Drifting, is referred as the fastest way to take a corner where a driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed. This technique is mostly popularized by the Japanese Touge culture for setting and beating fastest time around the mountain courses.
Things went from illegal street racing to mainstream motor sports when Japanese professional racing driver Keiichi Tsuchiya organized the first official drifting event in 1988 with the backing of auto magazines. The precision driving display immediately received great enthusiasm from public and the event is no longer out side of the law and became one of the national sport of Japan. At present, drifting is crossing borders and winning millions of fans around the world.
Till today, D1 Grand Prix and Formula Drift have been the premier sanctioning bodies for drifting competitions. Now the sport is set get into another level with FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), the organizer of Formula 1 World Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and the World Rally Championship. The first Intercontinental Drifting Cup organized by FIA is set for this fall in Daiba, Tokyo, Japan.
Founder of Auto Rebellion | Guest writer for zerotohundred.com