he continued. “We’re hoping that continuity on aspects of the Formula DRIFT Official Rulebook will help to facilitate that understanding.”
The 2024 season saw more than 70 drivers compete across two Ultimate Drift championships, but 2025 will be limited to one division. Car capacity will be capped at 50 of the most promising drivers. It is hoped this measure will help the teams and fans focus on the competition, get to know the drivers, and strengthen the smaller, regional championships that will now be able to qualify for places in the 2026 Ultimate Drift Championship.
“As we work to develop Brazilian drivers, the aim is to eventually provide an opportunity for a path to a Formula DRIFT Competition License in the United States, which will further reinforce the strength of our series,” Barion explained.
The 2025 Ultimate Drift Championship will consist of five rounds. This is a reduction from the previous seven in an attempt to help the teams manage their budgets given the size of the country.
2025 ULTIMATE DRIFT SCHEDULE
| ROUND | LOCATION | DATE |
| 1 | Belo Horizonte | March 22-23 |
| 2 | Londrina | May 03-04 |
| 3 | Balneario Camboriu | June 28-29 |
| 4 | Ribeirao Preto | August 16-17 |
| 5 | Piracicaba | October 11-12 |
Among the locations, Belo Horizonte (Mega Space) is regarded as one of the premier tracks in Brazil, built into the side of a hill to create natural topography. While Londrina is Brazil’s only banked oval track, which also hosts NASCAR Brazil.
The technical and sporting regulations for Ultimate Drift are largely based on the Formula DRIFT rulebook. However, there are a number of differences, including the use of five judges rather than three, a traditional two-lap qualifying system, and tire regulations. For example, tires will be limited to radial construction with a treadwear rating of 250 or more, and a minimum tire hardness rating of 60. The championship will be divided into two weight classes; with cars weighing 900-1250kg able to use 245mm tire widths, increasing to 265mm for cars over 1251kg.
“We’re very excited to add another Formula DRIFT Affiliate to further bolster our international relationships, particularly one that is run by accomplished FD PRO Championship driver Joao Barion,” said Ryan Sage, Formula DRIFT President. “Joao and his crew have created an extremely professional team to manage the drift series in Brazil. They’re taking decisive steps to progress the sport in a direction that is both healthy and sustainable. And we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship together.”
