The fourth edition of the Grand Finale wasted little time reminding everyone what makes this venue so special. Under the stadium lights, drivers committed to the walls with bumpers flexing, bodywork flying and the smallest mistakes separating spectacular runs from genuinely high scores.
The opening initiation proved crucial. Arrive too cautiously and valuable points disappeared before the run had properly begun. Push a little too far and the concrete was waiting. Through the final zones, heavy braking and corrections cost drivers even when their commitment had the crowd on its feet.
Simen Olsen found the balance early. His opening 95.7 set a benchmark that survived most of the evening, with Deane matching it on his first attempt. Conor Shanahan and Mika Keski-Korpi both posted 95.5, while Korpuliński opened with 95.
Even between the qualifying runs, the spectacle continued. Two Formula 1 cars brought a completely different soundtrack to the stadium, giving fans another reason to remember a Friday that was far from ordinary.
Further down the order, the pressure was just as intense.
Jack Shanahan’s first attempt ended in wall contact and a zero, leaving him with one opportunity to keep his weekend alive. His second run was enough to secure 21st, ensuring one of the championship’s most dangerous battle drivers would still be on the grid tomorrow.
Kevin Piskolty also recovered from an opening zero, delivering an 87.2 to reach the Top 32. Oliver Randalu made a major leap from 86.2 to 95, while Jarkko Jylhä improved from 89 to 95.5 as the order continued to change.
For Dave Egan, however, the evening brought a difficult goodbye. After a fuel-pump problem limited his practice, neither qualifying run produced the score he needed. His season ended on Friday, but his interview afterwards focused on gratitude for the experience and everyone who had supported the journey.
Olsen’s long spell at the top finally ended when McKeever delivered a 96 on his second attempt. The former Warsaw winner looked comfortable against the walls, combining his trademark aggression with a run that met the judges’ demands.
Then Deane went one better.
His second pass was an exhibition of control. The Mustang stayed composed through the transitions, with small, precise adjustments keeping it deep in the zones. As the commentators searched for something to fault, the score arrived: 98 points and first place.
Korpuliński responded with a huge run of his own. Improving from 95 to 97 moved him into second, ahead of McKeever, and gave the home crowd a major moment to celebrate.
All three leading drivers had saved their strongest scores for their final attempts. Olsen’s opening 95.7 ultimately secured fourth.
Qualifying Top 3
James Deane: 98 points
Paweł Korpuliński: 97 points
Duane McKeever: 96 points
Korpuliński’s reaction afterwards showed what the result meant. Speaking to Becky Evans, he described the relief of securing second and the pressure of fighting for his first championship in front of his home crowd.
“It’s a lot of stress and pressure on me,” he admitted, while making clear that he was enjoying the occasion too.
For Więcek, it was a more difficult evening. His opening 89 left him 18th after the first runs, with an unsettled initiation and corrections costing him valuable marks. He acknowledged that the attempt had been scrappy and hoped to bring everything together on run two.
That second opportunity produced only a small improvement to 89.2, leaving him 22nd.
He is through to the battles and still in the championship fight. But at a venue that has already delivered painful setbacks, Saturday now demands a response.
Więcek’s progression into the Top 32 brought an end to Deane’s mathematical championship hopes. The title fight is now between Więcek, Korpuliński and Conor Shanahan, but the top qualifier could still play a decisive role in its outcome.
That was the warning running through the closing commentary. Drivers outside the championship fight have their own reasons to leave nothing on the table tomorrow.
Deane wants the event victory. McKeever knows how to win in Warsaw. Jack Shanahan survived a difficult Friday and remains a serious threat in tandem. Any contender who encounters them will have to earn every inch.
Conor Shanahan, meanwhile, returns to battle at the stadium where he secured his previous two titles. His opening 95.5 demonstrated his pace, and he spoke about the emotion and memories attached to every lap here.
Korpuliński has the confidence of second in qualifying. Więcek must reset after an uncomfortable evening. Conor needs to maximise his own result while the rest of the competition unfolds around him.
Three different positions. The same prize.
Tomorrow, a sold-out PGE Narodowy will witness the final battles of the 2026 season. The space each driver had to themselves in qualifying will be shared with an opponent, and the pressure will rise again.
The championship drama could begin immediately in the Top 32. There is no guarantee that all three contenders reach the later stages, let alone that the title remains undecided until the Final.
One mistake, one mechanical problem or one exceptional performance from the other car could change everything. And for those chasing the championship, there is no next round to put it right.
Join us live on Red Bull TV at 2:45PM CET as the Red Bull Drift Masters Grand Finale reaches its deciding day.
Three drivers can still become champion. Thirty-two drivers can shape how it happens. Tomorrow, Warsaw decides.
