Castletownroche’s James Deane has moved to the top of the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship standings after an all-Irish podium at Stafford Motor Speedway produced an Avondhu derby for the ages.
Deane claimed victory in Round 4, finishing ahead of Killavullen brothers Jack and Conor Shanahan in second and third respectively, as Irish drivers dominated proceedings in Connecticut.
The semi-final produced a brother-versus-brother storyline, with Jack Shanahan defeating his younger brother Conor to set up an all-Irish final fight for victory. Conor was later forced out of contention due to a technical issue on his second run, while Jack went on to secure second place after a closely contested final.
Deane, driving the O’Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, recovered from a difficult qualifying run to deliver a strong series of knockout performances, defeating Jhonnattan Castro, Andy Hateley, Ryan Tuerck and teammate Ben Hobson on his way to the final.
In the decider, he capitalised on Shanahan’s mechanical issue to secure his first win of the season and maximum championship points, lifting him into the overall lead.
Jack Shanahan’s runner-up finish moves him up to fourth in the standings, while Conor Shanahan remains fifth after completing the podium.
The Stafford Motor Speedway round, the first Formula DRIFT PRO event at the venue, delivered one of the most tightly contested competitions of the season and concluded with a rare all-Irish podium featuring three of the sport’s leading names from the Avondhu region.
