Drift Masters – Round 4, Biķernieki Circuit, Riga, Latvia

The legendary Biķernieki Circuit, located in the heart of the city, features a track that partially winds through a scenic forest. This course is well-known to the drivers, as the Riga round has been a key part of the series for many years. Considered one of the most challenging tracks, the Latvian circuit is regarded by many as the toughest in Europe. It is also the fastest track on this year’s calendar, with drivers reaching speeds of 150 km/h and beyond. The unique atmosphere of this event consistently draws large crowds, and this year was no exception. With the stands packed, the drivers, competing for the title of “King of Riga,” put on an unforgettable show!

Friday’s qualifying session benefited from surprisingly good weather, allowing for a fair and even competition. The opening runs were already fast, thrilling, and risky. From the very start, the drivers gave it their all, showcasing their driving mastery to the excited fans. Piotr Więcek topped the qualifiers for the 4th round of Drift Masters with a score of 97.5 points. Lauri Heinonen came in second with 96.5 points, followed closely by James Deane with 94 points. Paweł Korpuliński, after two nearly identical runs, secured 15th place with 86.5 points. His consistent performance was a good indicator for the final day of competition, ensuring him a spot in the TOP 32.

Saturday’s TOP 32 battles were preceded by a warm-up session, giving fans a taste of the fierce competition ahead. The drivers ramped up the pace, clearly demonstrating their hunger for a strong result, with none willing to back down without a fight. This was the start of thrilling duels, with final-worthy runs taking place right from the initial battles. In the TOP 32, Paweł Korpuliński faced off against Adam LZ from the U.S., a regular competitor in the Formula D series. However, Adam had to concede defeat, as Korpuliński flawlessly completed both runs, advancing to the TOP 16. Paweł’s next opponent, once again, was Finland’s Lauri Heinonen. The overall leader met an unfortunate fate, losing his tire on the high curb, which prevented him from continuing in the second run, and giving Korpuliński a place in the quarterfinal TOP 8. Next, Korpuliński took on Finland’s Mika Keski-Korpi in a gripping quarterfinal battle. After two solid and fast runs, the judges unanimously declared Korpuliński the winner, sending him to the semifinals. The TOP 4 matchups posed the greatest challenge yet, as Paweł went head-to-head with the world’s most decorated drifting driver, James Deane. Facing such a high-caliber opponent demands complete focus and a performance at 110%. Such an attitude was definitely adopted by Pawel Korpulinski, who, after an incredibly spectacular first run, carved out a lead at the halfway point of the battle. After swapping places, Korpulinski set off for the second run as the leader, almost perfectly covering the first half of the course. However, during the second run, while leading, he went off track at the fifth outer zone, dramatically bouncing off the curb and crashing into the tire barrier. This mishap led him to the B final, where he would fight for 3rd place. Paweł’s scheduled opponent, Duane McKeever from Ireland, was unable to start due to heavy damage sustained from an earlier crash. Korpulinski covered the route alone, and was not without driving problems, as the car had been damaged in a previous clash. Despite the difficulties, he successfully finished the run and claimed 3rd place in this legendary Riga round! Conor Shanahan from Ireland took the top spot on the podium, followed by James Deane in second.

Thus concluded an epic round in Latvia, filled with peak excitement! We now eagerly await the next round, set for the end of August in Hungary. See you there!