Ryan Sage on Reinventing Formula DRIFT, the Landmark Long Beach Street Course, and a Bold New Era
During a compelling Race Industry Week interview, Ryan Sage, one of the original founders and current President of Formula DRIFT, delivered an inside look at one of the most pivotal seasons in the series’ history—highlighted by the historic departure from Irwindale Speedway, the monumental build of the new Long Beach street course, and the most aggressive schedule transformation Formula DRIFT has ever undertaken.
A Historic Shift: From Irwindale to Downtown Long Beach
Sage described the move from Irwindale Speedway to the streets of Downtown Long Beach as the single most difficult production challenge of his career. Unlike traditional Formula DRIFT venues where permanent infrastructure already exists, the Long Beach event required a full “soup-to-nuts” build, executed entirely by the Formula DRIFT team without the backbone of an existing Grand Prix operation.
Construction began nearly a month in advance, involving full city coordination, street closures, safety systems, grandstands, paddock layout, and permanent infrastructure such as the new Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame monument at the convention center. The investment risk was substantial—more than triple the cost of a traditional event.
Despite the enormous pressure and financial exposure, the result exceeded critical benchmarks. Attendance surpassed Irwindale, and the event delivered some of the best tandem drifting ever seen, aided by a flowing, European-style course layout that emphasized sustained speed, driver control, and technical precision.
Equally important, the Long Beach event forged a new and meaningful partnership with the City of Long Beach and the Mayor’s Office—an unprecedented relationship for Formula DRIFT with a major metropolitan city. With the Olympics coming to the region and large-scale development underway, Sage emphasized that this relationship fundamentally changes the long-term potential for the series in Southern California.
Redefining the Formula DRIFT Calendar
Sage revealed that the 2026 Formula DRIFT season will mark the most radical schedule transformation in the series’ history, with three new venues introduced in a single year—a first for the championship.
The new events include:
- Stafford Speedway (Connecticut) – Replacing the former E-Town event, shifting the Northeast presence closer to Boston and New York City.
- Indianapolis Raceway Park (Indiana) – Bringing Formula DRIFT to the heart of American motorsports, aligned with the broader motorsports ecosystem anchored at PRI.
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway – The Bullring (Nevada) – A three-year commitment that will see Formula DRIFT invest directly in rebuilding and modernizing the venue’s short-oval infrastructure.
Sage confirmed that the closure of E-Town due to property sale created a late-season pivot that expanded what originally began as a two-new-event strategy into a three-event overhaul. While the loss of E-Town was deeply emotional for both the staff and longtime fans, Sage emphasized that evolution is unavoidable as real estate, urban growth, and permanent venues increasingly place pressure on motorsports.
A Founder’s Perspective: Growth, Ownership, and Legacy
Beyond venues and logistics, Sage spoke candidly about the massive internal evolution of Formula DRIFT. Since the passing of co-founder Jim Liaw, Sage has led an aggressive transition toward greater independence, ownership of production assets, and long-term structural control—shifting from renting critical systems to building them as proprietary investments inside the organization.
That strategy, combined with expanding global operations and personal life milestones—including marriage and fatherhood—made 2025 the most demanding year of his professional life. Still, Sage described the moment as one of reflection, gratitude, and renewed purpose.
Looking Forward: A New Chapter for Formula DRIFT
With Long Beach now validated, a reinvigorated relationship with host cities, and a bold new calendar set for 2026, Formula DRIFT stands on the threshold of its next major growth phase. Sage acknowledged that drifting was never considered in the original design of American motorsports infrastructure, making every new venue a creative engineering challenge—but one that continues to define the DNA of Formula DRIFT.
“Our sport has always had to think creatively,” Sage explained. “There are only so many tracks that truly work for drifting. We don’t have the luxury of endless cookie-cutter venues. Everything we do has to be designed with purpose.”
As Formula DRIFT prepares for an ambitious future spanning new markets, reinvestment in facilities, and deeper integration in major metropolitan centers, one thing remains clear: the championship is not merely surviving industry change—it is actively reshaping its own path forward.
For more information on Formula DRIFT and the 2026 season, visit www.formulad.com.
About Formula DRIFT
Founded in 2003, Formula DRIFT is the world’s premier professional drifting championship, featuring elite drivers from around the globe competing on some of the most iconic circuits and street venues in motorsports.
Founded in 2003, Formula DRIFT is the world’s premier professional drifting championship, featuring elite drivers from around the globe competing on some of the most iconic circuits and street venues in motorsports.
About EPARTRADE & Race Industry Week
EPARTRADE is the world’s leading B2B platform for the performance and racing industry, connecting professionals 24/7, 365 days a year. Race Industry Week is EPARTRADE’s annual global media event bringing together the most influential leaders across every form of motorsport.
EPARTRADE is the world’s leading B2B platform for the performance and racing industry, connecting professionals 24/7, 365 days a year. Race Industry Week is EPARTRADE’s annual global media event bringing together the most influential leaders across every form of motorsport.
