Formula Drift Reshapes Pro-Am Affiliate Program for 2026

Industry News 26 February 2026

Story by PAS Staff

Photography provided by Formula Drift (@formulad)

Formula Drift is updating its Pro-Am Affiliate Program for 2026, creating clearer paths for new drivers — and returning drivers — to earn a competition license for either the FD PRO or PROSPEC championships.

With both PRO and PROSPEC capped at 40 drivers, Formula Drift says the changes are designed to strengthen the pipeline, improve preparedness, and help ensure the series stays competitive long-term.

How the 40-driver cap affects licenses

In both championships, the top finishers from the previous season hold most of the grid. The remaining spots are tied to performance thresholds — meaning drivers who finish outside the protected ranking can be at risk of losing their competition license unless they meet certain criteria. Drivers in that position may be invited to petition the series to retain their license.

PROSPEC license: three ways in

Formula Drift outlined three routes for drivers aiming to enter PROSPEC.

1) Win a qualifying Pro-Am championship (multi-round)

A driver who wins any of the affiliated multi-round championships below is awarded a Formula Drift license and becomes eligible to compete in PROSPEC the following season.

2026 PROSPEC Qualifying Championships (10):

• Drift Colorado — serves Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Boulder

• DMCC — new Pro-Am series with rounds in Quebec, Canada

• East 10 Drift — serves Atlanta, GA and Bristol, TN

• Full Lock Drift — serves Oklahoma City and Tulsa

• Gateway PROAM — new affiliate based at Worldwide Technology Raceway (near St. Louis, MO)

• Great Lakes ProAm — based at Lake Erie Speedway (North East, Pennsylvania)

• Klutch Kickers — promoted for 2026; events at MidPond Raceway (Columbiana, AL)

• ND Drift — serves Fargo, North Dakota

• Spec D — covers Alberta and British Columbia, Canada

• US Drift Circuit — events at Sebring International Raceway (Florida)

2) FD Scouting Program (recommended drivers)

Drivers can also be recommended through the Scouting Program, which includes events not run under the Formula Drift Pro-Am rulebook. These organizations may “scout” successful drivers and submit a recommendation to Formula Drift on their behalf:

• Drift School USA — Los Angeles and San Bernardino, CA

• Evergreen Drift — Evergreen Speedway (Monroe, WA)

• US DRIFT — Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and New Jersey

Formula Drift notes that recommendations and petitions do not guarantee a license, but they create an access point for drivers outside the direct championship route.

3) Petition the series

A driver who believes they’re qualified may petition directly. Formula Drift says this is commonly used by drivers from outside North America who already hold competition licenses abroad.

PRO license: three routes

For drivers targeting FD PRO, Formula Drift lists three paths:

1. Finish top three in PROSPEC (guaranteed acceptance if the driver chooses to advance)

2. Win Hotpit Autofest, a five-round championship in the Greater Los Angeles region

3. Petition the series, again often used by overseas drivers who can’t access the first two routes

Formula Drift President Ryan Sage said the goal is to keep standards high while helping emerging drivers prepare for a full national season — from skill development to logistics and budgeting. He also highlighted the promotion of affiliates like Klutch Kickers and Hotpit Autofest as part of the program’s evolution.

Where to learn more

Full details of the 2026 Formula Drift Affiliate Program are available at: formulad.com/pro-am

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