Drifting
The KING of Riga just drifted in
The one and only Drift Masters European Championship event of the year lights up the classic Bikernieki Circuit in Latvia's capital city with a day of dramatic and unpredictable racing.
After a delayed start to the season, the Drift Masters Europen Championship's King of Riga contest marked the sole stop of the 2020 season, as the continent's best drifters raced all-in on the infamous Bikernieki Circuit to claim the top spot and bragging rights for the year.
The Drift Brothers, Elias and Johannes Hountondji, tear up the Riga track
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Unsurprisingly, it was a day full of drama in Latvia, with false starts, big hits and plenty of wall contact, but in the end it was James Deane who overcame all-comers. The Irish driver was awarded the victory following an intense final battle with Poland's Peter Więcek.
Catch up on all of the action from Riga in the replay below:
Main race – Latvia
The most infamous drift event in the world is on for one weekend only in 2020: Riga.
The day started with Więcek as the favourite after he qualified in first place on Friday thanks to amazing 94–point run and he made the final after defeating fellow Polish driver Adam Zaleski.
Meanwhile, Deane also faced a compatriot in Ireland's Jack Shanahan in the semi-final. He overcame Shanahan to reach the final and then defeated Więcek to claim the King of Riga title for 2020.
The action was close and unpredictable all day
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Shanahan finished in third place overall after Zaleski damaged his car in the first run of their podium-decider and was unable to continue.
One of of the rising stars of drifting, Conor Shanahan, had a tough day in Riga, but the Red Bull racer promised to make up for the disappointment in 2021. "To be honest, I wasn't that confident and I pushed a bit hard," the young Irish driver reported. "These things happen and we'll come back stronger in 2021. I know I'm good enough to beat the top guys out here."
Conor Shanahan had a tough day at the drifting office, but will bounce back
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
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