Castletownroche’s James Deane and Killavullen’s Jack Shanahan delivered an extraordinary Irish showdown in Long Beach, going door-to-door in the final battle of the 2026 Formula DRIFT season, on a night that also belonged to newly crowned champion Conor Shanahan.
Deane emerged victorious at the Shoreline Showdown, the final round of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, defeating Jack Shanahan to secure the event win and end the season on a high.
The final was a fitting conclusion to the campaign for two of Ireland’s leading drifting talents, with Deane taking the top step of the podium and Shanahan finishing second. American driver Adam LZ completed the event podium.
However, the biggest story of the night extended beyond the Long Beach result, with the final championship standings delivering a remarkable Avondhu clean sweep.
Killavullen’s Conor Shanahan was crowned 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO champion, with Deane finishing second overall and fellow Killavullen driver Jack Shanahan completing the top three.
For Deane, the Long Beach victory provided a memorable end to the season, while Jack’s runner-up finish in the final added another highlight to an impressive campaign. Their door-to-door battle brought the curtain down on the championship in dramatic fashion.
Speaking after his victory, Deane congratulated Conor Shanahan and the Shanahan team on securing the championship, recalling seeing Conor drive a drift car for the first time at just nine years of age.
Deane said he had recognised Conor’s potential from those early days, describing the championship success as an incredible feeling.
The result marks a special moment for Irish motorsport, with the Avondhu region now represented by the first-, second- and third-placed drivers in the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship.
From Killavullen to Castletownroche, the region has firmly established itself as a powerhouse of international drifting, with Conor Shanahan, James Deane and Jack Shanahan completing a remarkable championship clean sweep.
