Shanahan Wins 2025 Drift Masters Title After Polish Fans Left Stunned

A shocking last-minute twist left home fans devastated at the Drift Masters finale in Poland as a mechanical failure for local hero Piotr Wiecek handed Conor Shanahan the 2025 title.

The Irishman then went on to complete the double in front of over 53,000 spectators at Warsaw’s PGE Narodowy stadium, beating Pawel Korpulinski in an epic one-more-time final.

A three-way fight for the title

Going into the finale, all eyes were on the championship fight between Conor Shanahan (390 points) and hometown hero Piotr Wiecek (382 points). Conor’s brother, Jack Shanahan, sat in third with 300 points but had a small chance of pulling an upset if the front two stumbled.

With qualifying wrapped up on Friday, the title fight got more intense than ever as Conor was forced to settle for the fifth spot with a score of 95.2.

Wiecek, on the other hand, landed the second qualifying spot, putting him level on 390 points with Conor going into the Top 32 battles, and setting up what should’ve been the ultimate showdown for the battles.

Meanwhile, it was local talent Jakub Krol who lit up the stadium by topping qualifying with a near-perfect 98-point run, edging out Wiecek and James Deane, both landing 97.2 points, for pole position.

As the second qualifier, Wiecek drew a favorable matchup against 31st-seeded Espen Rohde going into the Top 32. But things rarely go as you’d expect in drifting.

Immediate heartbreak for Wiecek

As the Polish fans sat on the edge of their seats expecting their hero to advance comfortably, drifting delivered another cruel twist of fate.

When finishing his Top 32 run, Wiecek slowed just meters from the finish line with what appeared to be a sudden loss of power. His GR Supra coasted to a stop as the Polish crowd watched in stunned silence.

Cameras zoomed in on his cockpit as Wiecek pushed buttons, desperately trying everything to restart the car, but it was clear the dream was over.

Even if Shanahan had also exited in the Top 32, the championship tie-breaker favored the Irishman, meaning Wiecek’s fate was sealed the moment it happened.

Instead of celebrating, Conor Shanahan immediately hopped on a scooter in the pits. He then headed to the track as fast as possible to console his devastated rival. It was a moment that once again showcased the mutual respect in the European drifting scene.

Conor Shanahan, alongside every other competitor in the series, knows how it feels to be denied by mechanical gremlins – something he’s been all too familiar with. There couldn’t have been more devastating timing than this for Wiecek.

Shanahan’s domination continues

With the pressure of the championship fight off his shoulders, Conor Shanahan went on to deliver a masterclass performance through the knockout stages.

He carved through the field with trademark aggression before meeting Korpulinski in a dramatic final that required an OMT (one-more-time) battle to separate them.

Eventually, it was clear there was only going to be one winner in Poland, as Conor Shanahan topped the podium and secured the double. It also marked his second European crown in three years.

The final season standings saw Conor Shanahan finish with 490 points, Wiecek on 406, and Jack Shanahan claiming third with 351 points.

With the wildcards failing to cause an upset, it was Japanese legend Naoki Nakamura who rounded out the podium after a win against James Deane in the third-place battle, securing his first-ever Drift Masters podium.

For Irish drifting, it was a historic night. In addition to Conor’s victory, they secured the Nations Cup with 979 points, with Poland in second with 756 points and Finland in third with 532 points.

Four Irish drivers finished in the Top 10, with youngster Conor Falvey rounding out the Irish contingent in 10th place.

Re-live all the Top 16 action right here as Conor Shanahan carves his path to glory: