The 2025 Drift Masters season exploded into life at a sun-soaked Circuito del Jarama in Madrid, where fans were treated to a weekend packed with drama, chaos, and unexpected heroics. After two beautiful days of intense action and great vibes, it was Estonia’s Oliver Randalu who climbed to the top of the podium for the first time in his Drift Masters career, instantly establishing himself as one to watch this season.
Randalu’s Road to Glory
Randalu’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. His campaign began with a solid win over Poland’s Jakub Krol in the Top 32. In the Top 16, reigning champion Lauri Heinonen bowed out during his chase run after a de-bead, ending his title defense early and suffering engine failure in the process.
In the Great 8, Randalu went through a bye-run after James Deane failed to reach the start line in time. Any thoughts of an easy route were put to rest in the Final 4, where he faced Irish fan-favorite Jack Shanahan. Randalu put down one of his strongest chase runs of the weekend to progress to the final. There, he met Israel’s Itay Sadeh in a battle of first-time finalists. Staying composed under pressure, Randalu pulled off a surgical final to take home the win.
Sadeh’s Breakthrough Performance
Although he missed out on the top step, Itay Sadeh delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend. His day began with a bye-run after Marco Zakouril suffered a broken steering arm in the burnout box. From that point on, Sadeh proved he deserved his place among the best.
He beat Pontus Hartman in a confident Top 16 showing, then overcame Conor Falvey in the Great 8 in a battle between two of the grid’s most exciting young drivers. His Final 4 clash with Kevin Pesur was showstopping. Sadeh managed to pip out the Estonian star to earn his first-ever Drift Masters final appearance.
Pesur Secures Third After Shanahan Struggles
The final step of the podium came down to Kevin Pesur and Jack Shanahan. Their third-place battle had all the ingredients for a classic showdown, but Shanahan’s chase run ended prematurely after suffering major understeer through the first corner. That mistake opened the door for Pesur, who claimed third place and capped off a strong weekend for Estonia with two drivers on the podium.
Shock Exits and a Wild Start to 2025
There were no shortages of surprises here in Madrid. Between multiple drivers suffering mechanical failures and bowing out of competition early, The Top 32 and Top 16 seeing multiple crashes and contacts, and high track temperatures catching out more than a few drivers.
Despite the unpredictability, one thing is certain. The 2025 Drift Masters season is off to a wild start. With new contenders stepping up and the level of competition as high as ever, fans can expect even more fireworks when the championship heads to Finland for Round 3 in just a few weeks on June 6th & 7th.
5 James DEANE (IRL) – 59 pts.
1.Oliver RANDALU (EST) – 100 pts.
2 Itay SADEH (ISR) – 88 pts.
3 Kevin PESUR (EST) – 76 pts.
4 Jack SHANAHAN (IRL) – 70 pts.
