Drift Masters Round 5 Delivers No Shortage Of Upsets

Lauri Heinonen clinches victory at Drift Masters Round 5 in Hungary, extending his championship lead amid plenty of mechanical upsets and intense competition.

The 2024 Drift Masters Grand Prix Round 5 in Mariapocs, Hungary, saw the return of the much-loved RabócsiRing track after a six-year hiatus, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the championship race, delivering plenty of excitement and upsets for both fans and competitors.

After a weekend that no one could’ve written, Lauri Heinonen emerged victorious, clinching his second win of the season and building a shock 75-point lead over James Deane in the championship standings.

The stage is set for an intense finale at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, where 60,000 fans will fill the stadium to witness the championship showdown on September 13-14.

Heinonen’s Path To Victory

Lauri Heinonen’s battle was hard-fought. In the Top 32, he defeated Max Heidrich in a close contest. Moving to the Top 16, he overcame fellow Finn Juha Rintanen in a battle that showcased the depth of Finnish drifting talent.

In the quarter-finals, he defeated Jack Shanahan, and in the semi, he triumphed over the local crowd favorite, Kevin Piskolty, in a match that left Hungarian fans on the edge of their seats. It was an emotional weekend for Piskolty, who went from watching in the stands during the last Hungarian Drift Masters event in 2018 to making an incredible journey from spectator to Top 4 competitor, with Pawel Korpulinksi eventually stealing his opportunity to clinch a podium spot.

The final battle against Norway’s Tor Arne Kvia was a nail-biter, with Heinonen eventually edging out his opponent to claim the top spot on the podium.

Qualifying Under Extreme Conditions

The qualifying session went down under extreme conditions, with track temperatures reportedly soaring above 41°C, pushing the drivers and their machines to their limits.

Piotr Wiecek laid down a near-perfect 97.5-point run, followed closely by fellow Polish driver Jakub “Kuba” Przygonski, with 97 points.

Despite not making the top two, James Deane would never be far behind, landing the third-place spot with a 96-pointer. Two-time World Rally Championship (WRC) Champion Kalle Rovanpera rounded off the top four with an impressive 95.5-point run.

The newly introduced Drift Masters Qualifying Showdown added an extra layer of excitement, culminating in an exciting battle between Piotr Wiecek in his Toyota GR Supra and Jakub Przygonski in his Toyota GR86, with Wiecek once again bagging the win.

The intense heat, the challenging layout of RabócsiRing, and the drivers’ desire to put on a show for the packed crowd set the tone for what would become one of the most unpredictable rounds in recent Drift Masters history.

Upsets & Mechanical Gremlins

The event’s challenging conditions created numerous upsets for championship frontrunners and series newcomers alike, with victims including Fionn Roche, who suffered a significant impact early on.

James Deane, who’s always the man to watch at any event with his name on the roster, faced a shocking exit in the Top 32 against Kevin Pesur when debris from the track damaged his car’s dry sump drive belt. This unexpected turn of events leaves Deane in second place overall in the championship standings, trailing behind Heinonen as they head into the final round.

Duane McKeever, who entered the event just four points behind the championship leader, suffered a similar fate with a mechanical failure during his Top 32 battle against Conor Shanahan. Despite this setback, McKeever maintains his third-place ranking, but Shanahan edges closer.

 

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The wildcard entries weren’t safe from the mechanical gremlins, either. Two-time World Rally Championship (WRC) champion Kalle Rovanperä’s Drift Masters return was cut short by technical issues, with the star taking to social media to clarify the situation and vent his frustration, stating, “@driftmasters.gp guys saying on the live stream that I got lost in the smoke is not true, so it’s maybe not the best thing always to try to guess what happens for the drivers without actually knowing🤪”

Despite being on fire (literally!) Adam LZ’s performance wasn’t enough to overcome Jack Shanahan in the Top 32, almost adding to LZ’s streak of car-destroying antics this season!

How It Stands Heading Into The Final

Heinonen’s victory added a crucial 101 points to his tally, extending his lead to 75 points heading into the final round. This advantage means that only James Deane and Duane McKeever retain a mathematical chance of potentially clinching the championship title.

Overall standings going into the final:

Position	Driver	Total Points
1	Lauri Heinonen	387
2	James Deane	312
3	Duane McKeever	300
4	Conor Shanahan	245
5	Pawel Korpulinski	233
6	Kevin Pesur	228
7	Kevin Piskolty	198
8	Jack Shanahan	196
9	Benediktas Cirba	190
10	Orjan Nilsen	189

Looking Ahead To Warsaw

As the smoke settles on this dramatic round in Hungary, all eyes turn to the unmissable season finale at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. With Heinonen’s substantial lead, his rivals must deliver near-perfect performances to have any chance of clinching the title.

The stage is set for what promises to be an explosive conclusion to one of the most closely contested and unpredictable seasons in Drift Masters history, with 60,000 fans eagerly anticipating the crowning of the 2024 champion.

In case you (somehow) missed last year’s final, here’s what went down at the PGE Narodowy Stadium:

Photography Credits

Thank you to Red Bull Content Pool and Drift Masters for the use of their media.

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