Conor
Shanahan
Ireland
·
Drifting
Date of birth | 10 June 2003 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Cork, Ireland |
Age | 22 |
Nationality | Ireland |
Career start | 2018 |
Disciplines | Drift Racing |
A driving talent hailing from Ireland who's been wowing crowds around the world, Conor Shanahan first started drifting at the age of nine and competed in the Irish Amateur Championship.
Having showcased his skills at the age of 13 by appearing on a UK TV show, The Grand Tour, it didn't take Conor long before he became the youngest driver ever to win British, Irish and European professional drifting events. This was achieved in 2018, when he made his debut in the Drift Masters European Championship, sensationally beating fellow Irishman, DMEC and Irish National champion James Deane, at the Polish round of the championship.
Backed by his family
Conor's success came as no surprise to his family, who are all heavily involved in motorsports. His brother, Jack, has achieved back-to-back British drifting championships, while his father, John, won multiple rally titles and his mother, Valerie, is the only Irish woman to win a national championship.
Firmly established as a force in the sport of drifting, Conor was simply unstoppable in 2023 as he stormed to the DMEC title, securing the crown with victory in the final round in front of 53,000 spectators in Poland.
Drifting champion extraordinaire
Conor carried his momentum into 2024, capturing the Formula Drift World Championship in the US and claiming victory at the prestigious Drift Masters GP round in Riga. In 2025, he earned the title Drift Masters World Champion for the second year running.
2026 has seen him continue this succes with solid results in the several drifitng competitions, inclusing a win at the Formula Drift World Championship Long Beach, California. We're all hopeful for more to come.
Conor Shanahan gets ready for competition
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Drift Masters champion Conor Shanahan is smoking hot right now
© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool
Conor Shanahan celebrates his victory in Warsaw
© Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool
Conor Shanahan drifts at Red Bull Drift Pursuit Cork 2025
© Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool