Drifting is one of the most thrilling and visually impressive driving techniques in motorsports. The art of controlling a car as it slides sideways through corners, all while maintaining precision and style, is what makes drifting so captivating. Whether you’re looking to compete or just have fun on the track, learning how to drift can be an exhilarating journey. In this blog, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to help you master the fundamentals of drifting, including techniques like feint entry, weight shifting, hand brake use, left-foot braking, and more.
What is Drifting?
Before diving into the step-by-step guide, let’s quickly define drifting. In simple terms, drifting is when the driver intentionally oversteers the car, causing the rear tires to lose traction, while the front tires maintain control to guide the car through a turn. The goal is to maintain this slide through the entire corner with as much precision and style as possible.
Now, let’s break down the steps to start drifting.
Step 1: Know Your Car and Set It Up for Drifting
Before hitting the track, it’s important to make sure your car is properly set up for drifting. Here are the key components and adjustments to consider:
- Angle Kit: An angle kit is essential for increasing your car’s steering angle, allowing you to maintain control during wide-angle drifts. SLRspeed’s angle kits for platforms like the E36, E46, and 350Z provide more than 70 degrees of steering angle, giving you the control you need for deep drifts.
- Toe Plates: Proper alignment is crucial for consistent handling. Use SLRspeed toe plates to make quick adjustments to your car’s toe angle, ensuring your car is dialed in for drifting.
- Tires: Rear tires should have less grip than the front tires to promote oversteer. Use tires with lower tread or reduce the tire pressure slightly in the rear to help initiate drifts.
- Low Profile Car Ramps: If you’re running a lowered suspension, having low profile car ramps makes it easy to access the underbody for any necessary adjustments or maintenance.
Step 2: Feint Entry – The Foundation of Drifting
The feint entry (also known as the Scandinavian flick) is one of the most fundamental techniques for initiating a drift. This method uses weight shifting to get the car into an oversteer state. Here's how to do it:
- Approach the Corner: As you approach the corner at speed, prepare to shift the car’s weight.
- Turn Opposite the Corner: Just before the corner, make a quick turn in the opposite direction of the turn. This causes the weight to shift to the outside wheels.
- Turn Into the Corner: Immediately after the weight has shifted, sharply turn the steering wheel in the direction of the corner. The rear tires will lose traction as the weight shifts, initiating the drift.
The feint entry is a great way to get the rear of the car to swing out naturally without relying on the hand brake.
Step 3: Hand Brake Drift – For Precision and Control
Using the hand brake (or e-brake) is another common technique for initiating a drift, especially at lower speeds or on tighter corners. The hand brake works by locking the rear wheels, causing them to lose traction.
- Approach the Corner: Begin your turn, keeping your speed steady.
- Pull the Hand Brake: Just before you enter the corner, pull the hand brake quickly and release it immediately. This will cause the rear wheels to lock and the car to begin sliding.
- Steer Into the Slide: As the car starts to oversteer, steer into the direction of the slide. Control the drift with the throttle to maintain the slide through the corner.
The hand brake is useful for initiating drifts when precision is needed or when the turn is too tight for a feint entry.
Step 4: Weight Shifting – Balancing Your Car Through the Drift
Once the drift is initiated, weight shifting becomes essential for controlling the car’s balance through the slide. Proper weight management can make or break your drift. Here’s how to manage the weight of your car during a drift:
- Throttle Control: Use the throttle to manage the car’s weight distribution. More throttle will increase the angle of the drift, while reducing throttle will bring the car back in line.
- Steering Adjustment: Constantly adjust the steering angle to match the angle of the drift. The more angle you steer, the more the rear will swing out, but be careful not to oversteer, which can lead to a spinout.
- Countersteering: To maintain the drift, countersteer by turning the wheel in the opposite direction of the drift. This helps you balance the car through the slide and prevent over-rotation.
Step 5: Left-Foot Braking – Adding Precision to Your Drifting
Left-foot braking is an advanced drifting technique that allows you to fine-tune your drift without losing momentum. It involves using your left foot on the brake pedal while your right foot remains on the throttle.
- Initiate the Drift: Use a feint entry or hand brake to get the car into a drift.
- Apply the Brake Lightly: While maintaining throttle, use your left foot to lightly apply the brake. This helps control the car’s speed and weight transfer without breaking the drift.
- Balance the Car: Use the brake to modulate the car’s balance as you continue to steer through the drift.
Left-foot braking is ideal for maintaining control during long corners or when transitioning between drifts.
Step 6: Clutch Kick – Aggressively Initiating the Drift
Another common drift initiation technique is the clutch kick, which works by suddenly re-engaging the clutch to break traction in the rear wheels. This is how you can execute a clutch kick:
- Approach the Corner in Gear: Enter the corner at a moderate speed in a gear that gives you good torque.
- Depress the Clutch: While maintaining throttle, quickly depress the clutch.
- Release the Clutch: As you steer into the corner, release the clutch abruptly to send a jolt of power to the rear wheels, causing them to lose traction.
- Control the Drift: Once the rear tires break traction, countersteer to control the drift.
The clutch kick is a powerful tool for initiating drifts at higher speeds or when you need extra power to break traction.
Step 7: Transitions – Linking Corners with Fluidity
Drifting is not just about a single corner—it’s about transitioning smoothly from one drift to the next. Here’s how to nail your transitions:
- Countersteer Out of the First Drift: As you finish one corner, release the countersteer slowly while maintaining throttle.
- Shift Weight to the Other Side: As you straighten out, shift the car’s weight to the opposite side by steering toward the next corner.
- Re-Initiate the Drift: Use either feint entry, hand brake, or clutch kick to re-initiate the drift into the next corner.
Fluid transitions between corners are a sign of a skilled drifter, requiring both throttle control and steering precision.
Final Tips for Drifting Success
- Practice Makes Perfect: Drifting is all about repetition and muscle memory. The more you practice, the more natural these techniques will feel.
- Start Slow: Begin with slow, controlled drifts before attempting more aggressive techniques.
- Upgrade Your Gear: High-quality parts like SLRspeed’s angle kits, toe plates, and carbon fiber shift knobs can make a big difference in your car’s handling and drift performance.
- Track Time: Take your car to a safe and controlled environment, such as a drift track or skid pad, to practice without the risks of street drifting.
Conclusion: Master the Art of Drifting with SLRspeed
Drifting is a thrilling motorsport that requires precision, control, and a deep understanding of your car’s dynamics. By following these steps and practicing the techniques of feint entry, hand brake drifts, weight shifting, left-foot braking, and more, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of drifting.
For those serious about performance, SLRspeed offers the highest-quality angle kits, toe plates, carbon fiber shift knobs, and low profile car ramps to help you dial in your car for maximum control. Explore our full range of products today and take your drifting skills to the next level.
