Ultimate Drift Brazil partners with Formula DRIFT to boost Brazilian drifting, launching the 2025 season with five rounds across iconic tracks.
Ultimate Drift Brazil has officially partnered with Formula DRIFT, solidifying its place as the newest affiliate of the renowned drifting series. Founded in 2020, Ultimate Drift’s mission has been to promote drifting in Brazil and enhance local competitions by implementing a fair and transparent organizational structure.
In 2024, Ultimate Drift hosted Brazil’s largest drifting championship to date, but series founder and Formula DRIFT PRO Championship driver Joao Barion acknowledges the growth still needed: “We are a young championship still in the process of growing and learning,” he said. Despite rapid progress in car builds and driver skills—particularly with younger drivers using simulator training—the Brazilian series faces challenges in educating fans about the sport’s complexities. Barion hopes that aligning with the Formula DRIFT Official Rulebook will ease this process and improve fan engagement.
The 2024 season saw over 70 drivers across two championships, but for 2025, Ultimate Drift will streamline the competition to a single division with a capped entry of 50 top drivers. This will allow for a more focused and engaging competition, benefitting teams and fans alike. Additionally, smaller regional championships will now have a chance to qualify for the 2026 Ultimate Drift Championship. Barion also envisions creating pathways for Brazilian drivers to earn Formula DRIFT Competition Licenses in the U.S., further elevating the Brazilian drift scene.
The 2025 Ultimate Drift Championship will consist of five rounds, down from seven, in order to help teams manage their budgets more effectively across the vast country. The 2025 schedule includes the following events:
Round 1: Belo Horizonte – March 22-23
Round 2: Londrina – May 3-4
Round 3: Balneario Camboriu – June 28-29
Round 4: Ribeirao Preto – August 16-17
Round 5: Piracicaba – October 11-12
Some of Brazil’s most iconic tracks are featured, including Belo Horizonte’s Mega Space, which integrates natural topography, and Londrina, home to the country’s only banked oval track, also used for NASCAR Brazil events.
Ultimate Drift’s technical regulations closely follow the Formula DRIFT rulebook but with a few key differences. These include a five-judge panel, a traditional two-lap qualifying system, and specific tire regulations: radial tires with a treadwear rating of 250 or higher, and a minimum hardness of 60. Cars in two weight classes—900–1250kg and over 1251kg—will compete with tire widths of 245mm and 265mm, respectively.
Formula DRIFT President Ryan Sage expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “Joao and his team have created a professional and sustainable platform for drifting in Brazil. We’re excited to continue this long-term relationship.”