Organised in partnership with the Hellenic Motor Sport Federation (OMAE), the FIA Member Membership in Greece, the sixth version of the competitors guarantees a extremely aggressive discipline, with 13 nations additionally contesting the Nations Cup, which runs alongside the person competitors.
Organised in partnership with the Hellenic Motor Sport Federation (OMAE), the FIA Member Membership in Greece, the sixth version of the competitors guarantees a extremely aggressive discipline, with 13 nations additionally contesting the Nations Cup, which runs alongside the person competitors.
The 2026 version can even mark a milestone within the historical past of the FIA IDC, as Eva Ivanov and Alice Ene develop into the primary feminine drivers to compete within the occasion.
Romanian driver Alice Ene isn’t any stranger to Serres Circuit, having set a Guinness World Report on the venue in 2021 when she turned the youngest feminine driver to win a Drift King Worldwide Collection occasion, aged simply 14 years and 79 days. Eva Ivanov additionally brings precious aggressive expertise, having completed runner-up within the Georgian championship in 2025 and secured greater than 15 top-eight leads to drifting competitions.
The energy of the entry checklist is additional underlined by the presence of 14 drivers who’ve beforehand claimed nationwide championship titles, bringing collectively established rivals and rising abilities from throughout the worldwide drifting scene.
Among the many main contenders is Lithuania’s Benediktas Cirba, a a number of Lithuanian and Baltic champion famend for his aggressive driving fashion and technical precision. Following a robust 2026 season, Cirba will likely be trying to carry his momentum into the FIA IDC on the wheel of his BMW G42.
Switzerland’s Yves Meyer makes his return to the competitors, having completed runner-up on the 2018 FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup. Driving his distinctive Toyota GR Yaris, Meyer arrives in Greece following title-winning campaigns in each Italy and Germany, making him one of many skilled contenders to observe.
Representing France, Mathias Locatelli will make his FIA IDC look recent from securing the 2026 French Drift Championship title within the Elite class, following a season marked by consistency and robust performances.
Dwelling hopes will embody Stavros Gryllis, a former Drift Masters European Championship competitor who has continued to determine himself on the worldwide stage. The Greek driver completed runner-up within the 2026 Polish Drifting Championship and will likely be trying to take advantage of residence benefit behind the wheel of his BMW M2.
EXPANDING THE INTERNATIONAL REACH OF DRIFTING
As one of many fastest-growing disciplines in motor sport, drifting continues to draw rivals and audiences worldwide. Not like most FIA-sanctioned disciplines, outcomes are decided not by the stopwatch however by the drivers’ capacity to exhibit precision, automotive management and technical ability.
For the second consecutive yr, FIA Sport Member Golf equipment referred to as Nationwide Sporting Authorities (ASNs), have been given the chance to appoint rivals for the FIA IDC. Launched in 2025, this initiative types a part of the FIA’s wider dedication to rising worldwide participation and supporting the event of drifting via nearer engagement with its ASNs.
First held in Japan in 2017, the FIA IDC returned to Tokyo in 2018 earlier than transferring to Tsukuba Circuit in 2019, with Georgy Chivchyan claiming back-to-back victories. The competitors subsequently expanded past Japan, transferring to Latvia in 2021, the place James Deane took the title, earlier than returning to Riga in 2025, when native driver Nikolass Bertāns claimed victory.
The transfer to Greece marks one other step within the competitors’s worldwide growth, with the 2026 entry checklist surpassing the earlier file of 45 drivers set final yr.
Along with the person title, the Nations Cup will deliver one other aggressive dimension to the weekend. Greece, Ukraine, Türkiye, France, Switzerland, Romania, Latvia, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Egypt, Italy and Hungary will every discipline a number of drivers, making them eligible to compete for the title.
The Nations Cup classification will likely be decided utilizing the 2 highest-scoring drivers from every eligible nation, primarily based on their qualifying scores and ultimate Prime 32 positions.
The occasion will get underway on Friday, 13 November, with the primary of two follow periods, forward of qualifying on Saturday, 14 November. The motion concludes on Sunday, 15 November, with a devoted tandem follow session adopted by the Prime 32 elimination battles, culminating within the crowning of the 2026 FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup winner.
DECODING DRIFTING: ANGLE, ACCURACY AND SPEED
Not like typical circuit racing, drifting is a judged self-discipline wherein drivers are assessed on their capacity to keep up management of their vehicles whereas sliding via a prescribed course.
Throughout qualifying, drivers full solo runs evaluated on standards together with line, angle and elegance. Opponents should comply with the designated trajectory whereas sustaining the suitable drift angle and precisely negotiating clipping factors and zones outlined by the judges.
The highest 32 qualifiers progress to the tandem elimination battles, the place two drivers compete towards one another, alternating between lead and chase positions. The chasing driver should comply with the chief as carefully as doable, matching their line and angle whereas avoiding contact. A majority resolution from the judging panel determines which driver progresses to the following spherical.
Qualifying and the Prime 32 battles will likely be livestreamed on the FIA IDC YouTube channel, permitting followers around the globe to comply with the motion from Serres Circuit.
FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup winners so far:
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2017, Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan: Masato Kawabata
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2018, Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan: Georgy Chivchyan
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2019, Tsukuba Circuit, Japan: Georgy Chivchyan
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2021, Biķernieki, Riga, Latvia: James Deane
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2025, Biķernieki, Riga, Latvia: Nikolass Bertāns
