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For the third time this year, the drivers competing in the Drift Masters series gathered to battle for the top spot. This time, the arena for drifters from around the world was Kildare, Ireland, and the Mondello Park circuit, a long-standing fixture on the series calendar. A total of 42 drivers – including 11 local representatives – took part in the latest round.
The qualifying session already showed that the level of competition keeps rising from round to round. This time, drivers needed at least 81 points to secure a place in the TOP32, while the top qualifier’s run was scored as high as 97.5 points. Five Polish drivers advanced to the next stage, with Paweł Korpuliński once again proving to be the best among them. He scored 92.2 points in his first run and improved to 94 points in the second, ultimately finishing fifth – just behind four Irish drivers: Conor and Jack Shanahan, James Deane and Duane McKeever.
In the TOP32 stage, Korpuliński’s first opponent was Estonia’s Oliver Randalu. Starting traditionally in the lead position, Paweł delivered a smooth run, taking a deep line through the entire track and making it difficult for his rival to keep up. After switching positions, the Polish driver stayed very close to his opponent, precisely copying his line and confirming his strong form. The judges unanimously awarded Paweł the win, advancing him to the next round, where he faced fellow Pole Jakub Przygoński.
In the first run of the all-Polish battle, both drivers stayed close, with Przygoński pushing hard to mirror Paweł’s driving line. However, after switching roles, Jakub made a mistake in the first corner, which led the judges to rule in Paweł’s favor, promoting him to the TOP8. There, he faced one of the home drivers – Duane McKeever.
The Polish-Irish clash brought an unexpected twist. McKeever went too wide in the first corner and left the track, forcing a sudden shift in roles mid-run. Korpuliński, initially in chase position, became the leader, keeping his composure and completing the run confidently. The second run only confirmed his high performance, as the judges unanimously declared him the winner of the battle.
Alongside the only remaining Polish driver, Pesur, Falvey and Alharbali advanced to the TOP4, with the latter becoming Paweł’s next opponent. Starting as the lead driver, Korpuliński managed to open a gap, while his rival only managed to catch up in the third scoring zone. In the chase role, Paweł performed even better, maintaining minimal distance and full control of the car. This was enough for the judges to send him to the final, where he faced Ireland’s Conor Falvey.
The final delivered huge excitement for the local fans. From the very beginning, Falvey stayed extremely close to Korpuliński, who once again showcased an outstanding lead run. The outcome was decided after switching roles – and in this part, the Pole left no doubt. Virtually “glued” to his opponent’s car, he perfectly mirrored every move, securing victory in the final battle.
As a result, Paweł Korpuliński claimed victory in the Drift Masters 2026 round, achieving his first career win in the series and his second consecutive win this season. He left Mondello Park with 104 points. Conor Falvey finished second with 88 points, while Kevin Pesur took third place with 76 points.
Thanks to his excellent form and spectacular runs, the overall standings saw significant changes. Paweł Korpuliński now leads the championship with 223 points, ahead of Conor Shanahan (219 points) and James Deane (215 points). Just outside the podium is another Pole, Piotr Więcek (202 points), while Mika Keski-Korpi completes the top five with 153 points.
The next round of the series will take place on July 11–12 in Finland, at the Ahvenisto Race Circuit in Hämeenlinna. It will be the first drifting event held at this track, giving all drivers equal opportunities and promising fans another round full of surprises.
