In 2024, Jakub Przygoński and Conor Shanahan drift Red Bull cars, trailing smoke, at the Drift Masters event in Hungary.
© Predrag Vučković/Red Bull Content Pool
Drifting

This is what's happening at Drift Masters 2025

As another year of Drift Masters gets underway, get the lowdown on the 2024 calendar and watch the action from each of the six rounds.
Written by Rajiv Desai
8 min readUpdated on
Drift Masters 2025 is all set, with a seven-round series taking place across some classic drifting locations, as well as some new venues, for the championship's biggest season to date.
Once again, you can catch the action live on Red Bull TV as rivals try to topple 2024 champion Lauri Heinonen of Finland. So, read on to get the lowdown on what's in store for 2025 as well as checking out who comes out on top at each round.
01

Drift Masters 2025 calendar

ROUND

DATE

COUNTRY

LOCATION

RED BULL TV COVERAGE

1.

April 25-26

Italy

Vallelunga, Rome

2.

May 17–18

Spain

Circuito del Jarama, Madrid

3.

June 6-7

Finland

Huvivaltio PowerPark, Härmä

4.

June 28-29

Ireland

Mondello Park, Kildare

5.

July 25–26

Latvia

Bikernieki Circuit, Riga

6.

August 14–16

Germany

Ferropolis, Dessau

7.

September 12–13

Poland

PGE Narodowy, Warsaw

02

Drift Masters 2025 locations

Round 1: Rome, Italy - April 25-26
The 2025 Drift Masters season kicks off at the renowned Vallelunga Race Track just outside Rome. A new addition to the Drift Masters calendar in 2025, this opening round promises to blend high-speed action with the historic charm of Italy's capital. Thousands of fans will gather to witness a thrilling beginning to what is expected to be an unforgettable season.
Round 2: Madrid, Spain - May 17–18
Round 2 of the Drift Masters 2025 season takes place at the historic Circuito del Jarama in Madrid. Known for its sweeping curves and rich motorsport history, this race track will host an exciting weekend of drift competitions. Fans from all over Spain will gather to cheer on their favourite drivers in pursuit of championship victory.
Orjan Nilsen of Norway and Pontus Hartmann of Sweden seen during the third stop of Drift Masters at the Mika Salo Circuit in Alahaermae, Finland on July 6, 2024.

PowerPark is always a highlight

© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Round 3: Härmä, Finland - June 6-7
Returning to the thrilling backdrop of PowerPark, Finland, Round 3 is set to elevate standards once more. The custom-built drift circuit, nestled among stunning scenery and teeming with adrenaline-filled attractions, will transform into a battlefield for drivers eager to make their mark. Finnish fans, famous for their unmatched energy, are prepared to amplify the excitement for a weekend of unforgettable action under the midnight sun.
Round 4: Kildare, Ireland 28 - June 28-29
Drift Masters is heading back to the heartland of Irish drifting: Mondello Park. This iconic venue, rich with motorsport heritage, is set to host another chapter of unforgettable action. With Ireland’s most passionate fans lining the circuit, expect an atmosphere that embodies the spirit of Irish motorsport. This is where legends are made and where the championship battle intensifies.
Round 5: Riga, Latvia - July 25-26
Latvia’s Bikernieki Track in Riga returns for Round 5, bringing its legendary high-speed corners and electrifying energy. Known as one of the most demanding circuits in the championship, this round will challenge drivers to their limits. With fans from across the Baltic states flocking to Riga, expect an atmosphere as intense as the battles on track.
Round 6: Dessau, Germany - August 14-16
The epic Ferropolis, known as the city of iron, makes a grand return to Drift Masters alongside Iron Drift King. This iconic venue will host Round 6 in a spectacular three-day event. Surrounded by towering industrial structures, this unique location creates a stunning backdrop for high-octane drift battles. Fans from far and wide will ensure this round is a highlight of the season as drivers vie for crucial championship points before the finale.
In 2024, a packed stadium hosts the Drift Masters event in Warsaw, Poland.

Warsaw will host the season finale

© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Round 7: Warsaw, Poland - September 12-13
The grand finale of the 2025 Drift Masters season returns to Poland’s PGE Narodowy in Warsaw. This iconic venue, known for its record-breaking crowds, will again transform into an amphitheater of drift for two days of unmissable action. With 55,000 fans expected to fill the stadium, the Polish capital sets the perfect stage for crowning the 2025 Drift Masters Champion in a historic celebration of 11 years of Drift Masters.
03

Where to watch Drift Masters?

The final day action from all six rounds of DM will be shown on live on Red Bull TV. Get all the info on dates and times here.
04

What happened at Drift Masters in 2024?

Drift Masters Spain 2024 – a surprise win rocks season opener

Drift Masters Top 16 – Spain

Watch the Top 16 as Drift Masters kicks off for the first round of the 2024 season at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

The 2024 Drift Masters season roared back to life in Valencia, Spain – and with a surprise winner to boot. Woes struck early for reigning champion, Conor Shanahan, as car troubles knocked him out in qualifying. With the Irishman missing out on the Top 32 battles, it was all to play for.
It was Estonian driver Kevin Pesur who drifted his way to his first-ever Drift Masters victory, defeating last year's runner-up Lauri Heinonen in the final round. The top of the podium wasn't the only shocker of the weekend, with Polish driver Adam Zalewski making a triumphant return to the Drift Masters podium for the first time since 2022 with a third place finish after overcoming Lithuanian driver Benediktas Cirba.

Drift Masters Ireland 2024 – local wildcard comes up trumps

Drift Masters: Top 16 – Ireland

Watch the Top 16 at round two Drift Masters 2024 at Mondello Park, the Irish capital of drifting.

For the second Drift Masters stop running, there was a unexpected name on top of the podium with Irishman James Deane claiming victory in front of home crowds at Mondello Park. Deane, a three-time Drift Masters champion but a wildcard entry at this event, used every bit of local knowledge of the Mondello Park track to take out an array of drivers on finals day, overcoming Sweden’s Pontus Hartman, Hungary’s Kevin Piskolty, fellow Irishman Jack Shanahan and Finnish legend Juha Rintanen.
The final battle of the weekend was all set to see Deane take on another Irishman in Duane McKeever. Unfortunately, McKeever suffered a gearbox malfunction and the crowd was denied what would have undoubtedly been a thrilling finale. It proved to be a perfect weekend for Deane as he also topped qualifying and won the qualifying showdown.

Drift Masters Finland 2024 – Finnish driver takes first win in front of home fans

Drifting Top 16 – Finland

Watch the Top 16 at round three of the 2024 season of Drift Masters at Huvivaltio PowerPark, Finland.

For the third event in a row, there was a surprise name on top of the Drift Masters podium. Much to the delight of his home fans at the PowerPark in Alahärmä, Lauri Heinonen went all the way at the third round of the 2024 Drift Masters season to take his first-ever event victory and extend his lead at the top of the championship table.
The Finn, who also took home the Friday victory in the Qualifying Showdown portion of competition having finished up in third overall in Qualifying, now holds a 34-point lead over his nearest championship contender, Duane McKeever, of Ireland who finished in second place.

Drift Masters Latvia 2024 – Irishman Shanahan crowned King Of Riga

Top 16 – Latvia

Watch the Top 16 at round four of the 2024 season of Drift Masters at Latvia’s Biķernieki Circuit.

Conor Shanahan emerged victorious from an all-Irish final against James Deane to claim the prestigious title of 2024 King of Riga at the latest Drift Masters stop this season. Conor took the crown from his brother Jack Shanahan, who won in 2023. The victory puts the reigning Drift Masters champion back on the podium, marking a significant milestone in this year's championship race.
Before getting to the top step, Saturday was filled with surprises all across the grid as Friday'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.

Drift Masters Hungary 2024 – Finnish driver Lauri Heinonen delivered a masterclass

Top 16 – Hungary

Watch the Top 16 at round five of the 2024 season of Drift Masters at Hungary’s RabócsiRing Máriapócs.

Finnish driver Lauri Heinonen took the victory and propelled himself to a 75-point lead at the top of the championship standings in Round 5 of the 2024 Drift Masters season at Hungary’s Rabocsiring in Mariapocs. Heinonen’s path to glory was anything but easy. He overcame Germany’s Max Heidrich, fellow Finn Juha Rintanen, Ireland’s Jack Shanahan and Hungarian fan-favourite Kevin Piskolty before facing Norwegian driver Tor Arne Kvia in the final.
The action-packed finale saw Heinonen narrowly defeat Kvia in a thrilling battle. Both drivers were in top form, but it was Heinonen who emerged victorious, securing his second win of the season and adding 101 crucial points to his championship campaign to solidify his position as the Drift Masters championship frontrunner.

Drift Masters Poland 2024 – Lauri Heinonen claims his first-ever Drift Masters title

Top 16 – Poland

Watch the Top 16 of the grand finale of the 2024 Drift Masters season at PGE Narodowy in Poland.

After showing great consistency throughout the season, Finland's Lauri Heinonen arrived at the Drift Masters Grand Finale with a 75-point lead at the top of the championship standings. Despite the sizeable lead, he knew an early exit in Warsaw could see the title slip through his fingers. The vital moment for Heinonen came in the Top 16 battle against Benediktas Cirba. Knowing that a victory would be enough to land the title, he crossed the line just as his engine failed.
While Heinonen celebrated his championship triumph, Duane McKeever delivered a stellar performance over both days of the Drift Masters Grand Finale. He showed that he will be a contender for the title next year. His aggressive, calculated driving style saw him defeat some of the season's toughest competitors, including Steve Biagioni, Juha Rintanen, Kevin Piskolty and Poland’s own Piotr Wiecek.
In the final battle of the event, McKeever faced fellow Irishman Deane yet again in what became one of the most closely contested battles of the year. McKeever ultimately prevailed, securing the event win and elevating himself to second place in the overall championship standings.

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