The FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup, final held in 2021, makes its long-awaited comeback this weekend, organised in partnership with the Latvian Vehicle Federation (LAF), and returns to Biķernieki in Riga for its largest and most worldwide version but
For the second successive version in Latvia, a burgeoning marketplace for the drifting self-discipline, a complete of 45 drivers, representing 32 totally different international locations and 5 continents will participate with 11 international locations additionally contesting the Nations Cup, which runs in parallel to the person competitors.
Main the 45-driver sturdy entry record is the defending FIA Motorsport Video games gold medal winner Jakub Przygoński in his 900hp Toyota GR86. Representing Poland and nominated by the Polish Vehicle and Motorbike Federation (PZM), Przygoński, a former Dakar Rally common, started his drifting profession in 2008 and set a Guinness World File for the quickest drift (at 217 km/h) in 2013.
Representing the non secular residence of drifting Japan, shall be Hokuto Matsuyama, piloting his Toyota A90 Supra. A Toyota check driver, Matsuyama is the 2022 Components Drift Japan champion and has been a daily D1GP contender through the years. He’s additionally recognized for his precision and consistency, that are key components within the drifting self-discipline.
Certain to be within the combine are double Polish Drift champion Paweł Korpuliński, a number of Ukrainian drifting champion and 2019 FIA Motorsport Video games drifting gold medallist Dmytro Illyuk and the skilled Lithuanian competitor Andrius Vasiliauskas, whereas reigning Hungarian Professional Drift champion Tamás Magyar and triple MSUK Professional Drift champion Lwi Edwards add to the distinctive expertise on show in Latvia. One other driver with FIA Motorsport Video games expertise, within the 2019 version, is Swedish driver Christian Erlandsson who’s the 2024 Swedish championship runner-up.
All eyes shall be on native driver, Nikolass Bertāns, affectionately generally known as ‘Nik Nak’ in his HGK Eurofighter who shall be trying to go one higher than he did in 2021 – the final time the FIA IDC was held, additionally on Latvian soil. Bertāns took the combat to eventual winner James Deane on the tender age of 15 and has since amassed title in Latvia, Lithuania and the Baltic and North European Zone areas.
With Drifting – the one FIA-sanctioned self-discipline the place outcomes will not be decided by the stopwatch – one of many quickest rising types of motor sport, specific emphasis has been positioned on growing nations with a view to increasing the participation and variety of the game.
New for the 2025 version, FIA Member Golf equipment performing as Nationwide Sporting Authorities of their respective international locations have been capable of nominate opponents for the FIA IDC. The change within the sporting laws by the FIA was made with a view to rising the variety of the entry record and inspiring the expansion of drifting as one of the vital accessible motor sport disciplines on the planet via continued engagement from its Member Golf equipment.
One such Member Membership is the Icelandic Motorsports Affiliation (AKÍS) who will ship a driver to the FIA IDC for the primary time, with not too long ago topped double Icelandic Drift champion Hrafnkell Runarsson aiming to showcase the equally huge progress of the self-discipline in his nation.
Different new additions to the grid are Uzbekistan and Austria. Farrukh Urunov isn’t any stranger to worldwide competitors, having represented Uzbekistan on the 2022 FIA Motorsport Video games within the Karting Endurance self-discipline, whereas Daniel Brandner has develop into one thing of a fan favorite throughout the European drifting scene.
Representing Mozambique is Zanil Satar, a seasoned veteran of FIA drifting competitions who has beforehand competed in each the IDC and the FIA Motorsport Video games.
First held in its non secular residence in 2017, the inaugural FIA IDC occasion on the well-known Odaiba district of Tokyo, Japan kickstarted an annual gathering of the largest stars in drifting to compete on the worldwide stage. Native driver Masato Kawabata was the primary winner.
Since then, the FIA IDC returned to Tokyo in 2018 and visited Tsukuba in 2019 (each gained by Georgy Chivchyan) earlier than increasing to a really intercontinental competitors when it visited Latvia for the primary time in 2021 (gained by James Deane). With Riga growing into one of many strongest venues in Europe, it’s maybe solely becoming that the FIA IDC makes its return to Biķernieki with its unique “Lengthy wall” configuration for the fifth version of the Cup.
Proof of the rising reputation of Drifting and the FIA IDC is the increasing entry record for the 2025 version, which reaches document ranges of drivers. A complete of 45 drivers representing 32 international locations are set to participate, with Ukraine, Norway, Latvia, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Hungary all fielding multiple driver every and due to this fact competing for the Nations Cup Title.
The weekend kicks off on Thursday October 2 with the primary of two apply classes earlier than aggressive motion begins in earnest with the {Qualifications} on Friday October 3. A devoted Tandem apply session follows on Saturday October 4, warming up the Drivers certified for the Remaining Prime 32 runs, after which the winner shall be decided.
The Nations Cup title shall be decided by the mix of the two highest scores in {Qualifications} and Prime 32 positions from their respective pool of drivers.
Solo runs are judged on various components, together with driving ability, pace, angle and accuracy in hitting ‘zones’ or “bins” drawn by the Judges, which the entrance or rear wheels of the automobile should slide via. Tandem runs ‘battles’ are judged on every automobile taking turns within the lead on the prescribed course, whereas remaining as near the opposite automobile as doable, with out making contact. A majority vote on the finish of the battle is required to progress to the following spherical.
{Qualifications} and the Prime 32 battles shall be livestreamed on the FIA IDC YouTube channel.
