In the Type S PRO Seeding Bracket, the first 16 competition places were secured based on ranking from the previous Round, which was reduced from 20 due to the event having exactly 32 drivers. Having 32 or fewer drivers precipitates a format change, in which both Seeding and Top 32 competition are whole: 16 Seeded and 16 Locked. The 16 drivers in Seeding are battling for points and tomorrow’s Main Event order instead of risking elimination.
Drivers are awarded three points for every win, helping them to improve their Championship positions, with Sorensen receiving a total of 12 points for winning the Seeding Bracket after a fierce battle with Bakchis. Branden was awarded the victory over Odi after a flawless chase run.
Third place went to Olsen, who lost an equally close battle against Bakchis in the semi-finals, but in this instance, it was a superior chase run from Odi that jettisoned the Norwegian driver.
With former title contenders and teammates, Bakchis and Olsen, having to qualify for Saturday’s competition heats, it’s an indication of the intense pressure in the 2025 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship. Both drivers will be hoping to get their seasons back on track, especially Bakchis, who holds sixth in the title race, but an early dismissal from Round 5 dropped him down the rankings.
Seattle saw the return of Wataru Masuyama (Japan) to FD PRO. He left the series after placing 11th overall in 2022 but has returned to fill Daigo Saito’s seat in the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GR86 after Saito experienced an issue with his travel visa before the previous round.
RESULTS FROM Formula Drift PRO SEEDING BRACKET
- Branden Sorensen (USA) – US Air Force / Sorensen Motorsports BMW
2. Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) – Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9
3. Simen Olsen (Norway) – Simen Olsen Drifting Toyota GR Supra
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