Round 5 of the 2025 Drift Masters season brought high drama to Bikernieku Trase as one of the most unpredictable events of the year unfolded in front of a packed Latvian crowd. With heavy crashes, surprise eliminations, and mechanical heartbreak across the board, the championship standings were completely shaken up.
Riga Delivering The Drama As Always
At the centre of it all was Piotr Wiecek. With a composed lead and a clinical chase in the final, the Polish driver defeated James Deane and secured his third career victory in Riga. It was also his second consecutive win of the season, a result that now puts him at the top of the championship standings with just two rounds remaining.
The final four delivered plenty of storylines. Latvian wildcard Nikolass Bertans, competing in his first Drift Masters event as a HGK driver, went on a remarkable run to the playoff for third. A crash from Jack Shanahan in their battle handed Nik a well-earned place on the podium in front of his home fans, marking his first top-three finish of the season.
Top 32 Opens with Chaos
The weekend got off to a wild start in the Top 32. Top qualifier Juha Rintanen spun in his lead run against Espen Rohde and was eliminated, while Conor Shanahan, who entered the event as championship leader, lost out to Benediktas Cirba in a high-stakes battle.
Mechanical issues forced several drivers out early, even after making it into the Top 32. Both Nasser Alharbali and Pawel Korpulinski were unable to make it to the line, while Duane McKeever’s weekend ended in dramatic fashion after a violent crash caused by an engine shutdown during his battle with Lauri Heinonen.
Meanwhile, Piotr Wiecek, James Deane, and Jack Shanahan all advanced with strong performances, while Kevin Piskolty won a close One More Time battle against Marco Zakouril. Nikolass Bertans also moved through thanks to a byerun following Alharbali’s retirement.
Crashes and Comebacks in the Top 16
The Top 16 in Riga was as relentless as it was unpredictable. With the pressure rising and the championship on the line, every mistake counted, and there were plenty of them.
From scrappy chases to clean-cut lead runs, the battles were a mix of brilliance and chaos. Big names like James Deane and Piotr Wiecek kept their title hopes alive with composed drives, while rising stars like Nik Nak and Conor Falvey continued to impress under pressure.
Mechanical issues and heavy crashes also played their part. Fionn Roche’s weekend came to a violent end after a high-speed impact into the wall, while several others struggled to keep their cars in one piece as the punishing Riga layout took its toll.
As the grid narrowed, it became clear that consistency would be the key to survival. And with the crowd on their feet and the championship wide open, the road to the final had never looked tougher.
Wiecek Delivers Under Pressure
In the Great 8 things kicked off in dramatic fashion, with Espen Rohde crashing into the barrier during his chase with Nikolass Bertans, ending the Norwegian rookies weekend. Conor Falvey's Top 8 battle was also cut short after a boost leak led to a shutdown against James Deane. While Cirba and Jack Shanahan delivered drama and Piotr and Jarkko also put on a mega display.
In the Final 4, James Deane held off a hard-charging Nikolass Bertans in one of the closest battles all weekend, while Wiecek’s chase on Jack Shanahan was another jaw dropping battle that came down to the wire with Wiecek progressing through to the final.
In the final, Wiecek didn't give an inch. With the pressure on, he put down a flawless lead and an aggressive chase to defeat Deane and take the win in front of an electric Latvian crowd.
Standings Shaken Up Once Again
With this result, Piotr Wiecek now leads the championship with 298 points. Conor Shanahan drops to second on 278, while James Deane climbs back up to third overall with 229 points.
The championship fight has been scrambled once again with just two rounds to go. Next up is Iron Drift King in Ferropolis, Germany, where the battles will unfold under the lights in one of the most iconic venues in drifting.
Up Next: Ferropolis
The championship fight is heating up with just two rounds to go. Wiecek leads the way, but Shanahan and Deane are still in the hunt. Next stop is Ferropolis, where Iron Drift King will bring the action under the lights in one of the most electric settings in drifting.
