Killavullen’s Conor Shanahan and Jack Shanahan, along with Castletownroche’s James Deane, were at the heart of the Avondhu storyline at the opening round of Formula DRIFT in Long Beach, as Conor Shanahan delivered a standout victory to begin the 2026 PRO championship in style for his new team Jerry Yang Racing
Conor Shanahan produced a composed and determined drive to secure victory in a dramatic final against three-time Formula DRIFT PRO champion Fredric Aasbo, marking his second career FD win and a strong statement at the start of his third season. Competing in a new Red Bull/GT Radial/JYR Toyota GT86 prepared by Jerry Yang Racing, Shanahan demonstrated both pace and resilience throughout the weekend.
His path to the top step was far from straightforward. An early exit in the Top 32 against Ken Gushi, following contact that left his car damaged, appeared to end his run. However, a stewarding review led to a “One More Time” rerun, offering Shanahan a second chance. He seized the opportunity, advancing through the field with renewed momentum and ultimately booking his place in the final, where he held his nerve to take victory.
There was further success for Killavullen as Jack Shanahan secured third place overall, underlining another strong showing for the Shanahan family. Jack’s challenge for a place in the final was impacted by mechanical issues during his Top 4 battle with Aasbo, with engine concerns forcing him to withdraw rather than risk track conditions. His decision ended hopes of a potential all-Shanahan final but secured a deserved podium finish.
From Castletownroche, five-time Formula DRIFT champion James Deane endured a more difficult opening round despite entering the weekend as one of the pre-event favourites following strong qualifying pace. Driving the O’Reilly/Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, Deane was eliminated in the Top 16 after a closely fought battle with Brazil’s Diego Higa, cutting short what had been a promising start to his campaign.
Higa himself impressed on return to Formula DRIFT competition after a year away, progressing strongly in the Higa Motorsport Toyota GT86 before his run was halted by Conor Shanahan in the Top 8.