Drifting isn’t just about smoking tires and aggressive countersteer — it’s a precise art form that demands control, timing, and a deep understanding of vehicle dynamics. If you’re new to the world of drifting and wondering how to start drifting or looking for the right way to learn, this guide breaks down the fundamentals of drifting in a simple, step-by-step format.
Whether you're hitting your first skidpad or studying tandem battles online, mastering the basics of how to drifting starts here.
What Is Drifting, Exactly?
At its core, drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels, while maintaining control through the turn using countersteering and throttle modulation. It’s not about going fast through a corner—it's about controlling the chaos with fluid transitions, balance, and angle.
The First Step: Understanding Your Car
Before learning how to drift, it's crucial to understand how your car behaves under throttle, braking, and steering input. The best drift cars share several traits:
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Rear-wheel drive (or RWD-biased AWD)
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Manual transmission for clutch techniques
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Limited-slip differential to maintain spin on both rear wheels
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Coilovers or tuned suspension for sharper weight transfer
Popular beginner drift cars like the E36 BMW, 350Z, and S13 240SX check all these boxes.
Key Drifting Techniques for Beginners
Here are the most common ways to initiate a drift:
1. Clutch Kick
Depress the clutch and quickly release it while on throttle — this shocks the driveline and breaks rear traction. Ideal for mid-corner corrections or lower horsepower cars.
2. E-Brake (Handbrake) Initiation
Pull the handbrake briefly while clutching in to lock the rear wheels and rotate the car. Release the e-brake and countersteer as the car begins to slide. This method is ideal for tighter corners or correcting your line.
3. Power Oversteer
Mash the throttle mid-turn to break traction if your car has enough horsepower. This is less precise, but effective for high-torque vehicles like Corvettes or Mustangs.
4. Feint Drift
A quick weight shift — steer away from the corner momentarily, then snap back into the direction of the turn. This generates momentum and helps initiate rotation.
5. Brake Drift
Light braking while entering a corner shifts weight to the front and helps the rear slide out. This is commonly used in high-speed entries.
Weight Transfer: The Secret Behind Every Drift
Understanding weight transfer is fundamental to learning how to drift. When a car brakes, accelerates, or changes direction, its weight shifts. Great drivers manipulate this transfer to control the drift's balance, angle, and duration.
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Braking shifts weight forward (more grip in front, less in rear)
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Throttle shifts weight rearward (more rear grip, can reinitiate drift)
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Quick steering transitions shift weight side to side
The best drifters time these shifts with millisecond accuracy. As a beginner, focus on smooth transitions and feel how the car responds when you add or lift throttle mid-drift.
Is Drifting Hard to Learn?
Like anything skill-based, drifting is difficult at first but becomes intuitive with seat time, feedback, and patience. Most new drivers struggle with over-correction, spinning out, or inconsistent entries. That’s completely normal. The best way to learn is in a controlled environment, like a drift day or skidpad session.
Must-Have Mods for Learning How to Drift
While you don’t need a fully built drift car to start, some upgrades will make the learning process smoother and more enjoyable:
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Drift-spec coilovers for better weight transfer control
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Steering angle kit for more countersteer and wider drift range
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Toe plates to dial in proper alignment and toe-out for more responsive steering
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Bucket seat and harness to keep you planted while focusing on technique
These components help you learn faster and avoid frustration as you start progressing through the ranks.
From Beginner to Drift Pro: Your First Steps
Once you've learned how to initiate, maintain, and exit a drift, you'll start exploring more advanced concepts like tandem driving, throttle steering, and line selection. But no matter how skilled you become, it always comes back to the fundamentals — understanding car balance, anticipating weight shifts, and precise throttle control.
🔥 Want to go deeper? Read our full breakdown:
👉 The Ultimate Definitive Guide to Drifting: How to Drift
This advanced guide covers car setup, advanced techniques, and real-world drifting advice from years of experience on the track.
Final Thoughts – Drift the Right Way
Learning how to drift isn't about burning tires or sliding wildly — it's about mastering control in a state of imbalance. The more time you spend behind the wheel, the more connected you'll become to your car's responses. Start slow, stay safe, and progress methodically.
And remember: every great drifter started with the basics. Focus on the process, keep the fundamentals sharp, and you’ll be linking corners with confidence before you know it.
