2026 April 11–12, Shanghai Tianma Circuit
The Welcome Round of Royal Drift Series was not just an exhibition event – it was the moment when our vision turned into reality on track. Two days at Shanghai Tianma Circuit, fifty professional drivers, a packed grandstand, and a paddock full of teams from China, Finland, and Russia. The Welcome Round opened the story we have been preparing for years.
A pre-season opener, not a championship round
The Welcome Round was held outside the official 2026 season standings. Its purpose was different: to bring together the strongest teams of China and international guests, to give judges, race control, and operations crews a full dress rehearsal, and to show the drift community what Royal Drift Series stands for. Mission accomplished – and the results speak for themselves.
Drivers Podium:
A Finnish veteran on top, two Chinese drivers right behind him – exactly the kind of head-to-head competition Royal Drift Series was built for.
- Jylhä Jarkko – Finland, Nissan R32, Zero Mileage Lubricants – GOLD CORE Drift Team
- Zhang Shengjun – Beijing, Mercedes-Benz SLS, Zero Mileage Lubricants – ZM Drift Team
- Wang Qi – Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, BMW Z4
A Finnish veteran on top, two Chinese drivers right behind him – exactly the kind of head-to-head competition Royal Drift Series was built for.
Team Podium:
- Zero Mileage Lubricants – GOLD CORE Drift – Hou Shaoyu, Jylhä Jarkko
- Shanghai APEX Drift – Jerry Zhu, Pei Fan, Connor Xia, Carman Dong, Gan Dio, Chen Chi Yun
- Rydanz 441B.W. UPDRIFT – Shen Anxu, Lee Fu, Ye Jason, Zheng Zichen, Johnson Chen
Qualifying winner:
Zhang Hao – Beijing, Toyota GT86, Marvi Racing. A clean, confident run that set the tone for the whole weekend.
Zhang Hao – Beijing, Toyota GT86, Marvi Racing. A clean, confident run that set the tone for the whole weekend.
SUPER TOP 4 special battles winner:
Shnayder Leonid – Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Toyota Mark 2 JZX90. The SUPER TOP 4 format gave the audience the kind of intense one-on-one battles drift fans live for.
Shnayder Leonid – Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Toyota Mark 2 JZX90. The SUPER TOP 4 format gave the audience the kind of intense one-on-one battles drift fans live for.
What the Welcome Round confirmed
The pre-season opener answered every question we had. The track configuration works. Our judging system delivers consistent calls. Our broadcast crew is ready to take the championship to viewers in English and Chinese, in Asia and worldwide. Teams from China can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with international names. And the audience – the most important judge of all – came back on Sunday for more.
What's next
Round 1 of the 2026 season takes place on June 6–7 at Shanghai Tianma Circuit – this time for real championship points, with the full prize fund on the line. Five rounds across five Chinese cities, fifty professional drivers, one million US dollars in prizes, and a season-long battle for the inaugural Royal Drift Series title.
Welcome Round was the beginning. The story starts now
Welcome Round was the beginning. The story starts now
