Hiroya Minowa made history at Orlando Speed World on May 31 by becoming the youngest Formula DRIFT winner ever. At just 15 years old, the Japanese driver captured his first victory during Round 3 of the 2025 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship.
Driving a Toyota GT86 equipped with GT Radial Champiro SX2 RS tires, Minowa secured the win in only his 11th PRO Championship appearance. His breakthrough came after earning two second-place finishes in 2024, in St. Louis and Seattle.
Minowa’s victory highlights the performance of GT Radial tires, which also carried Aurimas Bakchis to a third-place finish in Orlando. Bakchis added valuable points for GT Radial in the Tire Cup standings.
Youngest Formula DRIFT Winner Defeats Former Champions on Road to Victory
Minowa beat four seasoned competitors. Including double FD PROSPEC Champion Dmitriy Brutiskiy, Ireland’s Conor Shanahan, three-time PRO Champion Fredric Aasbo from Norway, and GT Radial teammate Bakchis.
Minowa’s 50-point performance in Orlando boosted him from eighth to third place in the overall PRO standings. Bakchis now ranks fifth.
Tire Cup Momentum Builds for GT Radial
GT Radial currently holds second place in the 2025 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup standings after strong showings from both drivers. The brand previously claimed the Tire Cup title in 2023 and remains a top contender this season.
The Champiro SX2 RS tires are produced at GT Radial’s passenger and light truck tire facility in Richburg, S.C. The tires, available for street use, continue to gain recognition through competitive achievements — now including the rise of the youngest Formula DRIFT winner in series history.
