Rain, rivalries, and redemption at Road Atlanta as Formula DRIFT delivers high-stakes action at Round 2
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta has always delivered on drama, but 2025's Round 2 of Formula DRIFT was something else entirely. The venue鈥檚 mix of elevation, tight turns, and natural amphitheater layout combined with ever-changing weather and a fresh partnership with Gridlife to produce one of the most intense weekends in recent FD memory. As rain took hold on Saturday, the racing got even more unpredictable鈥攚ith standout drives in both the PRO and PROSPEC Championships.
Deane Edges Aasbo After Double OMT Duel
After falling short in Long Beach, four-time FD Champion James Deane returned to the top step at Road Atlanta鈥攂ut it wasn鈥檛 easy. Facing off against teammate Vaughn Gittin Jr. as early as the Top 32, the Irish driver had a tough road to the final. In wet, low-grip conditions, Deane's comfort in the rain was on full display. He picked off Jeff Jones and then battled Matt Field in a tight Top 8 contest where proximity and car control made the difference.
The semifinals against Jhonnattan Castro pushed Deane into a One More Time scenario. A spin by Castro on the re-run gave Deane the edge, setting up a repeat of the Round 1 Final: Deane vs. Fredric Aasbo.
The two veterans ran six times after a pair of One More Time calls from the judges, ultimately awarding the win to Deane thanks to a strong lead and a cleaner chase. With the victory, Deane pulls even with Aasbo atop the 2025 FD PRO standings.
鈥淭he Ford Mustang RTR was killing it all weekend,鈥� said Deane. 鈥淲e gave it everything through some crazy One More Time battles, and I鈥檓 super-happy heading into Round 3.鈥�
Aurimas Bakchis rounded out the podium, showcasing signature car control in his Feal Suspension / GT Radial S14.9. The result ties him on points with Branden Sorensen, who took fifth.
Talaska Breaks Through in PROSPEC
On the PROSPEC side, Cory Talaska emerged with his first career win after a clean sweep of the bracket. Behind the wheel of his Talaska Creative 2JZ-powered E36, he defeated PROSPEC veterans and rookies alike, including a tight semifinal against Cody Buchanan and a hard-fought Final against two-time PROSPEC champ Dmitriy Brutskiy.
鈥淲e came into the event dialed after a lot of testing,鈥� said Talaska. 鈥淲e found a lot of pace and kept winning battles. If we can take this momentum to New Jersey, we鈥檒l have a lot of fun!鈥�
Brutskiy鈥檚 runner-up finish was a reminder of his continued pace, even as he balances dual efforts in both PRO and PROSPEC. Buchanan secured his first ever podium in third, while Josh Stuart claimed fourth in just his fifth career FD start.
New Names Making Noise
The new Seeding Bracket format brought 2025's rookie class into the spotlight early. Thirteen-year-old Camren Sorensen made history as the youngest driver to compete in FD, winning the Seeding Bracket and collecting 12 championship points before bowing out in the Top 16.
Collete Davis and Chellee Hansen both showed promise, with Davis fighting through mechanical issues and Hansen debuting her supercharged S13 in competition.
Collin Zielinski led the rookie charge in the main bracket, reaching the Top 8 in his Fitment Industries S14.5 before being sidelined by Talaska. His result pushed him to fifth overall in the PROSPEC standings and gave him a slim lead in the Rookie of the Year race.
Notable Moments in PRO Competition
Top Rookie: Connor O鈥橲ullivan finished 22nd and now leads the Rookie of the Year standings in PRO.
Auto Cup: Toyota extended its lead in the Manufacturer鈥檚 standings.
Tire Cup: Kenda remains the leader after Atlanta.
Looking Ahead
With Deane and Aasbo now tied atop the standings and Talaska adding his name to the list of PROSPEC contenders, the 2025 FD Championship storylines are starting to take shape. Next stop: Orlando for Round 3鈥攚here momentum, rain setups, and point spreads are all in play.
Stay tuned to 麻豆性吧.com for more coverage from the FD paddock.
Formula DRIFT PRO Round 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta delivered high drama, as James Deane edged past Fredric Aasbo in a Final that needed six runs to decide a winner.
Heavy rain soaked the 2.54-mile course, pushing drivers to the limit. Deane, in the AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, used his wet-weather experience to lay down sharp, aggressive runs. Aasbo, driving the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra, matched the pace and forced two One More Time calls before judges awarded Deane the win.
鈥淭his was one of the toughest battles of my career,鈥� Deane said. He and Aasbo are now tied atop the standings.
Aurimas 鈥淥di鈥� Bakchis (Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9) claimed third, while Jhonnattan Castro took a career-best fourth and jumped to fifth overall. Connor O鈥橲ullivan led rookies in 22nd, topping the 2025 ROTY race.
In PROSPEC Round 1, Cory Talaska scored his first career win over two-time champ Dmitriy Brutskiy. Talaska now leads PROSPEC, while 13-year-old Camren Sorensen impressed by winning the Seeding Bracket.
With the leaderboard tied and rivalries heating up, Road Atlanta once again proved it鈥檚 one of drifting鈥檚 most exciting stages.
Story and Photography by Merrick Harding (@merrick_media)
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