‘Tonight was the longest night of my life’ - Conor Shanahan wins European title in front of world record crowd in Warsaw

His performance also helped Ireland win the Nations Cup, the award given to the country that produces the best drivers, beating big-hitters Finland and Poland to the crown on a track laid in the national soccer stadium in the heart of Warsaw.

It is the first time the 20-year-old has won the title, having finished second in 2021 and third in 2022.

On a weekend where world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera qualified on pole, the Irish in action had a slow start as Jack Shanahan and Tyrone native Duane McKeever were knocked out in the round of 32.

That left the younger Shanahan in the hot-seat to maintain his lead atop the championship standings and carry Irish hopes in front of a crowd of 53,000, with around 6,000 Irish fans among the biggest crowd in the history of drifting, one of the world’s fastest-growing codes of motorsport.

Shanahan needed to finish in third place to secure the championship over second-placed Lauri Heinonen. His semi-final against home hero Pawel Korpulinski was incredibly tight, leading to the three judges opting for a replay. That put the pressure on the Corkman, as Heinonen had in the interim sealed his spot in the final, meaning Shanahan had to progress past the last-four to seal the European title.

But the pressure did not get to him, as despite the support of the full house at the PGE Narodowy Stadium, the Polish hero was edged by Shanahan, meaning the championship was the Irishman’s.

To top it off, Shanahan defeated Heinonen in he grand final, winning his second stage of the six-round season and helping Ireland win the Nations Cup.

“This was the longest night of my life. I have wanted this since I was a kid, and I dedicate this championship to my mam and dad,” said Shanahan. “For everybody who has been a part of my journey since I was 12 years of age, thank you.”