Formula DRIFT made its return to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. Fans watched as drivers did a warm-up round. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Driver Rome Charpentier in the Garagistic/Pedal Commander/Coco Love/Kumho Tires/BMW E82 during the warm-up run during the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans filled the grandstands during the first day of Formula DRIFT on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT drivers Ryan Tuerck and Jhonnattan Castro signing autographs for fans at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Drivers signed autographs for fans at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
(L-R) Connor O’Sullivan in the U.S. Army/Osully Racing BMW and Aurimas Bakchis in the Feal Suspension GT Radical Subimods BRZ during the warm-up run during the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans could experience drifting themselves at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach, as Ford provided ridealongs in Mustangs with professional drivers. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
(L-R) Matt Field in the Borla Performance GT Radical Heat Wave Visual Logitech Liqui Moly Corvette and Ben Hobson in the 2026 Pennzoil Ford Mustand RTR SPEC 5 FD during the warm-up run during the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans could experience drifting themselves at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach, as Ford provided ridealongs in Mustangs with professional drivers. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT returns to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT made its return to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. Fans watched as drivers did a warm-up round. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Vendors were set up and welcoming fans to the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. Many had different cars on display. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Vendors were set up and welcoming fans to the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. At the Lions Automobilia Foundation and Museum booth, attendees could race against each other to fix an engine. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans making their way into the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Fans could experience drifting themselves at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach, as Ford provided ridealongs in Mustangs with professional drivers. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Drivers signed autographs for fans at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Driver Ken Gushi in the Greddy Performance Gazoo Racing GR86 during the warm-up run at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT drivers show off their skills during the warm-up run on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Driver Dylan Hughes in the Royal Purple BMW 2JZ during the warm-up run during the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT made its return to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. Fans watched as drivers did a warm-up round. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Driver Ryan Tuerck in the Rain X Toyota GR Corolla during the warm-up run during the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT made its return to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. Fans watched as drivers did a warm-up round. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Driver Simen Olsen in the Grandal GR Supra during the warm-up run at the Formula DRIFT event on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT drivers show off their skills during the warm-up run on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT drivers show off their skills during the warm-up run on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Formula DRIFT drivers show off their skills during the warm-up run on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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Formula DRIFT made its return to Long Beach on Friday, April 10, 2026. Fans watched as drivers did a warm-up round. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The sound of skidding tires and the smell of burning rubber filled the air on Friday, April 10, as Formula DRIFT made its return to the streets of downtown Long Beach.
This weekend kicks off the 2026 championship season of the Round One of North America’s premier professional drifting series.
Hundreds of people made their way to the course on Friday to watch drivers intentionally spin and skid their souped-up vehicles during practice and warmup runs and, ultimately, a qualifying run in the afternoon.
Attendees also got to meet drivers, get merchandise from their favorite teams, and even experience a bit of drifting themselves — as Ford offered ride-alongs in Mustangs with professional drivers.
Fans and car enthusiasts will also get to experience the high-speed, high-skill competition on Saturday, April 11, for Formula DRIFT’s main event.