The FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup is finally coming back — and I couldn’t be more excited.

I had the privilege of photographing the FIA IDC during its last appearance in 2021 in Riga, Latvia. The atmosphere at Biķernieki Circuit — with its raw energy, roaring engines, and fierce international talent — was something else entirely.

So when I heard the IDC is making its long-awaited return this October 3–5, once again in Riga, I felt that familiar rush of excitement. It’s been too long.

The FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup was first introduced in 2017 as the first international drifting competition under FIA governance. Designed to bring the sport into a structured and regulated international setting, the IDC quickly gained popularity, attracting top drivers from national and regional championships. The first three editions were held in the spiritual home of the sport, Japan. Initially at a temporary venue in Tokyo’s Odaiba district before moving to the renowned Tsukuba Circuit in 2019.

The inaugural FIA IDC was won by local ace Masato Kawabata, followed by back-to-back victories for Georgy Chivchyan in 2018 and 2019. After a one-year hiatus, the FIA IDC returned in 2021 in Riga, where Irishman James Deane claimed victory.

What makes this year’s edition even more exciting is its new sporting format. While entries are open to all, a priority entry phase gives FIA Member Clubs the chance to nominate a driver, ensuring representation from across the globe. It’s a move that promises a more diverse and fiercely competitive grid — and from a photographer’s point of view, more dynamic stories to capture through the lens.

Organized in partnership with the Latvian Automobile Federation and Drift Latvia, the 2025 FIA IDC feels like a statement: that drifting deserves the spotlight on the world stage once again.

While we wait for the tire smoke to rise again in October, I wanted to share some of my favorite images from past IDC events — moments frozen in time that capture the soul of this incredible sport.

Stay tuned, because if 2021 was anything to go by, this year’s return is going to be epic. And I’ll be there — camera ready, finger on the shutter — to catch every sideways second of it.

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TEXT & PHOTOS:
VLADIMIR LJADOV
IG: WHEELSBYWOVKA