Everything you need to know about drifting

Drifting is a driving technique that involves covering the whole distance at a high speed. This discipline is a unique sport that has been gaining more and more popularity throughout the years. If you saw an oversteering car that covers the turning point at a high speed by maintaining control with loss of traction, then it was probably drifting. What peculiarities does this discipline have?

General information

The goal in drifting is to drive through corners at the highest speed possible in a controlled skid with the rear axle of the wheels spinning off. The front wheels are turned in the opposite direction at all times. Drifting competitions, which usually take place on specially prepared tracks, evaluate the performance and style of driving, as well as the ability and skill of the driver.

This motorsport implies high-speed driving not only in straight lines but also in bends. The skill level of a drift car is defined by how effectively the driver makes the turn and if he meets all the demands of the competition organizers.

Each turn must have a skidding car and its further sliding in order to pass the track qualitatively. In order to perform a stunt at high speed, the driver makes sure that the rear wheels of the car have lost traction with the track and began to slip.

The driver uses special techniques that allow the car to move sideways, while maintaining a certain angle of the skid, so that the car is not turned around. Often, the track has a special marking, beyond which the pilot should not go. Otherwise, he either loses points or receives penalty points.

Types of drifting

Nowadays, drifting is not just sliding into a corner and driving fast. There are several classifications of this kind of motorsport:

• Simple circuit racing. Often it is a track in the form of an oval or a circle;
• A race on a winding road with alternating turns of different angles and lengths;
• The track with a mixed type of surface and all sorts of turns. Considered to be the most challenging level even for professionals.

In every country the Japanese extreme has blended with the local culture and therefore, different drifting styles have emerged.

Races

There are two types of races: singles and doubles. The winner is usually determined in several races. In singles races the judges give a certain number of points to the rider, depending on the speed, trajectory, angle of the skid and the spectacle of the race as a whole.

In the pair races the first participant must pass the evaluated section in accordance with the task (most often by the most correct trajectory), the task of the second participant is as close as possible to his rival while driving in the drift, to make synchronous shifts.

To determine the winner of both races, the rules are the same in the second race, but the opponents change places. The winner is the driver who drove closer and better, being “caught up”. Also, if both races were flawless or the number of errors of both pilots are totaled the same, the judges may order a re-run.

Several parameters are taken into account when evaluating a rider’s performance:

• the trajectory of the section of the track being evaluated. There are specially designated points by the judges, passing near which the driver can get the maximum number of points, or get penalty points by committing errors;
• skidding angle when driving on the section being assessed (the greater the angle, the higher the score);
• speed of movement;
• entertainment and style (evaluated additionally).

If the competitors could not surpass one another, a series of additional runs called “One More Time” is carried out until the superiority is obvious. At the same time, if the spectators do not agree with the decision of the judges, they can challenge it by shouting.

Basic drifting techniques

Since drifting is a popular sport, there are different techniques that can be used by drifters.

• Using the handbrake. Before turning, the driver activates the handbrake and immediately releases it. At the same time, he turns the steering wheel to the side opposite to the anticipated skid. The car begins to slide, and control of the vehicle is exercised by turning the steering wheel to the side of the skid and using the throttle.
• Using the clutch. The technique is performed by pressing and abruptly releasing the clutch pedal. The effect is similar to the previous one.
• Drifting with all wheels. To do this, the driver slightly engages the brake. Each wheel loses traction with the road surface and then is controlled with the accelerator pedal.
• Another method that allows drivers to move the stern of the car in different directions. It requires high speed and S-turns to perform.
• This style involves pressing hard on the brake pedal just before entering a corner. Thus, the driver pulls the rear wheels off the road and lets them slip.
• Dynamic trick. Before entering the turn, drifters sharply throttle and turn is controlled by frequent pressing on the brake and turning the steering wheel.
• Using Power. This method is suitable for powerful drift cars. Before turn, the driver sharply presses accelerator pedal to the floor, thus pulling rear wheels off (by the way, it is easier to make a drift in rear-drive car, but real pro will drive any car effectively). The driver periodically presses and drops the accelerator pedal to exit the drift.
• Side drifting. After the rear has lost traction, the driver steers the vehicle sideways, but by pressing the gas pedal and turning the steering wheel he does not allow the car to turn completely.
• The vehicle is swung sharply to one side or the other to pull all the wheels off the track.
• “Bagel” or “donut”. This is drifting in one place. The front of the car is at one point and the stern rotates around.

History of drifting

Drifting originated and gained popularity in Japan. It was a street car sport. In order to minimize the number of accidents, the preparation for the competition and the race itself took place on the mountain serpentine sections.

Throughout the 1970s to the late 1990s it was treated as a banned sport. However, it was later officially recognized and attributed to other varieties of motorsports. Among fans of extreme kinds of driving drifting gained popularity in spite of the fact that it had been prohibited by the authorities.

Cinematography fueled the interest to this culture. One of the founders of the style was Keiichi Tsuchiya. He starred in the film in 1987, and demonstrated the beauty of this driving style. He also appeared in a cameo in the movie Tokyo Drift (a scene where fishermen watched Sean practice on the pier).

In 2018, German racers set a world record, which was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The BMW M5 drifted for a full eight hours and covered 374 kilometers.

All in all, drifting is a fascinating motorsport that attracts many adrenaline seekers who love driving at high speed and performing different stunts. Although this discipline appeared not long ago, it is now one of the most flourishing motorsports in the world.