Sim, Or No Sim? Formula DRIFT’s Shoreline Showdown Podium Finishers Discuss
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From zero sim laps to over 5,000, Shoreline Showdown’s podium finishers took polar-opposite approaches to preparing for Formula DRIFT’s brand-new Long Beach 2 street course.
Shanahan claimed his first Formula DRIFT victory at the inaugural event, securing Rookie of the Year honors in the process. As FD’s first-ever final outside of Irwindale Speedway’s ‘House of Drift’ in its 22-year history, the drivers faced a completely new challenge on the unfamiliar street circuit.
However, what made things even more interesting is that drivers had the opportunity to practice the layout beforehand in Assetto Corsa, thanks to Sim HQ’s track release in collaboration with FD.
While Shanahan opted to avoid the AC track entirely, James Deane logged a couple of hours. Hiroya Minowa, on the other hand, maximized every minute of his spare time on the virtual layout before arriving in California – so much so that I’m not entirely sure if he actually slept following the track release!
Each driver’s unique approach
James Deane
Deane already secured his record-breaking fifth Formula DRIFT championship at Round 7 in Utah, removing some pressure for the Long Beach finale. However, there’s no doubt he was still seeking a final victory.
Before the event, the five-time champ says he only logged about two hours of practice on AC, tandeming with Ben Hobson. Amusingly, he explains, “… since I got the new house… I have an internet connection, so that means I can actually do a bit of tandem, and I never usually do it.”
One of the biggest debates between the trio was the virtual versus real-world experience of the track, where he revealed significant differences. “I feel like the sim track flowed better,” he noted. “It felt like the corners were kind of more sweeping and less like adjusting needed to make a really smooth run.”
In the sim, he was throwing down runs almost entirely without the handbrake, just balancing the car. However, he pointed out that reality proved more challenging with stretched straights and awkward corners.
Hiroya Minowa
Minowa defeated Deane at the event, which was arguably the most impressive feat of the weekend. Unfortunately, the 16-year-old Japanese driver then finished second after a mechanical issue prevented a final battle against Jack Shanahan.
He admits he drove “a lot of times in the sim”, and you can see Deane grin where he clearly already knows the full extent.
Soon after, he asks, “How many laps did you do on the sim for this track?” Hiroya responds, “Maybe over 5,000.” Shanahan is clearly shocked as Deane laughs, saying, “The track was just released!”
Although virtual practice provided valuable insights, he admits there were some differences from the final real-world track. However, he praised the layout for maintaining close competition across all seven outside zones.
Talking about his next plans, the trio laughs as Hiro admits the time on the sim has taken its toll, “Maybe I will go to bed, and I will sleep a lot!”
Jack Shanahan
Shanahan’s victory at LB2 marked the breakthrough moment in his debut Formula DRIFT season, earning him sixth overall in the championship with two podiums and Rookie of the Year honors.
Beforehand, he took the opposite approach to Minowa, opting to avoid the Assetto Corsa layout altogether. He reveals the decision stemmed from doubts about accuracy. “I don’t play the sim anyway, but this was the only track where I was like I am not playing the sim,” he continues, “I did have my doubts that the track wouldn’t be the same as the sim.”
It’s a fair point. When the virtual track was created, the real-world track didn’t exist yet, and there will always be differences in the finished product.
Did the sim time pay off?
While the drivers opted for completely different approaches (zero versus more than 5,000 laps), Minowa’s dedication to the sim clearly paid off, as the 16-year-old defeated the five-time champ. The achievement suggests the 5,000+ laps weren’t wasted, even with the differences from the virtual version, and it might have helped provide the edge to defeat the GOAT.
Sadly, Minowa never had the chance to fight it out with Shanahan in the final, with mechanical issues sealing the fate of his otherwise incredible weekend.
Shanahan’s victory proves that real-world experience still matters. His years of competitive drifting allowed him to read the track with fresh eyes, adapting quickly despite zero sim prep.
It’s clear the AC version was quite different from the eventual real-world ‘Long Beach 2’ layout, but Minowa’s dedication likely played a role in his success. Whether you’re logging 5,000 laps or skipping it entirely, the outcome proves there’s more than one path to the podium.
Catch the full discussion with the drivers, including their plans for the near future, in Formula DRIFT’s Outerzone podium podcast here:
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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.
