Formula DRIFT Announces New 2025 Pro-Am Licensing Options

As preparations continue for the 2025 Formula DRIFT competition season, the series organizers have increased the number of ways for amateur drivers to achieve a full Formula DRIFT license. There are now three routes to obtain a Formula DRIFT competition license for the 2026 season. The most common is by winning one of seven affiliated, regional, multi-round drift series. The different series cover a large part of the United States, and drivers in the western provinces of Canada can also gain eligibility via the Spec D series. The winner of each 2025 series is guaranteed a Formula DRIFT PROSPEC license for the 2026 season.

In another big change for license hopefuls, Formula DRIFT also announced that the winning driver of California’s HOTPIT Autofest drift series will now be eligible for a Formula DRIFT PRO license for the first time. Of the remaining routes to an FD license, prospective drivers can also earn a PROSPEC license by winning two shoot-out events organized by Evergreen Drift in Washington. Alternatively, they can enter via the Formula DRIFT Scouting Program, which allows affiliate programs to petition for a driver’s license. New for 2025 is the addition of the Klutch Kickers Pro-Am drift series, Drift Buffet and Drift School USA as part of the Scouting Program. Series entrants who show real promise can be submitted to receive a Formula DRIFT PROSPEC license through these affiliated series.

“As the leading drift series in North America, we’ve always understood and valued our role in driver development,” said Ryan Sage, president of Formula DRIFT. “Not only do we want fans to enjoy competitive drift events but we want to ensure the very best drivers are rewarded with a pathway that recognizes their skill and enables them to compete against the very best drift drivers in the world. We’re excited to welcome Klutch Kickers into the fold, reflecting the incredible job the organizers have done to elevate their series. And at the same time, we have to acknowledge the stature HOTPIT Autofest has reached in preparing drivers for the big game. And that’s why we’re excited to consider their most successful driver from the 2025 season into our PRO Championship.”

For his part, Jeff Jones from HOTPIT said, “We’re thrilled that our next HOTPIT Autofest Champion will be invited to compete in Formula Drift PRO in 2026! This crossover opportunity validates the elite level of the competition and driver talent in our series. We’re proud to showcase the skills of our driver on drifting’s biggest U.S. stage–bring on the smoke!”

As is traditional, the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship kicks off its 2025 season with the Streets of Long Beach on April 4-5. Round 1 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on May 8-10 along with Round 2 of FD PRO.