Organised in partnership with the Hellenic Motor Sport Federation (OMAE), the FIA Member Club in Greece, the sixth edition of the competition promises a highly competitive field, with 13 nations also contesting the Nations Cup, which runs alongside the individual competition.
Organised in partnership with the Hellenic Motor Sport Federation (OMAE), the FIA Member Club in Greece, the sixth edition of the competition promises a highly competitive field, with 13 nations also contesting the Nations Cup, which runs alongside the individual competition.
The 2026 edition will also mark a milestone in the history of the FIA IDC, as Eva Ivanov and Alice Ene become the first female drivers to compete in the event.
Romanian driver Alice Ene is no stranger to Serres Circuit, having set a Guinness World Record at the venue in 2021 when she became the youngest female driver to win a Drift King International Series event, aged just 14 years and 79 days. Eva Ivanov also brings valuable competitive experience, having finished runner-up in the Georgian championship in 2025 and secured more than 15 top-eight results in drifting competitions.
The strength of the entry list is further underlined by the presence of 14 drivers who have previously claimed national championship titles, bringing together established competitors and emerging talents from across the international drifting scene.
Among the leading contenders is Lithuania’s Benediktas Cirba, a multiple Lithuanian and Baltic champion renowned for his aggressive driving style and technical precision. Following a strong 2026 season, Cirba will be looking to carry his momentum into the FIA IDC at the wheel of his BMW G42.
Switzerland’s Yves Meyer makes his return to the competition, having finished runner-up at the 2018 FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup. Driving his distinctive Toyota GR Yaris, Meyer arrives in Greece following title-winning campaigns in both Italy and Germany, making him one of the experienced contenders to watch.
Representing France, Mathias Locatelli will make his FIA IDC appearance fresh from securing the 2026 French Drift Championship title in the Elite category, following a season marked by consistency and strong performances.
Home hopes will include Stavros Gryllis, a former Drift Masters European Championship competitor who has continued to establish himself on the international stage. The Greek driver finished runner-up in the 2026 Polish Drifting Championship and will be looking to make the most of home advantage behind the wheel of his BMW M2.
EXPANDING THE INTERNATIONAL REACH OF DRIFTING
As one of the fastest-growing disciplines in motor sport, drifting continues to attract competitors and audiences worldwide. Unlike most FIA-sanctioned disciplines, results are determined not by the stopwatch but by the drivers’ ability to demonstrate precision, car control and technical skill.
For the second consecutive year, FIA Sport Member Clubs known as National Sporting Authorities (ASNs), have been given the opportunity to nominate competitors for the FIA IDC. Introduced in 2025, this initiative forms part of the FIA’s wider commitment to increasing international participation and supporting the development of drifting through closer engagement with its ASNs.
First held in Japan in 2017, the FIA IDC returned to Tokyo in 2018 before moving to Tsukuba Circuit in 2019, with Georgy Chivchyan claiming back-to-back victories. The competition subsequently expanded beyond Japan, moving to Latvia in 2021, where James Deane took the title, before returning to Riga in 2025, when local driver Nikolass Bertāns claimed victory.
The move to Greece marks another step in the competition’s international development, with the 2026 entry list surpassing the previous record of 45 drivers set last year.
In addition to the individual title, the Nations Cup will bring another competitive dimension to the weekend. Greece, Ukraine, Türkiye, France, Switzerland, Romania, Latvia, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Egypt, Italy and Hungary will each field multiple drivers, making them eligible to compete for the title.
The Nations Cup classification will be determined using the two highest-scoring drivers from each eligible nation, based on their qualifying scores and final Top 32 positions.
The event gets underway on Friday, 13 November, with the first of two practice sessions, ahead of qualifying on Saturday, 14 November. The action concludes on Sunday, 15 November, with a dedicated tandem practice session followed by the Top 32 elimination battles, culminating in the crowning of the 2026 FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup winner.
DECODING DRIFTING: ANGLE, ACCURACY AND SPEED
Unlike conventional circuit racing, drifting is a judged discipline in which drivers are assessed on their ability to maintain control of their cars while sliding through a prescribed course.
During qualifying, drivers complete solo runs evaluated on criteria including line, angle and style. Competitors must follow the designated trajectory while maintaining the appropriate drift angle and accurately negotiating clipping points and zones defined by the judges.
The top 32 qualifiers progress to the tandem elimination battles, where two drivers compete against each other, alternating between lead and chase positions. The chasing driver must follow the leader as closely as possible, matching their line and angle while avoiding contact. A majority decision from the judging panel determines which driver progresses to the next round.
Qualifying and the Top 32 battles will be livestreamed on the FIA IDC YouTube channel, allowing fans around the world to follow the action from Serres Circuit.
FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup winners to date:
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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
