The fifth Debrecen Drive, Hungary‘s largest automotive and vehicle industry event, will start on the 23rd of May.
The Debrecen Drive, now held for the fifth time, awaits its visitors on more than 50,000 square meters, with a professional conference, spectacular vehicle presentations, family programs and a lot of car wonders, starting on the 23rd of May. True to tradition, it will begin with a spectacular opening event: the Metal-Sheet Night Drive show will kick off the three-day program series on Friday evening.
Debrecen Drive offers a program for all ages – not only extraordinarily spectacular, but also unique. In addition to more than 250 brand new saloon cars and around 800 different vehicles, visitors can take part in interactive presentations, spectacular shows and exciting family programs.
The audience in Debrecen can see for the first time the world-class Ferrari clothing collection of Csaba Krajnyák. In addition to genuine shirts, T-shirts, jackets and coats, the collection also includes special decorations, as the life-size totems of former and current drivers make the exhibition more interactive. Those who missed it last year must see the Junior Car collection brought by Nemes Pedal Cars, one of the largest private collections of pedal and junior cars in the world, the exhibited pieces will take us back to childhood.
The emergency police helicopter will be in the middle of the Nagyerdei Stadium on Sunday morning and will leave the area at 1:30 pm, so we can also watch the takeoff.
2035? – IMPACTS AND COUNTER-IMPACTS
Conference and Professional Forum in Hungarian
Between 9 am and 3 pm on the 23rd of May 2025
Organizers:
- University of Debrecen
- Debrecen Campus Nonprofit Public Benefit Ltd.
Co-organizers:
- Hajdú-Bihar County branch of the National Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers
- National Association of Young Entrepreneurs
Conference location:
Nagyerdei Stadium, Press Conference Hall, ground floor
12 Nagyerdei park Debrecen
Aim of the conference:
The automotive conference and professional forum organized at Debrecen Drive will address the key issues of the automotive transition up to 2035. During the day, experts, policy makers and industry leaders will explore trends in the transition between conventional and electric fleets, challenges of cost efficiency, the impact of tariff wars, innovation opportunities and the future green outlook. The roundtable discussions will address questions such as whether the Trump-Musk dominoes will fall, what the future of green car manufacturing will look like, while also shedding light on the new player in the battery industry and the prospects for manufacturing in Hungary. The program, organized in cooperation with the University of Debrecen and local companies, aims to provide practical strategies and new paradigms to help successfully manage the transformation. The conference provides an opportunity for participants to share knowledge, experiences and ideas, while building new relationships and strengthening existing ones.
Participation in the conference is free, but registration is required. You can register here.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Adrenaline, smoke, sparks and flames, tire wear – Metal-Sheet Night Drive
Debrecen Drive starts with a breathtaking show – Metal-Sheet Night Drive is coming!
The opening event of the Debrecen Drive promises to be a super experience again this year: on the evening of the 23rd of May, Zoltán Szujó will lead the Metal-Sheet NIGHT DRIVE, which kicks off the country’s largest automotive festival with more and more exciting stunts every year.
The motorcycle stunt show will be presented by Balázs Erdei and Balázs Herczeg “Mókus”, while the BMX tricks will be performed by Tamás P. Nagy and students of the Velvart BMX School. Péter Hujber and the Air Raiders will perform breathtaking jumps, while Norbi Fehér and Attila Rövid will race in front of the audience on go-karts.
Drifting enthusiasts will also be in for a thrilling time, as the smoking tyres and hair-raising corners will be dominated by names such as Zsolt Hetyési and Tamás Treitl, as well as two “Drive-newbie” who will be taking part in the Debrecen Drive for the first time: Bertalan Bilik, Hungarian pro drift driver and two-time Hungarian champion, and Kevin Piskolty, multiple Hungarian and international champion.
The Night Drive and the weekend Drive Shows will also feature several additional elements, including a powerlifting performance by László Fekete and a multi-award-winning pole-vaulting and pole-art performer Zsófia Székey, who has qualified for the European and World Championships.
Fun for the whole family – concerts, children’s activities and exciting competitions
Children can get a glimpse into the world of Formula 1: young teams will compete against each other at the Schaeffler Mini Drive, led by Tamás Szabó and Dia Nyári. One of the most popular events on Saturday will be the “box derby”, which will take the world of creative vehicle racing to a new level.
The competition will be fun not only for the little ones, but also for the big ones.
On the main stage, Zoltán Bereczki will give a concert, while the little ones will be entertained by Jakab Cap’s show, and László Fekete and Miklós Fekete will also present their power arts.
This year, teams from companies and organizations such as Krones, Prison Service, DKV, Poolwelding, Játékidő Recreation Sports Association, Schaeffler, Készgép / Magi-Építő Kft, DSZC, University of Debrecen-Gravic Hungary, University of Debrecen-Harro Hölfiger will be participating.
Other activities include children’s favorites: Hot-Wheels Shop, Crazy 5K Sprint (giant obstacle course – 1 lap for free), dog shows, free trolleybus, battle arena, bouncy castle, beauty salon (face painting, glitter tattooing, henna, hair braiding), craft activities, traffic simulators (traffic safety motorbike simulator, alcohol and drug prevention VR simulator, eco-driving simulator), car and traffic-themed skill games (including a controller-driven car obstacle course, a power-generating bicycle, an inverted bicycle, giant puzzles, drunken glasses challenges), laser target shooting, giant board games, electric cars, wall climbing at the Nagyerdei Water Tower, a Family on the Move competition, and even a drone and a support commando unit to entertain the whole family.
The VR Masters VR simulator room will also be open during the Drive. Free to try out simulators, you can get a taste of the games of the future while enjoying virtual reality experiences for young and old, for the whole family.
All shows, exhibits and games are included in the ticket price!
In addition to the vehicles on display, you can meet the exhibiting companies, where they have prepared a wide range of games and prizes.
Euroleasing is a major player in the Hungarian car financing sector and this year, for the first time, it has become a main sponsor of the event. Its aim is to make mobility an experience. On the KOCSI.HU stage, round-table discussions, simulator competitions and a series of events
Celeb run at Debrecen Drive again – celebrities behind the wheel
Debrecen Drive’s unmissable program is back again this year: the Celeb run! At the popular event, well-known public figures and stars will take the wheel to test their driving skills on a special, even trickier track. The race is guaranteed to be a thrilling and laugh-filled experience, with participants making sure they are in good spirits as they test themselves behind the wheel. Betti Gábor, Milán Koósz, Gabo Pumped, Becsületesnepper, István Vályi, Laci Fekete and Zolee Ganxsta will be behind the wheel.
Alföld Television’s summary of the 2024 Debrecen Drive event:
Further Debrecen Drive information and ticket purchase options: debrecendrive.hu