Watch This Formula Drift Champion Hurl a Ford Mustang Around the Monaco F1 Track
· Yahoo Sports
Monaco is one of the most challenging race circuits in the world. It is a tight, undulating, and twisty circuit around the streets of the principality, and it always offers a unique challenge to the drivers in the Formula 1 field. So imagine what it's like for a Formula Drift driver to take on the famous circuit.
Incredibly, we got to see this recently ahead of the 2026 edition of the Monaco Grand Prix. Formula Drift champion James Deane was on hand to drift a Ford Mustang muscle car around the circuit and showcase the American car at its very best.
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Of course, the Ford Mustang isn't built for drifting. As a muscle car, it is all about huge speed down the 1/4 mile, unless, of course, you have the track-ready Mustang GTD. But you wouldn't expect one to go drifting, let alone around the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.
What makes this spectacle even more impressive is that Dean was doing it with the Mustang Dark Horse. Throwing a 5.0-liter V8 muscle car around a hairpin like this takes real skill. But with a Formula Drift champion at the wheel, this Mustang looked like it handled it with ease.
How Easy Was It To Drift the Ford Mustang?
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The drifting of the Ford Mustang took place at the Fairmont Hairpin, one of the most iconic corners on the whole Monaco circuit. It is the slowest corner on the F1 calendar, with drivers at full lock on the steering wheel as they go around the corner at just 30mph. If you are brave enough, it's also one of the few overtaking spots on the calendar.
The Mustang seemed to take the challenge on with ease. In videos posted to social media, Deane is seen going sideways around the entire hairpin complex, with plenty of rubber being burned as he hurled the car around the track. In fact, he made it look a lot easier for the Mustang than it does for one of the Grand Prix cars during the race.
It shouldn't be a surprise that Deane was able to get around the corner so easily. Born in Castletownroche in Ireland, Deane is a five-time Formula Drift champion, having won the title in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2025, so he is the current reigning champion. His 2024 and 2025 titles saw him become the first four-time and five-time Formula Drift champion in the series history. It perhaps isn't a surprise to learn that two of his three titles have come driving a Ford Mustang.
The Monaco Circuit Is an Iconic Venue
speedsuspectsnews/InstagramDespite overtaking being a challenge at Monaco, it remains one of the most iconic circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. It also plays host to the Formula E Championship, with the series using the full F1 circuit since 2022. The venue also hosts the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, which was first held in 1997 and features an array of classic F1 cars and other race cars from various eras of motorsport.
The first-ever race was held in 1929, and it has hosted the Grand Prix de Monaco almost continuously since 1950. The event in 2020 did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It held its first official F1 race in 1950, but it was another five years before F1 cars returned to the circuit. Ayrton Senna is the driver with the most wins around the venue, with six in total.
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