How to learn to drift with rear wheel drive. Drift: from history to... theory

10.05.202027.05.2017

Repeating difficult movie stunts in your own car can lead to unexpected consequences. Many stuntmen approach such serious operations after long hours of training. Similar procedures include drifting on front-wheel drive.

For execution, in some cases it is necessary to first prepare the car. This will ensure the safety of the driver and also make it slightly easier to make a dangerous turn.

Typically, drift is called a controlled skid performed on a car. If the car has a front-wheel drive, then this circumstance makes it difficult to obtain a predictable result, especially for a beginner.

Practice shows that there are several options for drifting with front-wheel drive. Although the trick was originally created for cars with a classic arrangement of drive wheels, and the front axle acted as a guide.

The difficulties of front-wheel drive cars lie in the fact that the initial task of the front axle is not only to control, but also to provide traction to the entire vehicle. This position gives the car greater stability than that of the “classic”.

Controlled drift theory

Before the trick with front-wheel drive cars, there was doubt whether it was possible to drift with front-wheel drive. After all, at the moment of skidding, the wheels are separated from the road surface, and the orientation of one axis relative to the other is also transferred.

You need to know that the key to successful front drifting is to minimize the contact patch of the rear axle wheels with the road surface, while simultaneously increasing the contact patch and grip for the front pair.

Even experts say that it can be extremely difficult to keep a car in this position, in contrast to the classic arrangement. The driver must concentrate as much as possible on the speed of the rear axle, while all adjustments to the front axle are made using the accelerator pedal and steering wheel.

Unprepared machines usually perform this exercise only briefly in the summer. For snowy winters, front drifting is much easier. However, you first need to familiarize yourself with the technique in theory by watching successful and unsuccessful videos.

Skid technique

A driver who can competently perform a 360 or 180 drift shows his professional skill. At the same time, the entire theoretical part must be reinforced with repeated training.

Turn 180

You need to know that if the car has a stabilizing system, it will not be possible to drift 180 degrees.

The turn is performed with the system turned off. To implement it, the following algorithm is used:

You need to accelerate the car to 50-60 km/h and squeeze the clutch (in the “classic” there is no such item), then the steering wheel turns sharply and almost simultaneously the handbrake is raised with the button held down. As a result, the car turns. Upon completion, the handbrake returns to its previous position, and the machine is stopped using the brake pedal. All this is done only at low speeds.
At a lower stage, the car must be turned into a turn and not release the accelerator pedal. At the same time, with a sharp, but not strong movement, squeeze the brake. The system does not have time to clamp the front pads due to the engine, and the rear ones are quickly blocked, resulting in a spectacular skid.
The car enters the turn at a speed above average, and a slight skid of the front wheels is allowed. The gas must be released immediately by braking with the engine. In this case, the front-wheel drive will load, the car will dive into the turn, and the rear axle will point in the desired direction.

Usually they use one of the proposed techniques after a long period of practice.

Turn 90

This operation is considered to be more complex and responsible in contrast to a 180-degree turn. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the rotation angle of the drive axle during the process. To perform the trick, the car must pick up speed, and when entering a turn, you will need to sharply apply the handbrake.

In this case, you need to control the car so that it does not go into a 180 turn. In this situation, the angle of rotation of the front axle is adjusted, and the handbrake must be released in a timely manner.

You need to know that a high proportion of success depends on the speed at which the car turns into a turn.

After installing the car in the desired position and lowering the handbrake, we switch to a lower gear and drive straight. High-quality execution requires hours of training, burnt fuel and scuffed tires.

360 turn

The ability to perform such a trick is unlikely to have practical application, however, it can be used to a greater extent to create visual effect or demonstration of professionalism.

To make an absolute turn, it is customary to use a car with powerful power plants. It is also possible to use a gearbox with a locking function.

The step-by-step algorithm consists of the following actions:

acceleration to 80-90 km/h is performed;
the maneuver begins by squeezing the clutch without releasing the accelerator pedal;
We switch the gearbox to a lower gear and sharply twist the steering wheel;
The handbrake must be raised, but the button on it must not be released;
the car begins to turn, and when the angle reaches 180 you will need to return the handbrake down, depress the clutch pedal and press the gas pedal.

Helping the car with the steering wheel and clutch, we redirect it in a circle. Actions worked out to the point of automaticity look very impressive and are worth all the hours spent on preparation.

Difficulties of an asphalt turn

The easiest time for drifting is winter period. This is especially important for cars with front-wheel drive. For a summer asphalt track, you need to pre-prepare your car.

The following operations are performed:

suspension tuning;
adjusting the tension of the handbrake;
increasing the efficiency of the engine, it is preferable to use the most powerful power plant;
the drive axle is equipped with wide rubber, providing maximum grip on the surface;
The rear axle gets narrower tires for easier lift off the road.

For those who do not plan to exhibit their car at specialized competitions for such stunts, it is enough to train in their own car. In this case, minimal adjustments are made.

The rear axle is equipped with a special board that ensures smooth sliding and sufficient wheel locking. A similar effect can be achieved by installing “bald” tires on the rear axle, and at the same time slopes with high-quality treads are mounted forward.

Using proper turning technique

The handbrake is tightened and the wheels are blocked from rotating as much as possible. You need to start at first speed, but the brake lever does not loosen. The driver will have the right feeling of skidding even at low speeds, as the rear axle actually slides along the surface. Correct control depends on the operation of the accelerator and steering wheel.

You need to know that when the car skids, the driver must turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid, and also apply the gas a little.

With bald stingrays, it is enough to reach 60 km/h, and then raise the handbrake, then the car will go into a skid, it will need to be leveled with the steering wheel and the gas pedal.

Drift(transliteration from English) Drift= “drift”) - a cornering technique and a type of motorsport characterized by cornering with a deliberate stall of the rear axle and their passage in a controlled skid at the maximum speed possible to maintain on the track. In most cases, skidding around corners is not the fastest way.
This article describes the history of drifting, drifting competitions, basic techniques in drifting

Using skidding in rally

Originally from Japan, but widespread in other countries. The winner is usually determined in several races. The first participant starts and the second participant starts immediately behind him. The winner is the one who reaches the finish line first, or the difference in time when crossing the finish line is calculated. For example, if the second racer managed to stay on the tail of the first, then he is considered the winner. In the second race, the rules are the same, but the opponents change places. Such races often take place on the Del Dios Highway in California, and on Mount Haruna, located on the island of Honshu in Japan.

The legendary Japanese racer Takahashi Kunimitsu became famous for his impeccably high-speed passage of the so-called “apexes” (from the English. apex- “top, top” - the place in the turn when the car is closest to inside road before turning), and then saving high speed passing the entire turn using “drift”. His aggressive technique earned him victories in many competitions, as well as crowds of fans who enjoyed the spectacle of burning tires while driving at high speed.

Street racer Keiichi Tsuchiya (土屋圭市 ?) was so fascinated by Takahashi Kunimitsu's technique that he began to practice "drifting" on the streets and quickly gained fame among the so-called "hashiriya" (racers, including street racers). ). In the 80s, several popular Japanese car magazines and tuning companies decided to make a film about Keiichi Tsuchiya's drifting skills on mountain serpentines - toge. Keiichi performed slides in the subsequently legendary Toyota Corolla Levin AE86. The film became very popular among amateur drifters, and Keiichi Tsuchiya received the nickname "dorikin" (Japaneseized Drift King - Drift King).

Drifting came to the USA only in 1996 and is practiced on specially prepared tracks, since, firstly, modification of cars is prohibited in many states, and secondly, “intentional tire slipping” is prohibited. burnout) And street racing. In Japan, drifting is used in both official and illegal competitions on mountain roads (“to:ge” in the jargon of Japanese street racers, from Japanese “to:ge” - mountain pass, mountain range).

Drifting as a motorsport

Drift is a controlled skidding of a car when the rear axle of the wheels falls off. The front wheels are always turned in the opposite direction to the turn. The car moves at an angle to the trajectory of movement, and the force that moves the car forward under normal conditions is split into two components during the turning arc during a controlled skid.

Radial: keeps the car on the curve and directed perpendicular to it.
Tangential - directed tangentially to the trajectory and carries out movement.

Moreover, it is very easy (theoretically) to redistribute the engine power invested in each component part: the greater the skid angle, the smaller the share of power goes to forward movement. And the big one is to counteract centrifugal force. And vice versa: the smaller the angle, the more dynamic the acceleration and the less force holding the car on the curve. In practice, mastering the art of drifting is quite difficult; long and hard training is required, you need to have a great feel for the car, and have excellent reactions. It is important to note that drift in the classical sense is driving on dry asphalt in a rear-wheel drive car.

Drifting competitions

Judging

The unique thing about drifting is that the competition is not against time. When assessing a driver's performance, several parameters are taken into account:

Turning trajectory - there are specially marked points, driving near which the driver can get more points than usual.
Angle to trajectory - the larger it is, the higher the score
Speed ( average speed- 130 km/h)
Showmanship and style (evaluated by judges and spectators)

If the participants were unable to surpass one another, then a number of additional races are held until the superiority is obvious. Moreover, if the audience does not agree with the decision made by the judges, they can protest it with screams and disapproving noise. And this most often works, after which an additional race is carried out.

Championships

Today, many amateur competitions are held around the world. And professional series are held in the USA, Europe, Australia and, of course, in the homeland of drifting in Japan. The most famous is the Japanese racing series D1 Grand Prix.

Since 2009, the Forumla Drift championship has expanded its horizons: Formula Drift competitions will be held in Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, St. Petersburg, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

On June 28, 2009, for the first time such competitions will be held at the Logoisk GSOC, organized by the RACING.by team

Drift car

Nissan Silence S13

Toyota Corolla Levin AE86

A drift car is typically a rear-wheel drive car with high power. Almost always, cars are lightened and tuned, in particular, the engine is boosted and the rear differential is replaced. Classic drift cars are Nissan Silvia S15, Nissan 180SX/Nissan 200SX/240SX, Nissan Skyline, Toyota Altezza, Mazda RX-7 and “hachi-roku” literally translated as “eight-six” - AE86 (Toyota Sprinter Trueno, Toyota Corolla Levin) 1984-1986, Toyota Soarer, Toyota Mark II and Nissan S platform (Silvia/180SX/200SX/240SX) received a good weight distribution of about 54:46, a powerful and high-torque turbo engine, which made drifters fond of. Along with the availability of tuning, this made it a cult car. “Hachi-roku” opened the doors to the world of drifting for many, thanks to its low weight, reliable strong engine and easy control.

If we talk about the most popular drift cars in our country, then these are the Nissan Silvia (or its European analogue Nissan 200SX), which many consider to be created for drifting, and the Toyota Altezza, which, on the contrary, is initially not entirely suitable for this automotive discipline. But with a strong desire, Toyota Altezza can also “drive sideways” quite well, which was clearly demonstrated by Formula Drift 2008 Champion Andrei Bogdanov, driving a turbocharged Toyota Altezza.

So far, only one driver is competing in the domestic “classics” in the championship of our country - Fyodor Vorobyov; he manages to compete with powerful and well-prepared foreign cars mainly thanks to his skill in driving. This confirms that drifting is an automotive discipline in which the technical component of the car is, of course, important, but main role plays the skill of the pilot.

During competitions, rivalry often arises between fans of certain car brands, as happened during the Russian Formula Drift 2008 Championship. The fight between the Toyota and Nissan drivers, which broke out towards the 4th stage, turned the competition into an unofficial drift duel, held under the slogan “Nissans versus Toyotas”. This was especially liked by the spectators and car clubs, who, more than ever, passionately cheered and supported their favorite pilots. The winner of 2008 was Andrey Bogdanov in a Toyota Altezza SXE 10

Basic techniques in drifting

Yorin drift

Sliding with four wheels falling off. Braking in a turn by sliding with the demolition of all four wheels, when the car completely breaks down in the middle of the turn.

Kanteria/feint drift

Swinging, or “Whip”. A skid used to navigate S-shaped turns (chicanes). When a skid in one direction is preparation for a turn in the other.

Braking Drift

Drift braking. During this technique, the brake is applied while entering a turn and released completely when the apex is reached, causing the weight of the car to shift, causing the rear wheels to lose traction. The skid is then controlled using the steering wheel and throttle inputs.

Power over drift

Excess power. This type of drift is used on cars with high power. To enter a power drift, you need to turn the steering wheel in the direction where you want to point the car and press the gas all the way. Thanks to the high engine power, rear wheels will lose traction. To exit the turn without damaging the car, you need to release the gas, but not all the way, and turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction.

Hand braking drift

Skidding using the hand brake. This technique is quite simple. It uses a handbrake to cause the rear wheels to lose traction and the skid is controlled by using the steering wheel to increase or decrease speed.

Side braking drift

Side sliding. A variant of drifting when the rear wheels fall off and the car slides almost sideways.

Chokudori

Typically used after passing straight section roads to slow down and perform a deep drift. Braking by sliding and positioning the car at the desired angle relative to the road for the most advantageous cornering.

Manji

It is performed on a straight road when the driver swings the car from one side of the road to the other. Typically used on demonstration performances on drifting. Manji is a preparation for performing many techniques, such as chokudori and inertial skid.

Drifting is a way to go through a turn not in the fastest way, but in the most exciting way.

Keiichi Tsuchiya

How did it all start?

In different sources you can find different references to the use of a controlled skid as a way to make a turn faster. Some evidence goes back as far as the 1930s, where European Grand Prix racers took corners with the rear axle offset.

But everyone agrees that the first country where drifting was formed as an independent movement, and not an accompanying driving technique, was Japan.

It was there, on winding mountain roads in the 1970s, that street racers began to discover a new way to exit corners with minimal loss of speed and torque. Their ideological inspirer unwittingly became the motorcycle racer Kunimitsu Takahashi, a significant figure for Japan in those years. His biography is perfectly suited to illustrate the saying “Everything that is done is for the better.” He was the first Japanese man to win a World Touring Championship event, winning the 1961 German Grand Prix. He was the best in Spain and France in 1962 and perhaps could have won many more titles if not for a serious accident on the Isle of Man, which put an end to his racing career, but at the same time marked the beginning of a new path.

Kunimitsu Takahashi, photo: world.honda.com

Takahashi returned to big sport, but already as a car racer and began to win again. The Japanese Grand Prix, Japanese Formula 2000, 24 Hours of Le Mans and even Formula 1 are all part of his extensive track record. However, it was not this that brought him fame in street racing circles, but his driving style itself. He entered the turn at top speed, creating oversteer at the apex, which allowed him to maintain both pace and trajectory. And it was here that the smoke of burning rubber and the impressiveness with which the car came out of the turn played their decisive role.

Formation of drifting as a professional sport

Street racers began to actively adopt the technique of driving a car in a skid, transferring it to the realities of country roads. Sliding has become an integral part of racing, giving it even more entertainment and complexity. And one of those on whom Kunimitsu Takahashi’s style had a decisive influence was the future “king of drift” Keiichi Tsuchiya. He literally breathed life into what was originally illegal street racing, giving rise to official drifting competitions. Being a talented racer, Tsuchiya built wonderful career professional athlete, which began with the Fuji Freshman series (Fuji Rookie Championship) and grew into the Japanese Formula 3, Japanese Touring Car Championship, NASCAR and even Le Mans. However, his main love It was precisely the drift competitions that even became the reason for the deprivation of his professional racing license at the beginning of his career.

The film Pluspy, shot in 1987, with his participation, coupled with his reluctance to leave his favorite work in life, led to his removal from official competitions, fortunately, not for long. Despite all this, Tsuchiya did not give up his desire to popularize and promote this type of racing, and also called on his like-minded people to “come out of hiding” and legalize it.

On the track you are tense, now you see how hard it is. You can be the fastest on the street, but until you know the track, you're not good enough to drive.

Keiichi Tsuchiya

The result of his efforts and collaboration with Daijiro Inada, the founder of the automobile magazine Option and the Tokyo Motor Show, was the creation in 1999-2000 of the professional D-1 Grand Prix series, which today is the largest drift association in the world.

Every year, within the framework of this series, competitions are held in Japan, Malaysia, the USA, New Zealand and other countries. To participate, it’s not enough to just register and buy a car; you need to prove your skill level by winning in one of the main national drift series. D-1 pilots receive licenses that allow them to compete in qualifying and national series, as well as receive invitations to exhibitions and events. The technical features of cars allowed to participate in competitions are also strictly regulated, starting from the type of drive (all-wheel drive cars are prohibited, but all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive cars converted to rear-wheel drive are allowed) and body type (cars must have a factory body type, convertibles must be equipped hard roof and protective frame in case of rollover) and ending with the presence of a VIN and a catalytic converter in the exhaust system.

What is a drift car?

Yes, this is Cefiro!

Keiichi Tsuchiya about Nissan Skyline V35

It so happens that any average Nissan Micra or diesel Volkswagen Passat is not suitable for successful drifting. It’s not enough to just have rear-wheel drive - you need to create a small amount of power reserve on the rear wheels, which will allow the driver to cause them to slip when cornering. This was also clear to Japanese street racers of the seventies and eighties, so cars for drifting were prepared with special care and love. So what did they drive? In paying tribute, it's worth starting with the car of the champion and founding father. Keiichi Tsuchiya's car still occupies a special place in drift culture; this model is still used by many pilots, both beginners and established ones. The Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86, produced from 1983 to 1987, became the first and main car on which Tsuchiya honed his skills and which brought him fame. The small, lightweight rear-wheel drive hatchback(s) was popular in the most different types auto racing: touring cars, circuit racing, rally and, of course, drift.

In the photo: Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86

The platform, which became one of the last rear-wheel drive “carts” in this class, weighs less than a ton, or rather, 950-970 kilograms, balance, an optional factory differential with increased internal resistance and a relatively powerful 4A-GEU engine, which produced 128 “horses” and willingly subjected to tuning, they became the calling card of the car and a passport to the world of big racing. And its slight angularity and retractable headlights gave it a special charm. In Japan, the Toyota AE86 has the nickname Hachi-Roku, which, oddly enough, means eight-six. A car owned by Keiichi Tsuchiya, called "The Little Hachi Who Could". This is what Tsuchiya uses to carve the track in the movie Pluspy.

A full description of its characteristics will take two pages, and their analysis will take two days. Suffice it to say, it's not exactly stock, with a 20-valve 7A-GE under the hood, a carbon clutch, steering with custom knuckles and a custom body kit. It’s logical to assume that there weren’t enough Toyota AE86s for everyone, and even if there were enough, they wanted alternatives. And there were plenty of them. Classic drift cars include Nissan 180SX, Nissan Silvia, Nissan Skyline, Nissan 200SX, Nissan... But enough Nissans! Also suitable are the Toyota Chaser, Toyota Mark II, Toyota Soarer (well, and the Lexus SC400, respectively, what would you do without their wonderful four-liter 1UZ-FE), Toyota Supra, Toyota Altezza (and Lexus IS), and also the Mazda MX-5, Mazda RX -7, Mazda RX-8, Honda S2000 and some others.

Pictured: Toyota Supra

Is it really possible to drift only on “Japanese” cars?

It is worth noting that the recipe for making a drift car does not necessarily have to include one of the above ingredients. The specifics of racing are such that the secret of success is not in the nameplate on the trunk lid, but in specific technical features, so the list of cars varies from country to country and from club to club. So, in the USA they successfully drive Dodge Charger, Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette and Pontiac Solstice (who knows this?), Germans drive BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and even Porsche 911. Swedes, in turn, feel great in Volvo 240 and Volvo 340, and Russians in all of the above, although there are also models built on the basis of the VAZ classics, GAZ-21 and other representatives of our automobile industry. The British are a little more fortunate - traffic in the country is on the left, so importing JDM (Japanese domestic market, cars manufactured for the domestic Japanese market) is the best solution for residents of the United Kingdom.

In the world of motor sports, every year such a direction as “drift” is gaining more and more popularity. Professional motorists love it for its ability to quickly navigate turns, and ordinary people love it for its entertainment value. The general public learned about this technique largely thanks to the film “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” This and much more will be discussed in this article.

Definition

So what is drift? This term can be found in different areas. For example, in programming there is such a thing as server drift. However greatest distribution I got drifting in motorsport. There it is a technique for cornering using a controlled skid, at the highest possible speed. At the same time, drifting is a type of motor sport in which this technique is the main element. Competitions in this discipline take place on tracks with a large number turning. As a rule, such routes are covered with asphalt, but there are also exotic species coatings, for example ice. The main goal of the athlete is to navigate the turns as spectacularly and technically as possible. Speed takes a back seat in drifting competitions. This sport uses mainly rear-wheel drive cars.

Story

As a sport, car drifting originated in Japan. If you believe the legends of motorsport, its first manifestations were noticed back in the 60s of the last century. Since this discipline developed in several Japanese cities at once, call exact location her birth is impossible. In the film “Tokyo Drift,” the Japanese capital was the center of the movement of drift enthusiasts. However, the following cities appear in the history of the initial development of drifting: Irohazaka, Rokkosan, Hakone and Nagano. Like most professional racing, drifting competitions were held illegally in their early days. The races were organized on winding suburban roads with lots of turns. Such tracks were called “Toge”. Well, the enthusiasts who competed on the Toga were called “rolling zoku”.

The goal of the racers was to complete the course as quickly as possible - the result of the competition could be determined in milliseconds. Over time, to improve their results, racers began to use technique rally drivers. With their help, the Rolling Zokus were able to take turns at high speed, without losing inertia. Using the rally technique of cornering, the pilots began to notice that the level of car ownership increased significantly, as did the intensity of the race, and the time to complete the track, at the same time, decreased significantly. Gradually, drifting became an independent discipline and eventually completely separated from classic racing.

Drifting came to America only in 1996. Many states banned car tuning, intentional tire slipping, and street racing, so drift competitions immediately began to be held on closed tracks. Now that we know in general terms what drift is, let's move on to its individual aspects.

Drift rules

In sports drifting, there are two types of races: singles and doubles. The winner is usually determined based on the results of several races. In single races, the driver receives a certain number of points for speed, trajectory, skidding angle and the entertainment of the race. In paired races, the first participant must drive the assessed section according to the assignment (as a rule, the main task is to adhere to the most correct trajectory). The second participant in the race must get as close as possible to the first when going through turns and carry out synchronized shifts. In the second race, the riders follow the same rules, but change roles. The winner of the doubles race is the pilot who performed better in the “catch-up” position. If the athletes show almost the same result, the judges may assign a third race.

Judging

Assessing the rider's performance, panel of judges takes into account the following parameters:

The trajectory of a particular section. The drift track is divided into a certain number of zones, the passage through which is separately assessed by judges.
The angle of drift when driving through a certain area. The higher this indicator, the higher it is rated.
Movement speed.
Style and entertainment. Priced separately.

If spectators do not agree with the decision made by the judges, they can appeal it. The opinions of spectators are listened to, since the spectacular passage of the route is one of the key aspects of drifting.

Drift cars

In a drift car, special attention is paid to even distribution of torque. Such cars will definitely be lightened and modernized. The main areas of tuning drift cars are: boosting the engine, replacing the rear differential, and installing an LSD lock. The following models are considered classic drift cars: Nissan 240 SX, Toyota Chaser, Nissan 180SX, Nissan Laurel, Mazda RX-7(RX-8), Toyota AE86 and some others.

Mostly cars with rear-wheel drive are used, but there are examples when a front-wheel drive car is converted into a rear-wheel drive car to participate in a drift competition. And some racers even drive cars with front-wheel drive. In this case, the machine control technique changes. Now let's get acquainted with the features of individual elements of a drift car.

Motor

Sometimes athletes modify the turbocharged engines of their cars, tuning them in such a way that the torque in the range of 3-7 thousand rpm is distributed as evenly as possible. Craftsmen are also working to increase the resistance of the power plant to increased loads and high temperatures. However, most often, instead of modifying an existing power unit, athletes prefer replacing it with a more powerful engine, with greater potential for tuning. Of course, there are cars that are initially equipped with a suitable engine for drifting, but there are not many of them, so most pilots choose one of the two options described above.

Suspension

Drift cars use stiff, short springs with sports racks or coilovers - a single unit of shock absorber and spring, adjustable in height and stiffness. The anti-roll bars are also stiff. The camber of the front wheels of such a car should be very negative, ideally 2.8 degrees. This is necessary for more precise control vehicle during a skid. As for the camber and toe of the rear wheels, they are reduced to zero. To increase the stability of the body, it is reinforced with spacers. To obtain a larger skid angle, the steering system is modified by increasing the wheel turnout. Another important manipulation is widening the track. The rear and front tracks should be equal, but it is acceptable for the front track to be slightly wider. The Ackermann angle, for more stable behavior of the car during a skid, is reduced to zero.

Tires

It is generally accepted that the tires on the front axle of a drift car must have an increased coefficient of grip, so drivers often put sports tires on it with a smooth tread such as slick or semi-slick. As for the rear axle, on the one hand, it should slide well, and on the other, provide the required level of grip. It all depends on the power of the car, how it is used and the preferences of the pilot. For example, a machine with a power of 400 horsepower requires good grip, but during training, in order to save money, pilots can put cheap hard tires on it, which do not grip the surface well, skid easily, and wear out slowly.

In addition to wear resistance and grip, important role The choice of tires depends on the amount of smoke they emit when cornering in a skid. The judges' scores and the audience's reaction directly depend on the amount of smoke. We have already learned what drifting is and how competitions are held in it, it’s time to get acquainted with the basic techniques of drifting.

Hand braking drift

Before an athlete starts driving like in the movie "Tokyo Drift" ("The Fast and the Furious"), he will have to work on his skills for several years. First of all, novice pilots master gliding using the handbrake. This is the simplest and most common technique. To cause a skid, the pilot must depress the clutch pedal and apply the handbrake with a strong jerk. As a result, the rear axle will begin to slide. Then, the clutch pedal must be released for the car to continue moving. It is important that the engine speed is kept at the same level before and after squeezing the clutch. Main difficulty problem that beginners who master this technique face is learning to select the strength and speed of the handbrake pull in a specific situation. Sometimes a series of short-term jerks are used to correct the trajectory.

Clutch kick

The essence of this technique is to sharply release the clutch pedal. By quickly squeezing and releasing the clutch pedal and maintaining engine speed at high level excess power occurs, which causes the rear axle of the car to skid.

Yorin drift

Represents a slip with the breakdown of all wheels. Due to sharp braking when cornering, all wheels skid.

Kanteria/feint drift

Translated into Russian, this technique is called “swing” or “whip”. It involves passing S-shaped turns using a skid. When skidding in one direction, the car prepares to turn in the other. This technique is often used in rallying.

Breaking drift

This technique involves squeezing the main brake when entering a turn, followed by simultaneously squeezing the clutch and applying the handbrake. The handbrake is released literally within a second.

Dynamic drift

Used when taking long turns. The essence of the technique is that when entering a turn, the pilot sharply releases the gas and turns the steering wheel, allowing the car to go into a controlled drift. The position of the car is adjusted by steering and short presses on the brake pedal. Due to the high danger, this technique is used mainly by professional racers.

Power over drift

Used on machines with powerful motors. To enter a skid, the pilot turns the steering wheel in the direction where the car should turn and presses the gas pedal all the way. At the same time, thanks to the powerful engine, the rear wheels lose traction with the road surface, and the car goes into a skid. To get out of such a skid without damaging the car, you need to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction and ease up on the gas.

Side braking drift

This version of drift is translated as “side sliding”. It differs in that after the rear wheels fall off, the car slides almost perpendicular to the road.

Chokudori

This technique is usually used at the end of a straight section of road to reduce speed and enter a turn. By sliding, braking occurs and the car is positioned at the required angle to enter a turn.

Manji

It involves the car rocking from side to side on a straight section of the road. Usually this technique is used only at demonstration performances.

"Tokyo Drift" and "GTA"

Naturally, such spectacular view sports like drifting could not be ignored by film directors and developers computer games. One of the most famous films dedicated to drifting, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” was released in 2006. In many ways, it is thanks to this picture that drifting has become a more popular sport. However, Tokyo Drift is not the only film dedicated to this topic. In 2008, the Malaysian film “Evolution: Drift in Kuala Lumpur” was released. In addition, on the Internet you can find a lot of lesser-known films, including documentaries, about drifting.

In the world of computer games this type Motorsport is also popular. Drifting competitions can be found in various racing games. In addition, in famous game"GTA" has a separate add-on dedicated to drifting. What do you think it was named after? The answer is quite predictable - in honor of that very film “Tokyo Drift” (“The Fast and the Furious”).

Conclusion

Today we learned what drift is. Summarizing the above, we can conclude that drifting originated around the mid-twentieth century in Japan as a synthesis of racing and rally techniques. Way quickly overcome turning with the help of a skid is not only effective, but also very spectacular. Therefore, drifting is popular both among representatives of motor sports and among ordinary people. Finally, it is worth noting that you need to drive a car using such techniques on specially equipped tracks, so as not to harm yourself and others. And for those who are not confident in their abilities, it is better to start with computer games about drifting.

Drift

According to competition regulations, a car for drifting can only have rear-wheel drive, but there are examples when a car for drifting is prepared from an initially all-wheel drive car - Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, converting it to rear wheel drive.

Drift car elements

Engine

As a rule, modified turbocharged engines are used, tuned in such a way that maximum power is developed at high speeds. The loads are very high, so additional improvements are aimed not only at increasing power, but also at increasing resistance to loads and higher temperature conditions. If we talk about Nissan, then most often you can see SR20DET (4 cylinder, 2 liter in-line turbo engine, which was installed on Nissan Silvia, 180SX, 200SX S14, S15), RB25DET (6 cylinders in line, 2.5 liter, turbo, installed on Nissan Skyline) and an excellent, high-performance engine from the Skyline GTR - RB26DETT (in-line six, 2.6 liters, twin-turbo), if we are talking about Toyota, then representatives of the legendary JZ series, 1JZ-GTE, are more common under the hood of drift cars of this company (family of cars on the MARK2/CRESTA/CHASER platform, 2.5 liters, 6 cylinders in line) and one of the best Japanese engines 2JZ-GTE (3 liters, 6 cylinders, installed in SUPRA, ARISTO). Less productive, but also popular, are the engines of the 3S-GE and 3S-GTE series (Altezza, Celica GT-FOUR, Caldina). Often, instead of modifying an existing engine, drifting uses the so-called “swap” - replacing the engine with a powerful one with great potential for further upgrades.

Suspension

Stiff shortened springs with sports struts or ready-made coilover kits, stiffer and thicker anti-roll bars are used. The camber of the front wheels is set to very negative (preferably more than 3 degrees of negative camber), for more precise control of the car in a skid. It would be very useful to strengthen the body with spacers. Also, in order to achieve a larger skid angle, the steering system is modified, increasing the wheel turnout.

Tires

Tire damage

Perhaps one of the most important elements drift car, not inferior in importance to either the engine, suspension and clutch, or the skill of the pilot. Depending on the requirements of the driver and the characteristics of the car, the choice of tires for a drift car can be very different.

It is generally believed that a greater coefficient of grip is required from the tires on the front axle, which often determines the choice of slick and semi-slick sports tires by drivers. The rear axle, on the one hand, must slide, and on the other, also provide traction - and here the choice is determined by the power of the car, the preferences of the pilot and/or the method of use. For example, cars with a power of 400 hp. and higher require more grip, but in training pilots prefer to use cheap hard tires that will cling poorly to the asphalt, easily skid and wear out for a long time.

In addition to grip and wear resistance, the smoke emitted from under the wheels during a skid plays an important role. After all, the amount of smoke affects the judges’ assessment of the pilot. Cars with high engine power require tires with a more durable design, which brings them closer to sports and away from “civilian” models.

The most popular brands and models of drift tires:

Semi-slicks:

Toyo Proxes R888
Bridgestone Potenza RE01
Yokohama Advan A048
Falken Azenis RT-215/615
Nitto N555R, NT01, NT05

Regular road tires:

Yokohama Advan Neova AD07/08, AVS Sport V102
Toyo Proxes T1R
Kumho Ecsta KU31 (also including colored and scented models designed specifically for burn-out)
Hankook Ventus R-S2
Federal Super Steel 595
Infinity tires INF-05
Kama Euro 129

Basic techniques in drifting

Hand braking drift

Drifting using the handbrake. This technique is the simplest and most preferred for learning to drift. It is not recommended to start studying other techniques without fully mastering this technique. It is important even for professionals, as it allows you to correct mistakes made during understeer when other techniques no longer help. The technique is as follows: to cause a skid, you need to depress the clutch pedal, send the rear axle into a skid with a strong jerk of the handbrake, and then release the clutch pedal. It is important to maintain engine speed with the clutch depressed. You need to learn to choose the speed and force of the handbrake, depending on the situation. It could even be a series of trajectory-correcting jerks. This technique can be trained on a low-power rear-wheel drive car, even without differential locking. A hydraulic handbrake is desirable if the factory design quickly leads to breakage or stretching of the cables.

Clutch Kick

Sudden clutch release. Due to the rapid squeezing and throwing of the clutch pedal while maintaining high engine speeds, a short-term excess of power occurs, which causes the rear axle to skid.