In an incredible conclusion to Round 4 of the Drift Masters season here in sunny Riga, Latvia, Irish driver Conor Shanahan has emerged victorious, claiming the prestigious title of 2024 King of Riga. Taking the crown from his brother Jack Shanahan, the 2023 winner, Conor’s victory puts the reigning Drift Masters champion back on the podium, marking a significant milestone in this year’s championship race.
Before getting to that top step, though, today’s main event day was filled with plenty of surprises all across the grid. Firstly, yesterday’s Qualifying Showdown winner Piotr Wiecek, who dazzled with a near-perfect score of 97.5, faced a somewhat surprising exit in the Top 16 against Irish wildcard driver Tomás Kiely. The drama continued as current championship leader Lauri Heinonen from Finland also bowed out in the Top 16, falling to Poland’s Pawel Korpulinski due to a de-beaded tire. Korpulinski’s impressive run would then see him finish in third place overall, making him one of the standout drivers of the weekend.
Irish young-gun Conor Falvey would be another stand-out, as he delivered his best performance to date, battling his way to the Top 8 before being bested by fellow countryman Duane McKeever. Falvey’s progression in Riga, and in the championship so far this season, has showcased the growing talent of the young up-and-coming Drift Masters drivers and of course hints at what might be to come for the youngster.
The Top 4 battles delivered some typically unforgettable moments as the competition heated up. Conor Shanahan faced off against Duane McKeever in a high-stakes clash that ended dramatically with a significant crash for McKeever. This would hand Shanahan the win and a place in the final. Additionally, the damage to McKeever’s car was too severe to repair, forcing him out of the play-off battle.
On the other side, James Deane overcame Poland’s Pawel Korpulinski, securing his place in an all-Irish finale alongside Shanahan. Then, with McKeever unable to compete, Poland’s Korpulinski would take the third podium spot via a bye run.
And then there were two. Today’s final between Conor Shanahan and James Deane is certainly a Goliath vs. Goliath battle, but one which could only have one winner. After an intense two-run battle, it would be the younger driver in Shanahan that would emerge victorious, cementing his status as the new King of Riga and adding another impressive victory to what has been an incredible career to date for the Irishman.
4 down, 2 to go and this event has caused a seismic shift in the championship standings. James Deane, maintaining a 13-event podium streak in all events, leaps from third place to the top of the leaderboard with 288 points. Lauri Heinonen, despite an earlier exit than he would have liked, moves just to second with 286 points, while Duane McKeever drops to third with 284 points, meaning the competition is tighter than we have ever seen before, with only five points separating the top three drivers. Conor Shanahan’s victory propels him to fourth place with 197 points, and Estonia’s Kevin Pesur rounds out the top five with 196 points.
With the second half of the Drift Masters season now in full swing, the race for the championship title is heating up. The unpredictability and intense competition promise more thrilling action as we head towards the grand finale in Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy on September 13th & 14th.
However, before we turn our attention to Poland, make sure to stay tuned for the next round at the Rabócsiring Circuit in Mariapocs, Hungary. Mark your calendars for August 23rd & 24th, and make sure to catch all the action exclusively live on Red Bull TV!
Until then, here’s a reminder of the current Top 5 championship standings with just two rounds to go:
Kevin Pesur (EST) – 196 pts.
James Deane (IRL) – 288 pts.
Lauri Heinonen (FIN) – 286 pts.
Duane McKeever (IRL) – 284 pts.
Conor Shanahan (IRL) – 197 pts.
