James Deane Secures The 2025 Formula DRIFT Title, Shatters More Records In The Process
James Deane rewrites Formula DRIFT history once again. After becoming the first driver to win four championships last year, he’s now claimed his fifth title – the first in the 22-year history of the series to do so.
Even more impressively, he also clinched the championship with a round to spare, yet another milestone never before achieved in FD.
On top of that, his Utah victory marked his third win of 2025, making him the only driver with multiple victories this season and extending his record-breaking streak.
You can see why he’s considered the GOAT!
Piloting the #130 AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD for RTR Vehicles Drift Team, Deane’s championship run started with a second-place finish behind Fredric Aasbo at the Long Beach opener.
In Round 2 at Atlanta, he bounced back with a victory over Aasbo after two one-more-time battles.
Round 3 in Orlando brought a rare stumble, with Deane bowing out in the Top 16 and scoring just 10 points.
He regrouped by once again pushing the limits and eventually taking third at Englishtown’s Round 4, where Adam LZ claimed the win and Aasbo continued chasing the title in second place.
Round 5 in St. Louis delivered an emotional highlight as Deane defeated Jack Shanahan in an all-Irish final, becoming the first driver to achieve two wins in 2025. The victory pulled him level with Aasbo in the standings, setting the stage for a fierce title fight.
At Seattle for Round 6, he secured another podium with a second-place finish behind Matt Field. Meanwhile, a shock Top 32 exit for Aasbo opened up the championship lead.
Then came Round 7 in Utah at the weekend, where Deane once again ended up facing Field in the final, following another devastating Top 32 exit for Aasbo.
Field’s battered Corvette had the battle scars after being steamrollered by Dylan Hughes in the previous battle, as Deane drove flawlessly to seal his third win of the year. With it, he locked up the 2025 championship with one round remaining, for the first time in Formula DRIFT history.
Following two consecutive zero-point rounds, Aasbo’s title hopes are gone, but the fight for second remains wide open.
Deane now secures his spot atop the standings with 270 points. Behind him, Field moves into second on 190, narrowly edging out Adam LZ and Aasbo, both tied on 180 – just 10 points back.
Just behind, Japanese young gun Hiroya Minowa, fresh off his 16th birthday, holds fifth with 150 points, with a glimmer of hope of causing a potential upset.
Although the title has already been decided, the season finale will undoubtedly still have plenty of drama in store as the drivers fight it out for the top spots.
The new custom-built Long Beach street track will provide the backdrop for an epic showdown to decide the final podium order in the wake of Irwindale Speedway’s closure, marking an end to the “House of Drift” era and beginning a new chapter for Formula DRIFT.
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
