Conor Shanahan Reigns Supreme at Drift Masters Round 4 in Riga

The blazing sun over Riga, Latvia, set the stage for an explosive conclusion to Round 4 of the 2024 Drift Masters season, where Conor Shanahan emerged as the new King of Riga. In a battle-packed day filled with drama, intense rivalries, and high-stakes action, Shanahan snatched the crown from his brother Jack, the 2023 titleholder, while reminding everyone why he is the reigning Drift Masters champion.

However, the journey to the top was far from easy.

 

A Day Full of Surprises

Piotr Więcek, who dominated yesterday’s Qualifying Showdown with a stunning 97.5 score, was the first major upset of the day. Więcek, a favorite for the win, was eliminated in the Top 16 by Irish wildcard Tomás Kiely in a shocking twist.

Another surprise came when championship leader Lauri Heinonen of Finland was taken down in the same round. Heinonen, who was gunning for more championship points, de-beaded a tire, handing the win to Poland’s Paweł Korpuliński, who would go on to claim third place by the end of the day.

Young-gun Conor Falvey also made waves in Riga, delivering his best performance yet in the Drift Masters series. After battling fiercely to make it to the Top 8, Falvey was stopped by fellow Irishman Duane McKeever. But his rise through the ranks has many believing that Falvey is a driver to watch in the near future.

All-Irish Showdown

The Top 4 brought its fair share of unforgettable moments, most notably a high-stakes clash between Conor Shanahan and Duane McKeever. The battle ended dramatically when McKeever was involved in a major crash, effectively handing Shanahan the win and a place in the final. Unfortunately, the damage to McKeever’s car was too extensive for him to continue, forcing him to miss out on the play-off for third.

On the opposite side of the bracket, James Deane defeated Poland’s Korpuliński to set up an all-Irish finale. McKeever’s withdrawal from the third-place battle handed Korpuliński the final podium spot via a bye run.

The Final Battle

In a head-to-head clash between two Irish heavyweights, Conor Shanahan faced off against James Deane. In a true Goliath vs. Goliath encounter, only one could emerge victorious.

Shanahan’s skill and hunger for victory came through as he bested Deane over two intense runs, crowning him the 2024 King of Riga and adding another triumph to his ever-growing list of achievements.

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TEXT & PHOTOS:
VLADIMIR LJADOV
IG: WHEELSBYWOVKA