Formula Drift travels to Georgia for the second round of its 2026 season, where three Ford Mustang RTR Spec-5 FD cars will fight for victory at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. RTR Vehicles Team Owner Vaughn Gittin Jr. will compete alongside James Deane and Ben Hobson. Road Atlanta marks the first of two planned appearances for Gittin in Formula Drift this year.
In the first round on the streets of Long Beach, Deane and Hobson were strong in the return of the single-car, two-run qualifying format. Both drivers won their tandem battles in the Top 32 to advance to the Top 16, but neither driver advanced to the Great Eight.
James Deane heads to Atlanta with positive momentum having finished second in the first round of the Drift Masters championship last weekend in Rome, Italy.
DRIVER QUOTES
James Deane, No. 130 RTR Vehicles Ford Mustang RTR Spec-5 FD – “I’m really excited to return to Formula Drift Atlanta where I won last year. We didn’t have the perfect start to the season in Long Beach, but I’m pumped for Atlanta and I’m hoping to get back on the podium in Round 2.”
Ben Hobson, No. 213 RTR Vehicles Ford Mustang RTR Spec-5 FD – “I’m super pumped going into Round 2 in Atlanta! After getting a feel for the car this season in the last round, I just know that we are going to do great things this year.”
ORDER OF EVENTS *Times ET
Thursday May 7
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Practice
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Warm Up
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.: Qualifying
Saturday May 9
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.: Warm Up
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Main Event: Top 32
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.: Main Event: Top 16
SEASON CALENDAR
- APRIL 10 - 11: LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
- MAY 7 - 9: ATLANTA, GEORGIA
- MAY 29 - 30: ORLANDO, FLORIDA
- JUNE 18 - 20: STAFFORD, CONNECTICUT
- JULY 30 - AUGUST 1: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
- AUGUST 21 - 22: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
- SEPTEMBER 24 - 26: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
- OCTOBER 23 - 24: LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
