GT Radial Clinches the 2026 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup With a 1-2 Finish in Las Vegas
GT Radial Clinches the 2026 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup With a 1-2 Finish in Las Vegas
Conor Shanahan wins, Matt Field takes second, and GT Radial’s first driver championship is one heat away
LAS VEGAS, NV (September 29, 2026) – GT Radial secured the 2026 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup Championship with one round still to run, powered by a 1-2 finish from Conor Shanahan and Matt Field at Round 7 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship. The event ran September 24-26 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, marking the series’ return to LVMS after 14 years away.
Shanahan’s win also moved him into the lead of the 2026 PRO Driver Championship, setting up a title fight at the October finale in Long Beach where GT Radial can claim its first-ever Formula DRIFT driver championship.
Shanahan and Field Meet in an All-GT Radial Final
Shanahan set the tone early, qualifying second on Thursday with a 91.03 on his second run in the Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86.
On Saturday, he worked through a stacked bracket to reach the Final, where he met veteran Matt Field and the Borla Performance / GT Radial Corvette. The two had posted the highest proximity ratings of the night under the series’ Universal Drift Scoring Method, with telemetry showing both drivers averaging just 2-3 feet from their opponents. When the smoke cleared, the judges unanimously awarded the win to Shanahan.
Field’s second place completed the GT Radial 1-2, with both finalists running the GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS competition tire.
Tire Cup Championship Secured With a Round to Spare
The Las Vegas result locked up the 2026 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup, the series’ tire manufacturer championship, before the final round. GT Radial heads to Long Beach holding a 180-point lead in the Tire Cup standings, the product of consistent results from GT Radial-equipped teams across the season, including a sweep of qualifying at Stafford and a two-driver podium in Seattle.
The Champiro SX2 RS is produced at GT Radial’s plant in Richburg, South Carolina, and is the only Formula DRIFT competition tire made in America.
Las Vegas Results at a Glance
| Result | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Conor Shanahan (GT Radial) | Toyota GT86 |
| 2nd | Matt Field (GT Radial) | Chevrolet Corvette |
| 3rd | Jack Shanahan | BMW E82 |
| Qualifying, 2nd | Conor Shanahan (GT Radial) | 91.03 points |
Shanahan Leads the Driver Championship Into Long Beach
Shanahan now sits atop the 2026 PRO standings with 212 points and a 47-point advantage. According to Formula DRIFT, winning a single heat at the finale is enough to crown him the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Champion.
That would give GT Radial its first Formula DRIFT driver championship and a rare double: the Tire Cup and the driver title in the same season. One championship is already won. The second is within reach.
The 2026 season concludes with Round 8, the Shoreline Showdown, October 23-24 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, where the PRO Champion will be crowned under the lights on Saturday night.
Follow the GT Radial Formula DRIFT program on the Motorsports page, and find the tire behind the Tire Cup at a GT Radial dealer near you.
About GT Radial
The GT Radial brand, manufactured and marketed by Giti Tire, has been sold in the US for more than 30 years. Comprehensive offerings of GT Radial passenger, light truck, and commercial truck tires are available across North America through retailers and independent tire dealers. Giti Tire (headquartered in Singapore), which has been in the tire business since 1951, operates five manufacturing plants and three technical centers globally, including the passenger/light truck tire plant and technical center in Richburg, SC. Giti Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Charlotte, NC, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for GT Radial in North America. For more information on GT Radial, visit https://www.gtradial-us.com/
