Japfest & Irish Drift Series Round 1 – A Day to Remember at Mondello Park

The 2025 season launched in spectacular style at Mondello Park on Sunday 13th April, with the opening round of the Irish Drift Series (IDS) running alongside Japfest, Ireland’s biggest celebration of Japanese car culture. From start to finish, it was a high-energy, high-impact showcase of motorsport, engineering, and the passionate community behind it all.

Stone Motorsport was proud to be part of the event — supporting drivers on track, connecting with customers in the paddock, and showcasing the performance and reliability of our performance fittings, braided hoses, fuel, oil and brake line systems under real-world racing conditions.

McKeever Edges Out Akiba in a World-Class Final

In an unforgettable climax to the weekend, Duane McKeever claimed victory over Ryusei Akiba in a wet-weather final that demonstrated both technical skill and composure. Akiba had travelled all the way from Japan and impressed throughout the event, pushing Duane right to the edge — but in the end, McKeever delivered a precise, clinical final run in the rain to take the win. With that, McKeever leads the Irish Drift Series standings heading into Round 2, and the season is well and truly underway.

Maxflo-Supported Drivers: Performance Under Pressure

Three Maxflo-backed drivers competed in Round 1 — each delivering strong performances and demonstrating the track-ready reliability of our components.

Dave Egan – A90 Supra

Dave Egan returned to competition in his newly prepared A90 Supra. Dave advanced to the semi-finals while simultaneously testing new chassis and BC Coilover settings ahead of the 2025 Drift Masters season — a testament to both his skill and the capability of his setup under evolving conditions.

Josh Holdsworth – Precision and Pace in the S14

Josh delivered a solid performance in his Nissan S14, equipped with Maxflo AN brake lines and fittings. In the Top 32 battle against Lee McFadden, judges called for a One More Time — a reflection of how close the driving was. On the deciding chase run, Josh dipped a rear wheel into the gravel and bowed out, but not before showing pace and control throughout the day.

Brendan Stone – Safety and Sportsmanship

Brendan Stone took to the track in his Lexus GS300, better known as the Drift Taxi, facing Owen Magner in the Top 32. After contact in the first run, the Stone Motorsport crew worked quickly under the 5 minute rule to get the car race-ready. Brendan returned to the start line and needed to demonstrate one transition to move into the next round. However Brendan noticed that despite best efforts the front left tyre was running and prompted him to retire the car — a mature decision prioritising safety and fairness over a risky second run.

Maxflo Motorsport heading to Drift Masters with the Drift Games Team

A standout moment from the weekend was the unveiling of Conor Falvey’s new S15, revealed on Sunday to much anticipation. The car marks the final piece in the Drift Games 2025 Drift Masters Championship lineup, and it did not disappoint. With a fresh livery, top-tier components, and a proven driver behind the wheel, it’s clear the team is making a serious push this season. The attention to detail on the build drew a crowd — and rightly so — as the S15 now joins one of the most competitive driver rosters in Europe.

Japfest 2025 – A Showcase of JDM Passion and Precision

Alongside the Irish Drift Series, Japfest 2025 offered a full display of Japanese performance engineering. With over 500 JDM cars on display, it was a celebration of everything from vintage icons to track-focused builds and rare imports.

Maxflo fittings and hose systems could be seen across the paddock — a reflection of our position as a trusted name among Ireland’s drift and performance community. Whether on competition cars or show builds, our products continue to deliver reliability, adaptability, and style.

Why Builders Choose Maxflo

Every Maxflo component is engineered with motorsport in mind:

AN Fittings – Secure, high-pressure systems for fuel, oil, and cooling.
Braided Brake Lines – For improved pedal feel, consistency, and safety.
Fuel & Oil Line Kits – Customisable, durable, and compatible with E85 setups.

From grassroots builds to professional competition cars, our range is built to withstand the demands of motorsport and the expectations of the drivers who compete.

Shop Maxflo Performance Products

Explore our track-tested range:

All available with fast delivery across Ireland and Europe.

Looking Ahead

As the Irish Drift Series heads into Round 2 and the 2025 motorsport calendar builds momentum, Maxflo remains committed to supporting the community — through innovation, performance parts, and on-the-ground presence at the country’s leading events.

To the drivers, teams, mechanics, and fans — thank you for making events like this possible. We’ll see you at the next round.

Irish Drift Series Round 1 Mondello Report