James Deane

Driver Bio

James Deane has established himself as one of the fastest-growing personalities in the sport and boasts the largest following of any Irish motorsport personality in the world. James began his competitive drift career in 2006 behind the wheel of a Ford Sierra in the Prodrift Junior Championship and in 2024 he is again behind the wheel of his 2024 AutoZone Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD in Formula Drift with 1,249 horsepower. 

A three-time Formula Drift Champion James won consecutively from 2017-2019 before stepping away to compete in Europe. However, during his vacancy from US drifting he was no stranger to winning, taking first at the DriftNeu North Cyprus Championship Finals, Goodwood Festival of Speed Driftkhana competition, the LZ Festival Mondello Park, multiple podiums in the Drift Masters European Championship and that’s just 2022. 

Now with 3 seasons and countless hours of seat time under his belt in his Mustang RTR, James has secured a record setting fifth Formula Drift Championship, that would give RTR Vehicles’ their fifth overall Formula Drift championship for the RTR Vehicles’ Drift Team.

2026 Events

• April 10th - 11th: Formula Drift Road 1 // Long Beach, CA
• May 1st - 2nd: Drift Masters Round 1 // Italy
• May 7th - 8th: Formula Drift Round 2 // Road Atlanta
• May 16th - 17th: Drift Masters Round 2 // Spain
• May 29th - 30th: Formula Drift Round 3 // Orlando Speed World
• June 13th - 14th: Drift Masters Round 3 // Ireland
• June 18th - 20th: Formula Drift Round 4 // Strafford Speedway
• July 10th - 11th: Drift Masters Round 4 // Ireland
• July 24th - 25th: Drift Masters Round 5 // Latvia
• July 30th - Aug 1st: Formula Drift Round 5 // Indianapolis Raceway Park
• Aug 13th - 14th: Drift Masters Round 6 // Germany
• Aug 21st - 22nd: Formula Drift Round 6 // Evergreen Speedway
• Sept 11th - 12th: Drift Masters Round 7 // Poland
• Sept 24th - 26th: Formula Drift Round 7 // Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Oct 23rd - 24th: Formula Drift Round 8 // Long Beach, CA