The Long Beach finale crowned Conor Shanahan, but it also closed several long chapters in Formula Drift. Behind the championship headlines, a handful of familiar faces used the 2026 season finale to say goodbye — some for now, some for good.
LZ takes a pause
LZ arrived at Long Beach wanting one more podium, and he got it, finishing third on the day after a close Final 4 loss to Jack Shanahan. Afterwards he announced he will not compete in 2027, describing it as a pause rather than a retirement and saying he hopes to come back.
Ryan Tuerck’s final appearance
Ryan Tuerck, one of the most recognisable drivers of the modern era, made his final series appearance in his Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla. His day ended in the Top 32, but the paddock treated it as a send-off for a driver who helped shape what pro drifting looks like today.
Simen Olsen and Brian Eggert move on
Norway’s Simen Olsen, who joined Formula Drift in 2021 and finished fourth overall in 2023, is also leaving the series. Fittingly, it was Olsen who knocked the new champion out in the Top 16 on his way out. Off track, long-serving judge Brian Eggert stepped away after 15 years in the tower.
New names coming through
While veterans left, a rookie arrived properly. Cole Richards lost to Tommy Lemaire in the Top 32 while nursing engine problems in his Toyota GT86, but had already scored enough points to claim Rookie of the Year. Branden Sorensen’s title hopes, meanwhile, ended with a broken power-steering pulley on his BMW and a 17th place on the day.
Season trophies
- Driver title: Conor Shanahan (224 pts)
- Auto Cup: Ford (346 pts)
- Tire Cup: GT Radial (532 pts) – second straight title
- Rookie of the Year: Cole Richards
With a new champion, a reshaped grid and a winter of driver moves ahead, 2027 already looks like a reset year for Formula Drift.
Lead image is illustrative. Photo: Spc. Reese Von Rogatsz / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).