EVENT: EEDC 2013 Round 2. Minsk, Belarus

EEDC Burn Drift Minsk is always a special event (or maybe for me the EEDC is always a bit special). Perhaps because of the spectators, or maybe because it’s the same venue where the FXOpen drift events took place. It has always had a certain aura about it; enormous support from spectators, no matter what. They always cheer not only for local heroes, but also every driver participating, and they fully understand and appreciate when someone is putting everything on the line. The event features a full grid of the strongest cars and drivers from the Eastern scene.

The track layout here has not changed, and its pretty straight forward, but all of that changes when it starts raining. This year it happened again. Because of surface changes 5-6 times during the run, it becomes very difficult for drivers to predict grip levels in certain areas, especially for the lead car. He has to simply guess entry speed and hope he got it right, whereas the chaser has at least some information from the car in front. It was very difficult for drivers and judges because we also have to bare in mind conditions and how they influence both cars.

The competition was so tight this time that when I think about it now I feel incredibly proud of all the guys who went there and gave it their all.

Every year this young series grows more and more interesting; Poland simply blows my mind by sheer amount of skill on display. Minsk was a simply unbelievable demonstration of power and how many young drivers improved vastly. Next will be Riga, Latvia, with Pawel Trella, Ryan Tuerck and Juha Rintanen trying to take on a full house of local monsters, including Kristaps Blush, Janis Eglite and Gvido Elksnis. These guys can take on anyone in the world on their home turf!

Then our hometown, EEDC Lithuania, with a new “completely off the hook” layout. Then the EEDC Allstars Bash Number Two in Hungary. I’m starting to get numb of being shocked at each event, so you just have to come and see, on the live-streams at least!