Racer Profile: Sorensens Drifting Their Way To The Top

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Amanda (20) and Branden Sorensen (18) are drifting siblings on a mission. The two apply their trade in Formula Drift competition in ProSpec and Formula Pro, respectively. Growing up in the heart of the desert with a legacy to continue, the young Sorensens have accomplished quite a bit in their short time in motorsports. Recently, we got to interview them to learn their backstory and see what the future holds for the talented Sorensen Motorsports team.

Their dad, Randy, was a 20-year off-road racing veteran, making the duo second-generation racers. When the kids started riding BMX at the ripe ages of 5 and 3, respectively, Randy hung up his helmet to devote more time to their budding careers. That decision paid off as the two pushed themselves to compete against the best, traveling the nation. Branden came in Sixth out of 500 kids at the Grand Nationals within two years.

Branden and Amanda started BMX racing when they were just 5 and 3. The family traveled all over the West Coast to compete.

Sorensen Karting

With a passion for going fast, the two stepped up to motorized racing and continued their winning ways in go-karting. Branden was breaking track records left and right, but both claimed their fair share of championships competing on the West Coast Circuit. Between the two, they have a total of four titles in go-karting, as well as two second-place championships. They both credit go-karting for developing their fundamentals of turning left and right, and they still get behind the kart wheel when time permits.

Amanda Sorensen			Branden Sorensen
2010 – 3rd in Calstate Karting Championship			2010 – Rookie of the Year
2011 – LVKC Rotax Micromax Champion			2011 – Screaming Eagle Winner in 2-cycle Grand Nats
2012 – 2nd LVKC Minimax Championship			2012 – LVKC Rotax Micromax Champion
2012 – 2nd LVKC Micromax Championship

Sorensen Karting Accomplishments

Taking It To The Dirt

In 2015, the brother and sister Sorensens found themselves in the dirt with the Lucas Oil off-road short-course racing series. In 2015-2016, they advanced into side-by-sides, pulling double-duty racing mod-karts and other forms of driving. Amanda won the championship in the Lucas Oil UTV Unlimited class in 2016, which was her rookie year.

Mod Karts are purpose-built, single-seat mini race trucks sporting 450cc engines capable of speeds up to 90 mph.

It’s not always dirt they were driving in! Branden didn’t seem to care; he was having fun regardless.

In addition to the Lucas Oil short course, the siblings started dipping their toes into longer-form desert races in the WORCS Racing Series in 201. They were leading the championship in two classes when another career transitioning opportunity opened up for Branden before the season ended. However, Amanda added the SXS World Finals Women’s class champion to her tally that year as they transitioned toward drifting. In 2018, Amanda finished in the top ten in the Mint 400 Trophy-Lite class.

Amanda took home the silverware for winning the SXS Women’s World Finals at 15.

Going Sideways On Asphalt

With all their experience sliding around in the dirt, drifting was a natural progression for the duo as they started attending local grassroots events with an eye on Formula Drift. However, you can’t just sign up and run Formula Drift; you have to earn you’re way to the top series. According to Branden, the progression schedule into the Formula Drift circuit starts with grassroots, then Pro-Am. You must place in the top 3 in Pro-Am to get your ProSpec license. Once you finish in the top three in ProSpec, you can compete in Pro.

Branden started shortly before Amanda and hit the ground running, quickly working his way through the ranks. In 2018, he won the Holley LS Fest Drift Challenge and was a U.S. Drift Championship winner at 14. He also became the youngest licensed Pro Drift Pro 2 driver in Formula D Series history. In 2019, he gained his Pro 1 driver’s license making him the youngest ever (again).

Amanda was slightly later to the drift party as they built her car, but it didn’t slow her down. In 2019, she graduated high school with honors (at just 16 years old) while quickly progressing through the Pro-Am Series to become the youngest female Formula Drift driver at 16 and only the second woman to get a ProSpec license (there is now a third). While Branden is in the Pro class, Amanda is hunting down her championship in ProSpec to advance to compete alongside her younger brother.

The Future

When they slide out from behind the wheel (which isn’t very often), the Sorensens aren’t done working by any means. Sorensen Motorsports has a full machine and fabrication shop. Branden enjoys taking responsibility for the engineering aspects, making parts, and managing the employees. He is always in the shop, tinkering on something mechanical.

Meanwhile, Amanda went on to get her associate degree and is busy being the team’s marketing manager. She is thoroughly focused on racing, her entrepreneurial endeavors, and continuing to grow their social media reach. Drifting is the number one motorsport for millennials and Gen Z race fans — social media is where they live — and Amanda ensures plenty of Sorensen content to consume. She is also out there chasing sponsorships for all of the team’s motorsports endeavors and communicating with their partners.

Two social media powerhouses: Amanda with Top Fuel driver Ida Zetterstrom.

Outside of the duo’s impressive on-track performance, they’ve done well, making the right moves to secure sponsorship to keep the team programs running. The entire operation is funded through sponsorships obtained through Amanda’s leadership, including securing primary support with the United States Air Force. The pair have also been partners with the Edelbrock Group for a few years now. We recently welcomed them to our headquarters and Edelbrock foundry for a tour of the facilities.

The future is undoubtedly bright for the Sorensen clan. For now, they each have their sights set on a few more “firsts.” Amanda is eyeing a move to Formula Pro and becoming the first female to reach the podium in Formula Drift. Brandon has a Pro championship on his mind. He has a long-range view to use Formula Drift as a building block to go on to wheel in other forms of racing, hoping someday to follow a similar path as Tanner Foust.

The first round of Formula Drift 2023 kicks off in Long Beach, California, on April 7 and 8 on the streets of Long Beach. Watch for the Sorensens to be making lots of smoke as they chase the championships! Good luck to the Sorensens as they look to take on the world and continue to hit their goals!

BREAKING NEWS: Amanda just announced that she will be driving the #99 Chip Ganassi Racing/GMC Hummer EV alongside RJ Anderson in the Extreme E Live Series. The epic five-race global voyage promotes sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet. There are some heavy-hitter names racing in the series. Teams are still being finalized, but some notable names from last year are Sebastian Loeb, Johan Kristoffersson, Carlos Sainz, and Tanner Foust! The first round of the championship season will take place in Saudi Arabia, March 11-12. Good luck, Amanda!