GT Radial Wins in Orlando and Takes Center Stage in Formula Drift 2026

With Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis on top and Branden Sorensen finishing third on the podium, the brand now has two drivers among the top three in the overall standings.

GT Radial celebrated last weekend a breakthrough victory at Formula Drift Round 3 as Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis claimed his first win since Round 7 of the 2024 season, where he also defeated James Deane in the Final.

The victory marks Bakchis’ first Formula Drift win behind the wheel of his new Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ after transitioning from his longtime Nissan S15 chassis. The new platform has delivered immediate results throughout the 2026 season, with a fifth-place finish at Round 1, a No. 1 qualifying position and third-place podium at Round 2, and now a victory at Round 3.

Those consistent performances have propelled Bakchis from third in the championship standings to the lead of the 2026 Formula Drift PRO Championship. On his path to victory, Bakchis defeated Simen Olsen (Norway) in the Top 32 before overcoming Dan Burkett (USA), Jack Shanahan (Ireland), and Branden Sorensen (USA) in the Final Four rounds to secure the win.

GT Radial also celebrated another strong performance from Branden Sorensen, driver of the Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW. Sorensen continued his impressive development with a fourth-place finish at Round 3, building on his strong start to the season. His result moves him from fourth to third place in the championship standings as he continues to improve with each event.

Adding to the excitement of the weekend, valued GT Radial customer Tire Group International was in attendance to experience the action firsthand and witness the team's success at Formula Drift Round 3. GT Radial and its Champiro SX2 RS tires now head into the next round with momentum, leading the Formula Drift PRO Championship and continuing to demonstrate the performance and consistency of its drift program at the highest level of competition.