Conor Shanahan Leads An Irish Top 4 In Mondello Park Qualifying

Round 3 of the 2026 Drift Masters season landed in Ireland this weekend, and Qualifying Day at Mondello Park wasted no time reminding everyone why this is one of the most intense stops on the calendar.

With warm sunshine, a packed home crowd and the kind of atmosphere only Mondello Park can deliver, Day 1 got off to a brilliant start in Ireland.

But while the weather may have been unusually kind, the track itself was anything but. From the first runs of the day, it was clear that Mondello Park was going to demand everything from the grid.

With the standard across Drift Masters now higher than ever, there were no easy runs, no safe options, and no room to ease into the session. Every driver had to push right to the edge just to stay in the fight.

Before the main Drift Masters Qualifying session got underway, fans were treated to the first ever Red Bull Drift Pursuit competition at Mondello Park.

The format saw 19 drivers go head-to-head for the chance to fight their way into Drift Masters Qualifying, adding another layer of intensity to an already stacked Friday schedule.

After a successful debut for the format, four drivers earned their place in Qualifying and got the chance to step into the main show alongside one of the toughest grids in drifting.

Once Qualifying began, the pressure quickly started to show.

Mondello Park’s opening corner has always been one of the biggest tests of the weekend, and once again, it became the section that shaped the session. Carry too little commitment and the run is gone before it has properly started. Push too hard, miss the timing by even a fraction, and drivers can quickly find themselves in the grass, in the wall, or out of contention completely.

That fine line caught out several drivers across the day, with multiple offs and mechanical issues adding to the pressure throughout the paddock.

Lauri Heinonen’s team had already been forced into an engine swap yesterday, but despite the disruption, the Finnish driver managed to put together a strong 92.70-point run to secure eighth overall.

Elsewhere, Clint van Oort’s day ended in frustration after pushing too hard around a layout that gives drivers very little back when they get it wrong.

At the very front of the field, the home drivers took complete control.

Championship leader Conor Shanahan rose to the top in front of the Irish crowd, delivering a huge 97.50-point run to secure P1 in Qualifying.

On a layout that rewards commitment but punishes even the smallest mistake, Shanahan’s run had exactly what was needed. Speed, precision and confidence from the opening corner all the way to the finish line.

Just behind him, brother Jack Shanahan made it a Shanahan 1-2 with a brilliant 96.50-point run of his own. Coming into the round looking to build momentum in the championship, Jack’s performance was a serious statement on home soil.

James Deane completed the Top 3 with a 95.70-point run, making it an all-Irish sweep at the front of the field and giving the Mondello Park crowd another huge moment to cheer.

The Irish domination did not stop there either, as Duane McKeever put down a 95.20-point run to secure fourth place and complete a full Irish lockout of the Top 4.

1. Conor Shanahan - 97.50 points
2. Jack Shanahan - 96.50 points
3. James Deane - 95.70 points

Behind the Irish Top 4, Paweł Korpuliński secured fifth with a 94.00-point run, with Mika Keski-Korpi sixth, Jason Banet seventh and Lauri Heinonen eighth.

With Conor Shanahan, Jack Shanahan, James Deane and Duane McKeever all sitting at the very front, Qualifying Day in Ireland became a massive statement from the home drivers.

Beyond the fight for P1, this was a qualifying session that showed just how high the level has become in Drift Masters.

The cut-off for the Top 32 finished at an incredible 81.00 points, with Dave Egan just making it into the show in 32nd place. Simen Olsen missed out by the smallest of margins in 33rd, despite scoring 80.70 points.

That tells the story of the day better than almost anything else. In Ireland, even a score above 80 points was not enough to guarantee a place in the battles.

From established names trying to protect their championship position, to drivers further down the order fighting to keep their weekend alive, every run carried pressure. At Mondello Park, there was simply nowhere to hide.

Day 1 in Ireland is complete, and the Top 32 is now locked in for what promises to be a huge battle day at Mondello Park.

With Conor Shanahan leading the way, Jack Shanahan right behind him, James Deane sitting third, and Duane McKeever completing an Irish Top 4, the home drivers have put themselves in a perfect position heading into tomorrow.

But if Qualifying proved anything, it is that Mondello Park can change everything in an instant.

Top 32 Battles go live tomorrow on Red Bull TV from 11:15AM Irish time. Do not miss it.