Local talent Duane to compete for Irish Drift Championship title this weekend

Duane McKeever, 20, won a car in a raffle after his uncle bought him a ticket at age 12, but is now on the verge of winning the championship in front of 25,000 fans at Mondello Park in County Kildare.

“This is the fifth and final round of the championship,” said Duane, who won the championship in 2014.

“There are just six points in it, but that’s not really anything - it is all about who performs on the day.”

Duane’s main opponent will be Cork’s Jack Shanahan who won the last round.

“I had a bit of bother with the car last time out and in the end needed to borrow another one. It really will be down to the wire on Sunday.

“It’ll be two days of practice and then it is into qualifying battles with the final made up of two runs.

“Drifting is supposed to be the fastest-growing motorsport in the world. The money put into the cars is just unbelievable.”