Rising Cork star Conor Falvey makes breakthrough with first Drift Masters podium

It was a dramatic weekend at Mondello Park as reigning champion Conor Shanahan made a shock early exit

18-year-old Conor Falvey kept his head to deliver his best-ever finish. Pic: ©INPHO/Red Bull Content Pool/Mihai Stetcu

THERE was a shock exit for reigning Red Bull Drift Masters champion Conor Shanahan but the large Mondello Park crowd were treated to a first podium for rising teenager Conor Falvey.

Shanahan was beaten in a massive top 32 battle with fellow Irishman Dave Egan in round three of the Drift Masters championship.

But that wasn't the end of the surprises, with Falvey, Egan's Drift Games colleague, taking down Shanahan's biggest rival for the championship, Piotr Wiecek, to reach the top 16.

It was a chaotic start to Sunday's action but Falvey, 18, kept his head to deliver his best-ever finish to fly the flag for Cork in the absence of the Shanahan brothers from the podium.

He defeated Mika Keski-Korpi before taking down the hugely experienced Corkman James Deane in the top eight, and Kevin Pesur - Jack Shanahan's conqueror in the top 16 - before eventually finishing second behind the Pole, Pawel Korpulinski, with Pesur coming out on top in a play-off for third.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Dubliner Alex Butler capped an impressive two days' work by defeating Drift Masters competitor George Christoforou of Cyprus in Sunday's final Drift Pursuit showdown.

Dylan Wilson, who hails from Derry, also secured a podium finish by finishing third overall.

On Saturday, Butler topped the Drift Pursuit podium for the first time. Wilson was second, with Waterford’s Jakub Krzysczak claiming third place and Antrim’s Callum Coogan securing fourth.

The quartet were rewarded with wildcard entries into Red Bull Drift Masters qualifying and the opportunity to compete against some of the biggest names in the sport.

Also across the weekend, the large crowds were treated to showcase runs featuring Red Bull Ampol Racing’s 600+ horsepower Ford Mustang Supercar alongside the iconic Red Bull Drift Mini driven by Conor Shanahan.