Drivers rip through the Formula Drift Long Beach course during the 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix media day.
Peter Nelson
While IndyCar, late ‘70s/early ‘80s Formula 1, and IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) are often the first professional racing series that come to enthusiasts’ mind when they think of the Long Beach Grand Prix, the seaside city’s streets truly come alive in another symphony of tire smoke, horsepower, and top-level driver skill: Formula Drift.
2026 marks two decades of FD going down in the SoCal city. It’s widely known among fans as the series’ season kick-off, but has also filled in other spots on the calendar. Regardless of which month, the aural and visual drama has always had the same effect—the significance of achieving extreme oversteer on the same tarmac graced by other world-renowned series is never lost on fans. Especially with the beautiful city skyline in the background.
The brand-new Formula Drift Hall of Fame monument near the Long Beach Grand Prix circuit.
Peter Nelson
Earlier this week, to celebrate 20 years of FD in Long Beach, the series unveiled a Formula Drift Hall of Fame monument on the venue’s hallowed ground near the city’s convention center. In addition to various hall of fame inductees’ names, it features a brilliant design showing the tire compounds that tore across the circuit back in 2006, as told to me by fellow automotive journalist Ryan Zummallen. This year, the series inducted 2011 winner and overall series legend Dai Yoshihara.
History is being made in other areas this season, too: Formula Drift and Racer Network have signed an exclusive broadcast deal to bolster the series’ coverage and fan engagement. There are new segments to the schedule and methods of watching event coverage, so be sure to check out how and when to watch.
Drivers rip through the Formula Drift Long Beach course during the 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix media day.
Peter Nelson
If you haven’t checked out Formula Drift yet, rest assured, it’s definitely worth any enthusiast’s time. One simply can’t deny the thrilling action and tremendous skill involved. For me, I’ve always held a very high regard for the series and its drivers, but have never been knee-deep in its technical details and coverage.
But that may change this season. While attending the Long Beach Grand Prix media day earlier this week, I was offered the opportunity to ride shotgun with competitor Connor O’Sullivan in his extra-angry, GM LS V8-powered E46-generation BMW 3 Series. The tandem-run session—meaning, two cars ripping through the course door-to-door—was out-of-this-freaking-world. The noise, G force, up-close drama, and smoke, plus the fact that it was across a section of the Grand Prix circuit; simply brilliant.
The 2026 Formula Drift season kicks off this weekend in the LBC; once again, be sure to check out how, when, and where to watch. Then, be sure to keep an eye out for coverage of IndyCar, IMSA, and every other series running the full street circuit until the checkered flag waves Sunday evening, April 18th. It’s also one of the most spectator-friendly motorsports events on Earth, so check it out in person (including the fan events) if you’re able to.
Drivers rip through the Formula Drift Long Beach course during the 2026 Long Beach Grand Prix media day.
Peter Nelson
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