Latest news with #RedBullDriftPursuit
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Spike Island in Cork taken captive by Red Bull and its Drift Pursuit
SPIKE ISLAND reverberated to the sounds of rev limiters and tyre shredding as the Red Bull Drift Pursuit treated 1,500 screaming fans to a high-octane motorsport day to remember. The spectators and a selection of Ireland's top drifters, along with their drift cars, boarded the ferry and made the short trip across Cork Harbour to compete in the event that took place on this incredible historic landmark. 8 Spike Island was transformed for Red Bull Drift Pursuit, with 1,500 motorsport fans making the short trip across Cork Harbour to the former prison Credit: Red Bull Ireland 8 Local man and 2024 Red Bull Drift Pursuit champion Alan Hynes came out on top once again, roared on by a vocal home crowd Credit: Red Bull Ireland 8 Drift Brothers Conor and Jack Shanahan in their 900bhp Toyota GT86s Credit: Red Bull Ireland Fans lined the custom-built course to catch local drift star Conor Shanahan and fellow Red Bull athlete and World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean, who made a special appearance at the event, joining the sideways action. Taking part were 16 of the Ireland's top drifters who went go head-to-head in a fierce and that incluided four Cork drivers - Aidan Dennehy, Owen Magner, Trevor Healy and Alan Hynes. Conor Shanahan currently leads the Drift Masters European Championship, and the Killavullen man was on fine form. But it was another Cork driver, Alan Hynes (pictured above), who topped the podium, claiming his second straight Red Bull drift title. 8 Red Bull athletes, drifter Conor Shanahan and WRC driver Josh McErlean, put on a show for the 1,500 fans Credit: Red Bull Ireland 8 Conor Shanahan is the current Drift Masters GP championship standings leader Credit: Red Bull Ireland He held off strong challenges from second-placed Stephen Halferty from Derry and Waterford's Jakub Krzyszczak who rounded off the podium, as well as Jake Davey from Galway who finished in fourth place. Hynes said afterwards: 'Second time in a row for me to win this event — it's a pretty special moment. 'I really enjoyed it last year and this year was even more special being in Cork – the cherry on top really. What a special venue, a special place, a special event. It's an amazing feeling. Awesome day for Cork. Up the Rebels!' 8 Alan Hynes won the event for the second year in a row Credit: Red Bull Ireland 8 Action from the Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Cork's Spike Island Credit: Red Bull Ireland 8 Competitors are ready to rock and put on a show for the 1,500 fans Credit: Red Bull Ireland
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
'Story is only getting started' - Spike Island thrills to Drift drama
Some of the top Irish drift drivers thrilled the capacity crowd on Spike Island on Saturday evening as Buttevant's Alan Hynes beat 15 other drivers to win the Red Bull Drift Pursuit. He held off the challenges of second-placed Stephen Halferty (Derry) with Jakub Krzyszczak (Waterford) winning the battle for third from Jake Davey (Galway). For almost two hours the head-to-head competition kept the attendance on their toes before local hero Hynes took the title in front of a majority Cork crowd. In glorious sunshine, the fans were treated to demonstration drives on the custom-built course by world drift stars, brothers Conor and Jack Shanahan from Killavullen in their Toyota GT86's. There was also an appearance from Irish World Rally Championship driver Derry's Josh McErlean in the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, who also showcased his talents to the fans at the iconic location. Hynes was thrilled with his victory, "It's a pretty special moment. I really enjoyed it (Red Bull Drift Pursuit) last year, this year was even more special being in here on Spike Island, the cherry on top really. He added: "What a special venue, a special place, a special event. It's an amazing feeling. The opposition was immense and Stephen (Halferty) pushed me all the way. I was racing in Europe last weekend and had a big crash, so it was nice to come here and take the win." Meanwhile, as he enjoyed some time in his native county, Conor Shanahan, who currently leads the Drift Masters European Championship (DMEC) and displayed why he is regarded as one of the best in the world, said, "Personally, I feel every time we look at ourselves in drifting and how look at the sport these days and how big the sport is getting, to be here in Spike Island with an event, it's pretty unique, who would have thought that ten years ago, there is so much history here. "To do it close to home and have local support is pretty special. Home is always special. This story is only getting started, there's a lot to write yet."
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Spike Island Drift homecoming for fast and furious Shanahan
Accustomed to wowing crowds all over the world, Red Bull athlete Conor Shanahan is looking forward to showcasing his motoring talents this Saturday on Spike Island, a once military fortress, notorious prison and now a stunning tourist destination within Cork Harbour that will host the Red Bull Drift Pursuit for sixteen of Ireland's top drifters in a head-to-head knockout format. Shanahan and his brother Jack will perform demonstration runs in their Toyota GT86 as will Irish WRC driver Josh McErlean in the Red Bull liveried M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 car. Killavullen native Shanahan and current leader of the European Drift Masters Championship isn't chasing the dream anymore - only because he's already realised his boyhood ambition. His racing schedule involves competing in Europe and America, the latter where he owns and runs his own team that also involves his older brother Jack. His choice of motorsport as a career isn't surprising given that he was raised on the sounds of high performance engines. His family are steeped in motorsport, dad John was (or should we say still is) a popular figure in rallying and his mom Valerie won the British Autograss Championship. Conor (left) and Jack Shanahan at the Drift Masters European Championship in Madrid, Spain. Picture: Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool. He describes those early days habitually verbalised by his recent times in America and the constant use of the phrase "I guess" rather than the more frequently used motorsport term "for sure. "I actually enjoyed school, I guess the atmosphere; figuring out my life as I got older; trying to understand the arguments with my mother at the bottom of the stairs about do I want to go to school? I guess I always knew I wanted to do something with a skill. At that stage, I guess I didn't really know whether it was rallying or drifting or circuit racing, I was massively into karting at the time." That vision accelerated when he attended secondary school. "I guess towards the end of national school, I knew I was definitely going to be involved in motorsport. I started secondary school (Davis College, Mallow) went (racing) to Europe when I was 14 and had a massive win. I was the youngest ever to win there and it was a huge night for me and my family. I beat James Deane (near neighbour) in the final. "After that I guess my vision started to change. I reckoned if I started to take this even more serious, I could be better. If I started training on a simulator more - all these things started to come into my head. I was trying to find a balance with school." Conor Shanahan (left) and Tor Arne Kvia perform during the Round 3 of Drift Masters European Championship in Alahärmä, Finland last month. Picture: Mihai Stetcu / Red Bull Content Pool . Transition year allowed Conor more time out of school and more time racing - a better life balance and a move closer to the ultimate decision. "I remember at the start of fifth year it was actually a very simple conversation I had with my mom and I said this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I guess she didn't agree with me leaving school. I looked at all the resources afterwards and I felt education in Ireland can be achieved no matter what, whether you go back at a later stage as a mature student. I always wanted to be self-employed and I always wanted to own my own business, that was my goal." He continued, "I met the school principal, and we had a conversation. The one thing I will always respect about Davis College is that Mr. Gilbert (the principal at the time) had a very good conversation with me and my mom. He never held me back, he said, if you think that you have something special, now is the time to go for it." Those words proved prophetic and made the transition somewhat easier for his mother to understand. "My dad was full in, I guess he was going to support me no matter what I wanted to do. I faded out of school and started to work towards becoming what I am now I guess." Admitting he always tried to figure ways to make money, he added, "I was always trying to learn marketing and business and understand the value of money, where different companies will spend money on drifting and trying to understand the market as much as I could." Conor Shanahan performing during the European Drift Masters at Mondello Park, Naas last weekend. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool. The business under 'The Shanahans' banner is very much a family affair as brother Jack also inherited the family's motorsport genes. "Jack and myself have a very good relationship, it's rare for two brothers to be at a very high level of sport and be as successful as each other and not kill each other! To be honest it's amazing for me that we can have that relationship and run a team together and drive together. We race each other hard we've always raced each other hard, the most impressive part is that we have a good friendship outside of being brothers." His recent competitive escapades took him to Orlando, Florida then back to Finland and home for some precious downtime with family and friends. He describes his itineraries as rapidly as he flicks his Toyota GT86 on the track. "At the moment it's more time in a plane than on the ground. There's not much time at home." Jack Shanahan (left) and his brother Conor seen during the final round of the 2023 Drift Masters European Championship in Warsaw, Poland. Picture: Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool . Such is his hectic schedule, he could be forgiven for bilocation. "I'm kind of based out of America and at home at the same time. It's non-stop. I spent the first three or four months of the year in the States, it was nice to get home and see my friends from Killavullen that I grew up with, nice to clear the head and do something different." He appreciates being part of the Red Bull family. "They have been amazing for my career. Outside of the financial factor they have pushed me in the right direction and I guess, be the best I can be at my sport. They're a huge fan of drifting, as are all the other companies that are involved with us. They are all very passionate about helping us to be the most successful in the sport." Although he enjoyed competing in the Rally of the Lakes earlier this year and won took a class award, he would only consider competing at the top level here in Ireland if the resources (financial package, testing) were to be put in place. "It's (rallying) not out front right now. If somebody was willing to get behind it on a financial level to be in a position where you're decently on the pace and in a Rally2 car, it would be a lot of testing, a lot of understanding of how the car works. I would be willing to give it a go, I definitely could get very fast if I had the right resources behind me." Right now though Conor is focused on Saturday's event that is a sell-out. "I hope it will open up a few doors to new spectators or new people to the sport. That's always the goal for me I guess. Drifting can be a little bit hard to understand until you see it in person and I think what Red Bull are doing with Drift Pursuit is a very good way for an audience to get a feeling of what a drift car is doing and have a race format. Kilavullen's Conor Shanahan (Toyota Starlet) and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes won Class 14 in the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes last May. Picture: Martin Walsh. "The fans are younger, the environment that people are around is something they can enjoy as a family, the kids are starting to know the characters. For sure Spike Island will definitely draw some new faces. "It's something that's never been done in Ireland or pretty much anywhere in the world. As always when Red Bull take a little bit of a risk with an event it's always absolutely amazing so I'm sure it's going to be incredible." For Conor himself, it's all part of a truly amazing and continuing journey that takes him all over the world with a little downtime in Killavullen.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Spike Island to host Red Bull Drift Pursuit this summer
Cork's iconic Spike Island will play host to one of the biggest days in the Irish motorsport calendar this year when Red Bull Drift Pursuit takes over the former military base on Saturday July 5th. With prison walls as their backdrop, 16 of the country's top drifters will go head-to-head in a fierce 1 v 1 knockout format which promises to exhilarate seasoned drift fans and newcomers alike. This is no ordinary drift event - it will test the accuracy, control and speed of each and every driver on the track, pushing them to their absolute max. Drivers are judged on two key criteria; course time and clipping points, with penalties for any infringements. Emerging talent from the Irish drift scene will be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in motorsport in Red Bull athletes Conor Shanahan and Josh McErlean. 9 DRFIT KING: Red Bull drifter Conor Shanahan will once again compete in Drift Pursuit Credit: RED BULL 9 ICONIC SETTING: Red Bull Drift Pursuit will take place on Cork's Spike Island Credit: RED BULL 9 WRC STAR: M-Sport Ford World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean will be bringing his Puma Rally1 car to Cork Credit: RED BULL Both drivers will perform on the day, alongside Conor's brother Jack, delivering explosive demos that blend the rally power of Josh's M-Sport World Rally Ford Puma with the drifting precision of Conor's Toyota GT86 in a one-of-a-kind, gearbox-shredding display. The event kicks off at 6.45pm, finishing at 8.30pm. Tickets are on sale now on the Red Bull website, priced at €45 for a standing ticket and €55 for a seated ticket. Ferry transfers from Ringaskiddy or Cobh are included in the ticket, with ferries running throughout the day. On the announcement, Cork drifter and Red Bull athlete Conor Shanahan said: 'As a proud Corkman, it is incredible to see a drift event like this take place at such an iconic location like Spike Island. Some of the best drifters in Ireland will be competing, and I know Jack and I are looking forward to putting on a show.' 9 ISLAND BOYS: Cork natives Jack and Conor Shanahan will both be competing and taking part in a Q&A session before the events blasts off at 6:45pm Credit: RED BULL 9 IN A SPIN: Action from Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick last May Credit: RED BULL 9 RAGING BULLS: Conor Shanahan competing at fthe Drift Masters European Championship Credit: RED BULL Before the action kicks off, spectators can avail of Spike Island tours to learn more about the island's rich history as a naval base and more recently as a prison. Drift Masters Conor and Jack Shanahan will be doing a Q&A alongside WRC star Josh McErlean, while the drivers' paddock will also be open to spectators keen to get a closer look at the action. There are four Cork drivers among those set to compete at Red Bull Drift Pursuit, with Aidan Dennehy, Owen Magner, Trevor Healy and Alan Hynes, the 2024 Red Bull Drift Pursuit champion, all sure to benefit from a vocal local support. Most read in Motors 9 2024 DRIFT PURSUIT CHAMP: Alan Hynes seen at the Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick Credit: RED BULL 2025 grid competing in Red Bull Drift Pursuit DRIVERS LINE-UP Stephen Halferty (Derry) Aidan Dennehy (Cork) Alex Butler (Louth) Owen Magner (Cork) Colin O'Sullivan (Kerry) Trevor Healy (Cork) Jack Caldwell (Tyrone) Alan Hynes (Cork) *2024 RBDP Champ Davan Leahy (Waterford) Jake Davey (Galway) Sean Carson (Tyrone) Jakub Krzyszczak (Waterford) Harry Kerr (Antrim) Tom Hayden (Kildare) Erikas Navickas (Kildare) Alan O'Loghlen (Galway) Peter Molloy (Down) Craig Searles (Limerick) An unforgettable evening of speed and skill in the historic surroundings of Spike Island awaits. To keep up to date with all things Red Bull Drift Pursuit, follow @redbullire on Instagram and TikTok or visit : What is Red Bull Drift Pursuit? Red Bull Drift Pursuit is a unique 1v1 drift battle competition, which will take place this year on Spike Island, Co. Cork. This is the competition's second year, having made its debut at Limerick Greyhound Stadium in 2024. Getting to Spike Island The only way to get to Spike Island for the event is by ferry. The ferry transfer to Spike Island is included in your ticket. Ferries will depart from Cobh and Ringaskiddy piers. Departure/Return time and location are selected at point of purchase. No other means of travel to Spike Island for the event will be permitted. 9 ACTION PACKED: Competitors seen at the Red Bull Drift Pursuit in Limerick Credit: RED BULL TICKET SALES: Both standing and seated tickets are available and return ferry is included in the ticket price. Tickets are priced €55 (seated) and €45 (standing) including booking fees. Tickets are on sale now via: Ferry information: There are two options for your ferry transfer. 1: The Ringaskiddy ferry will depart from Paddy's Point, 2: The Cobh ferry will depart from Kennedy Pier, There will be car parking options at both ferry departure points. Please arrive at the pier 10-15 minutes before your ferry/ticket booking. Passengers must be on time for their booked time slot/ferry departure. Due to limited capacity, no alternative ferry departure will be offered. Passengers cannot leave the island before their designated return ferry. No changes can be made to ferry departure points or times after purchase. Children: Red Bull Drift Pursuit is suitable for all age groups. Children of all ages will require a standard seating or standing ticket. Please note that this is an outdoor motorsports event with some walking between the ferry and event site, so please dress appropriately, expect loud noises and bring relevant ear protection, particularly for children. Accesibility: The event is wheelchair friendly. Activity on Spike Island: Guided tours of Spike Island are included with the ticket and are available throughout the day, or you can explore the prison without a guide. There will be food and drink outlets on site with picnic tables; picnic and picnic blankets are welcome and visitors can bring their own picnics or snacks to the island to eat. Read more on the Irish Sun Alcohol and glassware/glass bottles of any sort are not permitted to be brought to the event. There will be alcohol on sale in the Spike Island café. Drones are not permitted to be used at the event. More information, including the event map and schedule of events can be found on the Red Bull website at: 9 LE THE GAMES BEGIN: Red Bull Drift Pursuit will get underway on July 5 Credit: RED BULL
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Notorious Irish prison island to host unique sporting event
Spike Island, the site of a notorious prison that remained in use until 2004, will this summer host a unique sporting event. The island will play host to one of the biggest days in the Irish motorsport calendar this year when Red Bull Drift Pursuit takes over the former military base on Saturday July 5th. The event will see 16 of the country's top drifters go head-to-head in a fierce 1v1 knockout format, with the storied prison walls as their backdrop. It will test the accuracy, control and speed of each and every driver on the track, pushing them to their absolute max. Drivers will be judged on two key criteria; course time and clipping points, with penalties for any infringements. Emerging talent from the Irish drift scene will be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in motorsport in Red Bull athletes, Conor Shanahan and Josh McErlean. Both drivers will perform on the day, alongside Conor's brother Jack, delivering explosive demos that blend the rally power of Josh's M-Sport World Rally Ford Puma with the drifting precision of Conor's Toyota GT86 in a one-of-a-kind, gearbox-shredding display. The event kicks off at 6.45pm and finishes at 8.30pm, and tickets are on sale now on the Red Bull website, priced at €45 for a standing ticket and €55 for a seated ticket. Ferry transfers from Ringaskiddy or Cobh are included in the ticket, with ferries running throughout the day. Cork drifter and Red Bull athlete Conor Shanahan said: 'As a proud Corkman, it is incredible to see a drift event like this take place at such an iconic location like Spike Island. 'Some of the best drifters in Ireland will be competing, and I know Jack and I are looking forward to putting on a show.' Before the action kicks off, spectators can avail of Spike Island tours to learn more about the island's rich history as a naval base and more recently as a prison. Drift Masters Conor and Jack Shanahan will do a Q&A alongside WRC star Josh McErlean, while the drivers' paddock will also be open to spectators keen to get a closer look at the action. There are four Cork drivers among those set to compete at Red Bull Drift Pursuit - with Aidan Dennehy, Owen Magner, Trevor Healy and Alan Hynes. Follow @redbullire on Instagram and TikTok or visit for more information.
