James Deane RTR Vehicles: European Drift Campaign for 2025

James Deane RTR Vehicles partnership is gearing up for an exciting new campaign in the 2025 Drift Masters European Championship. James Deane, one of drifting’s most decorated drivers, is set to compete in the 2025 Drift Masters European Championship (DMEC) with a Mustang RTR​ (rtrvehicles.com). This move expands RTR Vehicles’ presence into Europe’s premier drifting series. A four-time Formula Drift champion in the U.S., Deane will take his skills overseas in a specially built Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD – a purpose-built drift car by RTR – to battle Europe’s best drivers. Fans and newcomers alike are watching closely as this high-profile partnership brings a top-tier Mustang RTR to the continental stage.

Challenges of the 2024 Season

Even with his championship pedigree, Deane’s 2024 season was not without drama. In April 2024, during Media Day in Long Beach (the opening event for Formula Drift), his Mustang RTR caught fire on-track​ (drift.news). Eyewitness footage showed flames engulfing the car, and Deane later quipped that the team “has their work cut out” rebuilding it​. The fire burned Deane’s arm and required an emergency rebuild of the car before the competition. Later in the year, at the final round in Irwindale, another issue arose – during practice the Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD suffered mechanical problems (​news.formulad.com). Despite these setbacks, Deane managed to start the race and clinch his fourth Formula Drift title. Overcoming a car fire and mid-season reliability issues showed the toughness of Deane and the Mustang RTR package, as well as the dedication of the RTR crew in keeping the car competitive throughout a challenging year.

Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD: Technical Highlights

The Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD is a radical, purpose-built drift machine. RTR Vehicles and Ford engineered this car specifically for top-level drifting, and it packs serious hardware:

• Engine and Power: A heavily tuned Ford V8 under the bonnet cranks out over 1,300 horsepower. This immense power lets the Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD slide at high speed with plenty of throttle, smoking the rear tyres (DM tire compounds allow Deane to spin harder).
• Chassis and Body: The car uses Ford’s new S650 Mustang platform, but the body is completely transformed. It features an ultra-widebody kit and bespoke aero by RTR​. Long, flared fenders cover wider wheels, and extended front and rear bumpers with large side skirts improve airflow and downforce during drifts. Every panel is custom – the interior is stripped out to bare essentials with a full roll cage, weight relief and safety gear.
• Suspension and Brakes: The suspension is fully overhauled and tuned for drifting. Compared to a road car, it has stiff bushings and adjustable coilovers to handle extreme lateral loads. RTR also adds drift-specific brakes and steering mods (Ford even developed an electronic drift brake system in collaboration with RTR to mimic the handbrake function in future production Mustangs).
• Other Features: The Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD has race electronics (engine control unit, fuel systems, etc.) and a reinforced drivetrain. Essentially, every part is aimed at maximizing drift performance and reliability.

This potent combination of power, aero and suspension makes the Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD highly competitive. As one report notes, “more important changes are hiding under the skin, with the heavily tuned engine producing more than 1,300 hp… plus an overhauled suspension​ (carscoops.com).”

Drift Masters European Championship (DMEC)

Drift Masters (often called DMEC) is widely regarded as Europe’s premier drifting series (​redbull.com). It began in 2014 (originally as Drift Masters Grand Prix in Poland) and has grown into an international championship. Drivers travel to rounds in countries like the UK, Poland, Russia and Scandinavia. Unlike lap-time racing, the action is judged on style, angle and proximity – making it a spectacular motorsport for fans. As Red Bull explains, “Drift Masters (DM) is the most prestigious drifting league in Europe and undoubtedly one of the top competitions in the world”​.

By joining DMEC in 2025, James Deane and RTR Vehicles are bringing a high-profile presence to the series. Deane’s participation raises the bar and creates new storylines: European fans can see a multi-time World champion take on local stars like Finland’s Lauri Heikkinen or Ireland’s own Conor Shanahan. It also helps cement RTR’s “global footprint” in professional drifting. For Deane, drifting in DMEC is a chance to add a European championship to his record and gain experience on different tracks and formats. (Indeed, he already scored podiums in some DM rounds in 2024, finishing third overall.)

Documenting the Build: YouTube Series

In addition to racing, James Deane is sharing the behind‑the‑scenes process of building the new Drift Masters Mustang RTR. He has launched a YouTube build series that takes fans step-by-step through the car’s construction​ (rtrvehicles.com). Videos cover chassis assembly, engine installation, wiring, bodywork and tuning – essentially showing how a pro-drift car is built from the ground up. This kind of content is popular with enthusiasts, and the RTR team encourages fans to subscribe for updates​. Watching Deane and his crew work on the Mustang RTR gives an inside look at the engineering and effort behind the scenes. It also helps non-experts appreciate how much preparation goes into each season. As one announcement puts it, “James will be documenting the entire build process of his Drift Masters Mustang RTR on his YouTube channel”​, so fans can “see how he and his team bring this machine to life.”

Promoting Cork at the Track

Even as he races globally, James Deane hasn’t forgotten his roots. He partnered with Pure Cork, the tourism brand for County Cork in Ireland, to promote his homeland. Deane proudly displayed the Pure Cork logo on the Mustang RTR during competitions. This gave Cork exposure to a massive audience: as the Pure Cork blog notes, the branding was seen by “millions of motorsports fans worldwide” on race broadcasts​. Beyond the logo on the car, Deane also shared curated gifts from Cork with his team and fans, using social media to highlight local products. This partnership not only raises Cork’s profile internationally, but it shows Deane’s enthusiasm for giving back. Seamus Heaney of Visit Cork even remarked that Deane’s success is “putting Cork on the global map,” and that Cork is becoming a hub of racing talent​ (purecork.ie).

Looking Ahead to 2025

Looking ahead, anticipation is high for the 2025 season. James Deane will race a busy schedule: his Formula Drift commitments in the U.S. remain unchanged, meaning he will compete full-time in both the American and European series​ (rtrvehicles.com). This dual campaign promises lots of action for fans. In Europe, Deane will tackle all the Drift Masters rounds (a typical season has 6–7 events from summer through autumn). European fans are eager to see how “The Machine” adapts to tracks from Riga to Höljes, and whether he can challenge for wins on unfamiliar turf. In the U.S., he’ll defend his title against a deep field of drifters.

The crossover of talent is exciting: we may see showdowns like Deane vs. Ireland’s Conor Shanahan (the 2022 and 2023 DM champion) or battles with champions from the UK and Finland. This global reach is good for the sport, as more viewers tune in to see cross-continental rivalries. Overall, everyone expects spectacular drifting and fierce competition. If Deane can maintain his 2024 form, he’ll be a title contender in both series. Regardless of results, fans can look forward to thrilling runs, behind-the-scenes videos, and plenty of smoke on the tarmac in 2025.

For more on James Deane’s racing career and background, see our [James Deane biography article].