I appear to say this each time a brand new DMEC season begins, however this 12 months’s Drift Masters European Championship guarantees to be essentially the most thrilling but.

Not solely has 2023 sequence attracted a lot of seasoned drifting veterans, however there aren’t any scarcity of hungry up-and-comers, all able to push their machines to the restrict and train the outdated canines some new methods. It was all on present throughout DMEC Spherical 1 at Mondello Park in Eire the weekend earlier than final.

The truth that skilled racing drivers are usually not solely becoming a member of the DMEC competitor record, however stepping up their involvement and committing to the total season, is simply including to the spectacle. Dakar Rally regulars Jakub Przygoński and Eryk Goczał are good examples, as is the WRC’s present and youngest ever world champion Kalle Rovanperä, who shall be contesting 4 out of the six DMEC rounds alongside his Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT obligations.

All advised, Drift Masters has 50 drivers from 19 nations on its roster this 12 months. The season is about to culminate in spectacular style too, with the ultimate spherical being held on the PGE Narodowy stadium in Warsaw, Poland which has a seating capability of virtually 60,000. I nonetheless can’t fairly get my head round that.

For now although, it’s again to Spherical 1…

As soon as all drivers had bought to grips with the traditional Mondello Park reverse structure, it was time for qualifying the place one driver instantly stood out: James Deane. Making a comeback as a wildcard driver, the Irishman defied all odds to safe an exceptional 96-point run.

In a show of sheer Irish dominance, the Shanahan brothers proved that expertise really runs of their blood. Jack and Conor each attacked the monitor with surgical precision, every rewarded with a 94-point scorecard.

Everyone is aware of that it takes 4 leaves on a clover to provoke ‘the luck of the Irish’, and on at the present time it was newcomer Dylan Garvey who earned himself the fourth spot on the event desk. Speak about making an entrance.

When Sunday arrived and the primary occasion began, it introduced in regards to the closest tandem battles I’ve ever witnessed in particular person. The Prime 32 event desk had some wild match-ups, however the one I used to be most wanting ahead to was Irish drifting OG Darren McNamara versus Japanese fan-favorite Naoki Nakamura.

Sadly although, Nakamura was nonetheless chasing gremlins in his S15 Nissan Silvia from Saturday, so it was a simple win for D-mac. When the Japanese driver certified the day prior to this, he did so after finishing simply one follow lap. That’s expertise for you.

With that tandem within the books, I used to be genuinely uplifted to see younger Norwegian driver Ørjan Nilsen battle Eire’s Kevin Quinn and take the win.

Through the break earlier than the Prime 16 commenced, I made a decision to enterprise into the paddock, however shortly remembered that DMEC R1 2023 was a record-breaking, sold-out occasion. Individuals had been in every single place, so capturing vehicles was not going to occur. As an alternative, I centered my lens on the followers.

And Irish drift followers actually are the most effective. Even the youngsters who demanded a high-five from anybody who handed them on the monitor facet of the protection fence had been real of their assist of their favourite drivers.

When the time got here to renew the tandem battles, nerves appeared to get the higher of some drivers. McNamara suffered the most important crash of the weekend in his PS13 Nissan Silvia. I’m positive he’s very grateful for the froth wall on the nook he went off. 

Reigning DMEC champion Piotr Więcek, however, was calm and really decided. The Polish driver had certified seventh, however because the day went on he was simply getting faster and extra exact. Więcek met Conor Shanahan within the Prime 4, and after a fierce battle moved on to the ultimate.

On the opposite facet of the event bracket, blisteringly quick Finnish driver Lauri Heinonen power-slid a path to his very first DMEC ultimate in his NASCAR V8-powered Nissan RPS13.

Heinonen’s highway to the ultimate battle was removed from straightforward although. He confronted fellow Nissan S13 drivers Dylan Garvey and Duane McKeever, in addition to Hungary’s Kevin Piskolty in a BMW – all completed wheelmen.

The second of fact arrived sooner than anticipated for Więcek and Heinonen. The Finn’s decided drive pushed him only a contact too far, resulting in a split-second misjudgment that prompted him to veer off the monitor.

Więcek emerged triumphant, clinching the primary spherical win. It was a bittersweet victory, overshadowed by the data that Heinonen had pushed to absolutely the restrict.

Like all prime tier motorsport, the distinction between glory and sorrow is razor-thin. Lauri Heinonen’s effort, although ending in disappointment, showcased the true spirit of a competitor who left all the things on the monitor. This chapter might not have belonged to the Finnish driver, however Heinonen will undoubtedly return stronger and hungrier for his very first DMEC spherical.

Till Spherical 2 in Sweden subsequent month although, Piotr Więcek as soon as once more stays the man to beat.

Vladimir Ljadov
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