Aasbo Kicks Off 2026 Formula DRIFT Season with a P2 Finish at Long Beach

It’s the start to a new season of Formula DRIFT and Team ENEOS wasted no time getting back to work. The opening round took place at its usual Streets of Long Beach venue, coinciding with the famous Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race, and Fredric Aasbo came fresh from a busy winter break to get back into his winning ways behind the wheel of the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra.

The series implemented major changes for 2026, including new telemetry, judging, and three new venues—Stafford Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, and Las Vegas Motor Speedway—which will host the double-header PRO and PROSPEC Championship weekends.

A new automated Universal Drift Scoring Method (UDSM) from Race Data Labs is a judging system that is being used for PRO Qualifying, employing telemetry to aid Competition judges. The telemetry and data system is a development of technology used overseas but has been upgraded in collaboration with Formula DRIFT. Its introduction was necessitated by a return to solo qualifying runs after the PRO drivers chose to abandon the Seeding Bracket Qualifying format, which was introduced in 2024.

Qualifying P11, Aasbo’s march to the podium wasn’t easy, facing Trenton Beechum, teenage sensation Hiroya Minowa, Dylan Hughes and a bye run in the Final 4 after Jack Shanahan withdrew from competition. He narrowly missed a win in the Final against Conor Shanahan, but has an early points advantage over James Deane.

“The level in Formula DRIFT keeps rising every year, so starting the season with a podium feels great for the whole team,” Aasbo said. “Everyone at Papadakis Racing has worked incredibly hard in the offseason, and this result shows we’re ready to fight for another strong championship run.”

NEXT RACE

Aasbo heads to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for round two of the PRO Championship from May 7-9. Collete Davis will make her Team ENEOS debut for round one of the PROSPEC Championship that same weekend.