What is drifting?

Full-size drifting competitions consist of drivers controlling their car around a racing circuit to gain style points from judges and spectators. The more style, drift angle, tyre smoke and noise you can maintain around a fixed course, the more points you get! Drifting isn’t about crossing the finish line first, it’s about showing off to the crowd and getting more cheers than the other guy!

To get a car to physically drift around a corner, the driver puts power to the rear tyres to break traction and swing around the rear end of the car, whilst still accelerating the car forward through the turn. Using the throttle, precise steering and subtle braking, the driver maintains the drift around the turn and guides the car to the next turn.

Of course, drifting isn’t just about getting around the track – the look, the style and upgrading the drift car is half the fun of being involved with the drifting lifestyle! Fabulous graphics, deep-dish wheels, loads of chrome, fat exhausts and wild, unique styling are all part of the show.

For some car fans, the driving and skill is what's important to them, and showing off extreme angles while burning up a set of tyres around the corners is what gets a big grin on their face. For others, the clean and polish of a finely crafted machine is how they get their kicks, and checking out the detail and extent of customization on their own car or someone else's is what really gets them going! The beauty of the drifting and import racing scene is that it can easily accomodate both extremes of car nut: the driver or the detail geek!