Formula Drift Long Beach Event Recap

FD Long Beach OVERVIEW

• Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
• Location: Streets of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
• Event: Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 1: AutoZone Streets of Long Beach presented by TYPE S
• Finish: 13th Overall

It was Round 1 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, called "AutoZone Streets of Long Beach presented by TYPE S".  The event was SOLD OUT with thousands of fans in attendance.  Friday included practice rounds, autograph signings, and qualifying.  Saturday featured the main competition with Top 32, Top 16, and final rounds.

hoW did we do?

Jonathan Hurst, one of Formula Drifts' youngest up-and-coming drivers, known for his aggressive "all-or-nothing" driving style , delivered an impressive performance at the Long Beach Formula Drift 2024 event week. Throughout practice and competition, Hurst showcased exceptional control and skill as he navigated the challenging course with finesse on his brand new Kenda racing tires.

Jonathan took on Daniel Stuke in his first battle of the Top 32 bracket.  Hurst's driving was marked by seamless transitions, impressive angle, and close proximity to the clipping points, earning him a victory with high scores from the judges and admiration from spectators.

His next battle was in the Top 16 against three-time world champion James Dean from Ireland.  Both drivers failed to complete the first lap, which lead to a series of OMT's (One More Times... i.e. "rematches").  He ended up running a total of SIX (6) times against James Deane, pushing his new MRCOOL Cadillac XLR to the limit with it's Garrett twin turbo setup.  The first four of these runs were in dry conditions with Jonathan driving aggressively and many fans believing he was the victor.  However, the judges called another OMT, and then the rain began to fall.  This completely changed the track and gave James Deane an advantage along with the overall victory.

Later in the week, Jonathan was invited to participate in the Formula Drift Super Drift event in Long Beach where he competed with 7 other drivers and landed on the podium with a 3rd place trophy!

Hurst's consistent performance throughout the event proved his reputation as one of the top contenders in the Formula Drift circuit. Jonathan and the Cash Racing Team are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the next round of Formula Drift in Atlanta on May 9-11.  We hope to see you there!

event media

WHAT'S NEXT?

We are fixing a few things on the MRCOOL Cadillac XLR over the next week or two and getting out for some practice.  Then, next up for Jonathan Hurst and the #16 Cash Racing Team... we are looking forward to carrying momentum into the next round of Formula Drift in Atlanta on May 9-11 where we hope to hit the podium.   Maybe we will see you there!