James Deane wins Round 2 after two One More Time requests from the judges to separate his performance from second-place Fredric Aasbo.
The weather played a big part in the proceedings. Rain during practice left a wet track, but sighting laps weren’t deemed necessary because the drivers had already experienced it. The track quickly dried through most of the Top 32, but heavy rain returned for the final heats of the session, resulting in lurid slides and entertaining overtakes. The rain continued through the remainder of the night, resulting in reduced speed but increased skill levels.
Perhaps the most anticipated duel of the Top 32 heats was between RTR Motorsports teammates, four-time FD PRO Champion James Deane (Ireland) and double Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA). The contest was the epic showdown everybody wanted, with Deane scoring a narrow win on his way to the podium.
Deane’s familiarity with wet conditions in Ireland was matched by Aasbo’s comfortable level on ice, seeming to give the two European drivers an advantage in the Final. However, the judges struggled to separate the two finalists, calling for Deane and Aasbo to repeat their runs on two occasions. They requested One More Time, which is reserved for when it’s impossible to pick a winner based on the previous two runs.
After their sixth run, Deane wins by the narrowest of margins, bumping him up to equal first in the 2025 FD PRO Championship standings alongside Aasbo.
Bakchis’s strong third, thanks to his exemplary car control, placed him level on points with Branden Sorensen (USA), who finished fifth on the night.
Jhonnattan Castro (Dominican Republic) secured fourth place in Atlanta in the Metaldom GR86. He was defeated in the Final 4 by Deane but scored his best result since joining the series in 2012. The points haul propelled him from 16th overall to fifth.
Connor O`Sullivan (USA) was the top Rookie in Atlanta, finishing 22nd on the night and sitting 21st overall. With nine points, he leads the Rookie of the Year title race into Round 3, ahead of Jack Shanahan.
In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, Toyota holds first place with Kenda leading the Tire Cup.
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