Ireland, Sweden, Latvia, Germany, Poland and new country Finland to host races.
After three sell-out events in 2022, the 2023 Drift Masters European Championship will be heading to Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Germany and Poland as Piotr Więcek looks to defend his crown up against a star-studded line-up including Japan's Naoki Nakamura with the races broadcast exclusively live on Red Bull TV.
Więcek got the better of Irish trio Jack Shanahan, Conor Shanahan and James Deane over the six 2022 rounds to defend his 2021 crown with Deane picking up the 2018 and 2019 titles before that.
Here are the six rounds locked in for the 2023 title race with one new country and two new venues:
Round 1: Ireland, Mondello Park, Kildare – May 6-7
Once again the 2023 calendar will start in May at Ireland's home of drifting, Mondello Park in County Kildare, just outside the country's capital city of Dublin. With more than 10,000 fans from all across the globe ready to descend on the "Mecca" of Irish drifting for one weekend only - alongside a car show featuring more than 250 of Ireland's best show cars - the wall of sound will be impressive.
Round 2: Sweden, Drivecenter Arena, Fällfors – June 9-10
Having travelled north to Sweden's Drivecenter Arena - located in a picturesque setting just below the Arctic Circle - for the very first time in 2022, the series will again return to the Fällfors track for Round 2 in early June. Expect plenty of thrills and spills when one of the fastest circuits on the calendar returns in front of the passionate Scandinavian supporters.
Round 3: Finland, Power Park Huvivaltio, Alahärmä – July 7-8
After the introduction of Sweden last season, 2023 will see the series introduce another country for the very first time, with Power Park Huvivaltio – the largest theme park in Finland – replacing Austria's PS Racing Center on the calendar as it slots in as the third round in early July. The unique backdrop of rollercoasters at the custom-built circuit should make for fun racing.
Round 4: Latvia, Bikernieku Trase, Riga – July 29-30
Next up on the calendar and much to the delight of the DMEC fan base, the series will once again return to the Bikernieki Circuit in the Latvian capital of Riga, where thousands of enthusiastic fans will descend to the Baltic country for one weekend only on the last weekend of July. This track is notorious for its high-speed entry and risk-reward layout, so expect several surprises.
Round 5: Germany, Ferropolis, Dessau – August 17-19
Germany’s Ferropolis aka “City of Iron” in the town of Dessau is an open-air colosseum set beneath the backdrop of abandoned 20th-century industrial machinery. For the penultimate round of the 2023 season and with no margin for error, the DMEC driver grid will be giving it their all under the night lights of this stunning venue to find out who will take one step closer to being crowned champion.
Round 6: Poland, Venue TBA, Warsaw – September 15-16
In 2023, the Drift Masters European Championship finale will take place in the Polish capital city of Warsaw with the final venue announcement coming soon as DMEC organisers look to finish on a big high.
Image: Conor Shanahan of Ireland and Adam Zalewski of Poland seen during the Drift Masters European Championship in Lodz, Poland on October 1, 2022.
