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The Second June Round of Drift Masters 2025: Intense Battles at Mondello Park in Ireland
The second June round of Drift Masters 2025 brought drivers and fans to Ireland, to the iconic Mondello Park circuit – a venue well-known to drifting enthusiasts and a regular stop on the series for years. As always, wild cards were present – this time, seven new competitors joined the regular roster. In total, 41 drivers appeared on the starting list, including 12 Irish representatives and the first female driver of the season.
After the rainy and challenging conditions of the Finland round, drivers were met with much better, albeit slightly windy, weather. The threshold to qualify for the TOP 32 was lower than in the previous round – set at 79.5 points. Among those who qualified were 10 Irish drivers and four Poles. The qualifying podium was dominated by competitors from these two countries – Piotr Więcek took first place with a phenomenal score of 99.5 points, followed by Conor Shanahan (97.0 points) and Jakub Przygoński (96.0 points). Also in the top 10 were Marco Zakouřil, Orjan Nilsen, Tor Arne Kvia, Juha Pöytälaakso, Tomas Kiely, and Paweł Korpuliński, who secured ninth with a score of 94.0 points.
TOP 32 Battles – Korpuliński Advances
On Sunday, Paweł Korpuliński began his TOP 32 battle against Kevin Piskolty of Hungary – the same driver he faced in the previous round. This time, Piskolty was the chaser, while Korpuliński, initiating fast and at a steep angle, set a high pace. In the second run, a minor contact occurred – resulting in damage to the rear light and bodykit of the Hungarian’s car, and to the front light cover of the Pole’s car. However, judges ruled that Kevin had slowed too much before the transition, which directly caused the collision. Korpuliński advanced to the TOP 16.
TOP 16: Clash with Jack Shanahan
In the round of 16, the 30-year-old Pole faced Jack Shanahan, a local crowd favorite. During the first run, with Korpuliński leading, contact occurred once again – a major mistake by Shanahan damaged both vehicles’ bumpers, but the run was completed. As the chaser, the Polish driver performed superbly, sticking close to his rival through all zones. As a result, Korpuliński advanced to the TOP 8 as one of only two Polish drivers. The top eight also included just two Irishmen – Conor Falvey and Conor Shanahan.
TOP 8: Polish Duel – Więcek vs. Korpuliński
The quarterfinals featured an all-Polish battle between Piotr Więcek and Paweł Korpuliński for a spot in the semifinals. Więcek led the first run, setting a high pace that was difficult to match, creating separation that Korpuliński tried to close. In his lead run, Korpuliński drove wide through the zones, but Więcek once again showcased his excellent form, as already evident in qualifying. The judges awarded the win to Piotr Więcek, sending him into the semifinals alongside Marco Zakouřil, Conor Shanahan, and Kevin Pesur.
Semifinals: Więcek to the Final
In the semifinal between Poland and the Czech Republic, Więcek gained an early advantage as the leader. During the second run, Zakouřil suffered technical issues – his engine failed, causing the car to straighten and collide with Więcek returning to the track. The judges had no doubts – Więcek advanced to the final. In the other semifinal, Pesur, chasing, stayed close to Shanahan but made several errors. Shanahan, also chasing in the first run, had to catch up to his rival’s significant lead – but judges ruled that the last Irishman standing deserved a place in the final.
Final Showdown: Więcek vs. Shanahan
In the third-place battle, Kevin Pesur performed a bye run, as Zakouřil could not continue due to engine failure. All eyes then turned to the grand final: Piotr Więcek vs. Conor Shanahan. Więcek’s lead run was very strong, while the second run – led by the Irishman – involved slight contact from Więcek. Judges called for a One More Time. In the rerun, Więcek once again delivered a flawless lead. The second chase did not happen – Shanahan lost his front right tire, giving Więcek the win. This marked Więcek’s third victory at Mondello Park, following his previous wins in 2022 and 2023.
Standings After the Round
In the overall standings, Conor Shanahan remains the leader with 251 points. Round winner Piotr Więcek climbs to second place with 191 points. Tied in third, each with 168 points, are Oliver Randalu and Kevin Pesur. Thanks to his 7th-place finish in Ireland, Paweł Korpuliński moves up to sixth with 148 points.
Next Round: Riga, Latvia – July 25–26, 2025
The next round of Drift Masters will take place on July 25–26, 2025, at the Bikernieki circuit in Riga, Latvia – the only track that has been continuously part of the series calendar since 2017.
