Когда день дрифтера праздник

Дрифт – способ пройти поворот не наиболее быстро, а наиболее захватывающе.

Кэйити Цутия

Как все начиналось?

В разных источниках можно найти разные упоминания об использовании управляемого заноса как способа быстрейшего прохождения поворота. Некоторые свидетельства углубляются даже в 30-е годы ХХ века, где гонщики европейской серии Grand Prix проходили повороты со смещением задней оси.

Но все сходятся на том, что первой страной, где дрифт сформировался как самостоятельное движение, а не сопутствующая техника вождения, была Япония.

Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner. The technique causes the rear slip angle to exceed the front slip angle to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering). Drifting is traditionally done by clutch kicking (where the clutch is rapidly disengaged and re-engaged with the intention of upsetting the grip of the rear wheels), then intentionally oversteering and countersteering. This sense of drift is not to be confused with the four wheel drift, a classic cornering technique established in Grand Prix and sports car racing.^{[citation needed]}

As a motoring discipline, drifting competitions were first popularized in Japan in the 1970s and further popularized by the 1995 manga series Initial D. Drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship, and line taken through a corner or set of corners.^[1]

History[edit]

Origin[edit]

Despite the popular belief that drifting originated in 1970s Japan, this driving technique was first practiced in Europe before 1950. Automotive legend Enzo Ferrari credits Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari as being the inventor of the four-wheel drift. Later, British racing driver Stirling Moss improved upon Nuvorali’s technique, mastering the art of drifting through curves in Formula 1 races by steering with the accelerator pedal. More recently, drifting as a specialized competition became popular in Japan.^[2][3][4] It was most popular in the All Japan Touring Car Championship races. Famous motorcyclist turned driver Kunimitsu Takahashi was the foremost creator of drifting techniques in the 1970s. This earned him several championships and a legion of fans who enjoyed the spectacle of smoking tires. The bias-ply racing tires of the 1960s–1980s lent themselves to driving styles with a high slip angle. As professional racers in Japan drove this way, so did street racers.^[5]

Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the «Drift King» (ドリフトキング, Dorifuto Kingu), became particularly interested by Takahashi’s drift techniques. Tsuchiya began practicing his drifting skills on the mountain roads of Japan, and quickly gained a reputation amongst the racing crowd. In 1987, several popular car magazines and tuning garages agreed to produce a video of Tsuchiya’s drifting skills. The video, known as Pluspy,^[6] became a hit and inspired many of the professional drifting drivers on the circuits today. In 1988, alongside Option magazine founder and chief editor Daijiro Inada, he helped to organize one of the first events specifically for drifting called the Ikaten (short for Ikasu Hashiriya Team Tengoku). He has also drifted through every turn in Tsukuba Circuit.^{[citation needed]}

Popularity[edit]

One of the earliest recorded drift events outside Japan took place in 1996 at Willow Springs Raceway in Willow Springs, California, hosted by the Japanese drifting magazine and organization Option. Daijiro Inada (founder of the Japanese D1 Grand Prix), the NHRA Funny Car drag racer Kenji Okazaki, and Keiichi Tsuchiya gave demonstrations in a Nissan 180SX that the magazine had brought over from Japan. Entrants included Rhys Millen and Bryan Norris.^[7] Drifting has since exploded into a form of motorsport in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe. Grassroots drifting has seen a huge increase in popularity in the 21st century, which has in turn caused prices of FR cars to increase and parts become more scarce.

Drifting has evolved into a competitive sport where drivers compete (almost exclusively in rear-wheel-drive cars) to earn points from judges based on various factors. At the top levels of competition, IDCR in Worldwide, the D1 Grand Prix in Japan pioneered the sport. Other events such as Drift Games Extreme (formally known as the IDC — Irish Drift Championship) in Ireland, Formula D in the United States, Drift Allstars, King of Europe, Drift Masters and the British Drift Championship in Europe, WDS in China, RDS in Russia, Formula Drift Asia in the Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand/Indonesia, NZ Drift Series in New Zealand, the Australian Drifting Grand Prix, Spec — D Drift Series in Western Canada and the Greek Drift Championship (Drift Wars) have come along to further expand it into a legitimate motorsport worldwide. Drivers within these series are able to keep their cars sliding for extended periods of time, often linking several turns.

Drift competition[edit]

Judging takes place on just a small part of the circuit, a few linking corners that provide good viewing, and opportunities for drifting. The rest of the circuit is irrelevant, but it pertains to controlling the temperature of the tires and setting the car up for the first judged corner. In tandem passes, the lead driver (in the lead car, Senko) often feints their entry to the first corner to upset the chase driver (in the chase car, Atooi); however, in some European series, this practice is frowned upon by judges and considered foul play, resulting in deduction of points.

There are typically two sessions – a qualifying or practice session, and a final session. In qualifying sessions, referred to as «solo runs» (単走, tansō), drifters get individual passes in front of judges (who may or may not be the final judges) to try to make the final 16. This is often on the day preceding the final.

The finals are tandem passes called «chases» (追走, tsuisō). Drivers are paired off, and each heat comprises two passes, with each driver taking a turn to lead. The best of the eight heats go to the next four, to the next two, to the final. The passes are judged as explained above; however, there are some provisos such as:

• Overtaking the lead car under drift conditions is frowned upon even if the chasing car doesn’t interrupt the lead car’s drift.
• Overtaking the lead car under grip conditions automatically forfeits a pass.
• Spinning forfeits a pass, unless the other driver also spins.
• Increasing the lead under drift conditions helps to win a pass.
• Maintaining a close gap while chasing under drift conditions helps to win a pass.
• The level of smoke from the tires is also a factor.

Points are awarded for each pass, and usually, one driver prevails. Sometimes, the judges cannot agree, or cannot decide, or a crowd vocally disagrees with the judge’s decision.^[8] In such cases, more passes may be run until a winner is produced. On occasion, mechanical failure determines the battle’s outcome, either during or preceding a heat. If a car cannot enter a tandem battle, the remaining entrant (who automatically advances) will give a solo demonstration pass. In the event of apparently close or tied runs, crowds often demonstrate their desire for another run with chants of ‘one more time’.^[9]

Commitment is about how much throttle the driver applies, and the confidence and dedication the driver shows when approaching track edges and barriers. The higher the rate-to-angle, the more speed and angle a driver can carry through the course. In addition, the fewer corrections they apply through the course and the closer they drive to the track edges or barriers, the higher their style score.

Outside Japan[edit]

There is some regional variation. For example, in Australia, the chase car is judged on how accurately it emulates the drift of the lead car, as opposed to being judged on its own merit — this is only taken into consideration by the judges if the lead car is on the appropriate racing line.^[10] Other variations of the tansō/tsuisō and the tansō-only method is multi-car group judging, seen in Drift Tengoku videos where the four-car team is judged in groups.^[11]

The D1GP drift series has been prototyping and fine-tuning an electronic judging system based on custom sensors that record and transmit car data to a computer that judges the run. This system is also being tested in some European series. It is designed to remove subjectivity and/or predisposition of judges. Usually the track for such a system is broken up into several sections (usually three) and the system automatically generates scores based on speed, angle and fluidity of the driver in each section, combining the scores for the final score. In certain situations judges can change or overrule a score, which happens, though rarely.

Formula Drift is the top United States Drifting series. Its judging style for competition is based on line, angle, and speed. When judging for line the driver is judged based on their ability to stay on the line set in place by the judges. Points are allocated to outside zones and inner clips, and are also allocated to touch and go areas. Angle is the drivers ability to maintain a high level of angle that will be set by the angle judge in the drivers meeting. Style is judged based on three areas of focus; initiation, fluidity, and commitment. Initiation is based on how early and smooth the driver initiates into a drift. Fluidity is how smooth the driver drives from lock to lock, high angles of drift, and just overall smoothness on the track. Commitment is judged on consistent throttle throughout, and how close the driver is willing to get to walls and clipping points.^[12]
The King of Europe Drift ProSeries has developed its own telemetry system, which uses GPS data to accurately measure speed, angle and line, thus leading to a very objective result for the qualifying sessions.^[13]

Drift cars[edit]

Drift cars are usually light- to moderate-weight rear-wheel-drive coupes and sedans, offering a large range of power levels. There have also been all-wheel drive cars that have been converted to rear-wheel drive such as the Subaru WRX, Toyota Avensis, Scion tC, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Dodge Charger, and Nissan GT-R. Early on, AWD cars without conversion were allowed in some drifting competitions, and usually the rules allowed only a certain percentage of power to be sent to the front wheels, but they are banned in most (if not all) drifting competitions today.

Despite the possibility of obtaining desirable Japanese domestic market vehicles in continents outside Japan,^[14] drifters in other countries prefer to use local versions of the same cars (for example, a Nissan 240SX instead of a Nissan Silvia S13, etc.), or even domestic cars. A high volume of Japanese imports were brought to countries such as Australia and New Zealand, however it is not unusual to see Australian/New Zealand domestic vehicles such as the Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon used in drifting competitions.^[15]

The American market saw a relatively high volume of JDM cars being imported over the last decade, despite Japanese domestic vehicles being right-hand-drive only.^[16] Locally-sold imports such as the Lexus SC and Nissan 240SX feature heavily in American drifting, but they are usually modified with JDM engines to mirror their Japanese domestic equivalents (usually with a Toyota JZ-GTE or Nissan CA18DET/SR20DET/RB26DETT respectively).^[17]

In the UK, there are a high level of Japanese imports used within the drifting scene, due in part to the UK sharing a right-hand drive layout with Japan. However, these cars often cost more than UK-market cars, partly due to import costs. There are plenty of UK and European models used as drift cars as well — older BMWs are particularly prominent due to cost and availability, with Volvo 300 series and Ford Sierras also proving popular.^[18][19]

In the Formula Drift Professional series, cars range from highly tuned Japanese automobiles reflecting the original styles of drifting to all-new age makes and models. Due to no power limit restrictions in the series, it is not uncommon for competitors to use a variety of different powerplants. Popular variations of Chevrolet LS engines are often seen bolted down to Japanese frames.^[20]

In the King of Europe Drift Series, the main professional drift series in Europe, BMW models have long ruled the scene, winning event after event, year after year. The most successful models include the E30, E36 and E46, which also present an advantage in cost (being more affordable than their Japanese rivals). For a few years, BMW V8 engine swaps were the most popular, providing a healthy 300 to 400 horsepower output. With the continuous evolution of the sport, however, these have now become obsolete, making way for more powerful American V8 engines or classic Nissan RB26DETT and Toyota 2JZ-GTE engines.

As an example, the top 15 cars in the 2003 D1GP,^[21] top 10 in the 2004 D1GP,^[22] and top 10 in the 2005 D1GP^[23] were as follows:

The top cars in the Red Bull Drifting Championship were as follows:^[24]

As for 2017, the top cars participating in Formula Drift are the Nissan 370Z, Nissan Silvia S14, Nissan Silvia S15, Toyota 86, BMW E46, Ford Mustang, and the Mazda MX-5.

Drift tuning[edit]

Drivetrain[edit]

A mechanical limited slip differential (LSD) is considered essential for drifting. Drifting with an open or viscous differential in a sustained slide generally yields relatively less impressive results. All other modifications are secondary to the LSD.^[25]

The preferred form of LSD for drifting is the clutch type, in «two-way» form, for its consistent and aggressive lockup behavior under both acceleration and deceleration. Some drift cars use a spool «differential», which actually has no differential action at all — the wheels are locked to each other. Drifters on a budget may use a welded differential, where the side gears are welded to give the same effect as a spool. This makes it easier to break rear traction, because it reduces maximum traction in all situations except traveling in a straight line. Welded differentials have an inherent risk involved: due to the tremendous amount of internal stress, the welds may fail and the differential completely lock up leaving the rear wheels immobilized. Helical torque-sensing differentials such as the Torsen or Quaife (available on cars in certain stock trims such as the S15, FD3S, MX-5, JZA80, and UZZ3x) are also adequate. It is common for drifters to change the final gear ratio depending on the type of track layout.

The clutches on drift cars tend to be very tough ceramic-brass button or multiple-plate varieties for durability, as well as to allow rapid «clutch kick» techniques to upset the grip of the rear wheels. Gearbox and engine mounts are often replaced with urethane or aluminum mounts, and dampers are added to control the violent motion of the engine and gearbox under these conditions. The driveshafts are often replaced with carbon fiber drive shafts, as they offer the highest rotational mass savings, are stronger than alternative metals, and flexible enough to absorb and dissipate vibrations, thus easing the load on the gearbox as well as the rest of the drivetrain.

Gear sets may be replaced with closer ratios to keep the engine in the power band, or, on some cars that produce enough power and torque to four-gear transmissions similar to the ones used in NASCAR (such as the Andrews four-speed dog box that Vaughn Gittin Jr. ran in his 2016 Mustang^[26]) with more open-ratio gears, this limits the number of shifts the driver has to do during their run. These may be coarser dog engagement straight cut gears instead of synchronised helical gears, for durability and faster shifting at the expense of noise and refinement. Wealthier drifters may use sequential gearboxes to make gear selection easier and faster, while sequential shift lever adapters can be used to make shifts easier without increasing shift time.

Steering and suspension[edit]

Steering angles are also crucial as the driver progresses. The first stage of these modifications is usually a modified steering knuckle or upright. Extended control arms can be employed on MacPherson strut vehicles like the Nissan S-Chassis to allow for more clearance for higher steering angles. Many aftermarket companies have developed full lock kits including modification of the vehicle’s original scrub radius, kingpin axis, Ackermann angle, amount of bump steer, caster angle, and kinematics as to maximize front grip and eliminate mechanical bind at steering angles in excess of 60°. While MacPherson strut vehicles are prevalent in professional drifting, double wishbone suspension vehicles can also be competitive, with often better caster and camber curves.

Springs and shock absorbers are also tuned for higher skill levels, depending on track layout, which is included on almost all production cars. While Ackermann geometry is helpful in making a car turn easier, it inhibits the ability to slide sideways at full lock necessary to compete in drifting.

Cockpit[edit]

Because of the high centrifugal forces encountered during drifting, drivers are usually retained by a racing seat and five-point harness. This allows the hands to merely turn the wheel, instead of bracing the body in the seat. The same applies for the feet, which are free to move rapidly between clutch, brake and accelerator pedals. The steering wheel is usually relatively small, dished, and perfectly round, so that it can be released and allowed to spin in the driver’s hands as the caster returns the front wheels to center. The locking knob on the hand brake is usually replaced with a spin turn knob; this stops the hand brake locking on when pulled. Nearly all drivers move the hand brake location or add an extra hydraulic hand brake actuator for greater braking force. Additional gauges are used to monitor boost levels, oil pressure and temperature, intake and coolant temperatures, and air-fuel ratio, among other data. Some drivers, especially in larger cars, move the seating position for a better weight distribution, such as Daigo Saito and his 2014 JZX100 Mk.II Chaser.^[27]

Tires[edit]

In the United States, competitive drifters are required to run USDOT-approved (road-legal) tires similar to racing slicks in rubber composition, but with shallow treads included. This is permitted, with the exception of some major championships including D1GP and Formula Drift, which only permit commercially available tires that are approved by the sanctioning body. Professional drifting has come to the point where grip is tuned into cars to be defeated. It makes for a faster drift necessary in the current professional climate. Tires typically used by drifters are around the DOT tread wear rating of 200. Examples include the Hankook Ventus RS-3, Falken Azenis RT615K, Nitto NT05, Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R, and Achilles Radial 123s. Some other companies from Asia have also started developing their technology through sponsoring professional drivers. These companies include Nankang,^[28] Westlake^[29] and Zestino.^[30] Tires are often modified with lettering to give them a more customized look.

R/C drifting[edit]

R/C drifting refers to the act of drifting with a radio-controlled car. R/C cars are equipped with special low-grip tires, usually made from PVC or ABS piping. Some manufacturers make radial drift tires that are made of actual rubber compounds. The car’s setup is usually changed to allow it to drift more easily. R/C drifting is most successful on AWD R/C cars. However, RWD chassis drift cars offer the most realistic experience. Companies such as Overdose, Yokomo, MST, Tamiya, Team Associated, and Hobby Products International^[31] have made dedicated drift cars and supported the hobby.^[32]

In the media[edit]

Film and television[edit]

One of the key sources responsible for the international spread of drifting is the Japanese manga and anime series Initial D, which features Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student who learns to drift on the Mt. Akina tōge (mountain pass) using a custom Toyota AE86. The series features a large number of Japanese performance vehicles, including the Mazda RX-7, the Nissan Skyline, the Toyota Supra, the Toyota MR-2, the Mazda MX-5 and many other vehicles.^[33]

Hollywood embraced the drifting subculture in the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

Paul Newman’s character Doc Hudson, a 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet in Cars (2006), uses drifting techniques on a dirt track in the desert to demonstrate his skills to skeptical NASCAR rookie Lightning McQueen.

The 2017 film Baby Driver features an extended drifting chase scene in which Ansel Elgort’s eponymous character drives a Subaru WRX to evade the police after a bank robbery.

The 2019 Netflix television series Hyperdrive is a reality competition show that focuses heavily on drifting, won by Diego Higa of Brazil.

Computer and console gaming[edit]

Drifting’s popularity in computer games extends back to early arcade racers where techniques for games such as Sega Rally and Ridge Racer involved drifting. The technique is now considered mainstream in modern games in all their forms. In-game communities have developed within games such as Assetto Corsa, Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, made up of teams who battle in user-created tournaments.

Assetto Corsa has become a popular choice for many due to the simulator featuring true to life physics that can translate to real world driving and the ever expanding variety of Championships it offers. Some of the most notable include the Virtual Drift Championship,^[34] The Drift Corner Grand Prix,^[35] and more recently the eSports Drifting Championship.^[36] Some championships have also been created by real world event organizers such as the Drift Masters Virtual Championship.^[37] Assetto Corsa is also extremely modifiable with individual players able to create their own custom built cars and tracks from scratch. Many models are controversially pulled from games such as Forza Motorsport 7 and then modified to fit the needs of the driver. The data that drives these cars is also completely customizable, allowing players to recreate engines from real world dynomometer data as well as suspension geometry. This results in an extremely realistic simulation of each vehicle when data is created accurately. Championships often scrutinize car data closely and are constantly aiming to more accurately depict the features of a virtual cars real life counterpart. Because of this, drivers are beginning to use Assetto Corsa as a tool to practice for real world championships.

Drifting also features heavily in the Need for Speed franchise (notably games since Need for Speed: Underground), the Grid franchise, the Juiced franchise and in Japanese domestic console games such as Initial D: Extreme Stage (PS3), which is based solely on drifting. It has become mainstream enough that there are also indie games about drifting such as Absolute Drift.

Drifting and the related technique of powersliding feature heavily in the Mario Kart franchise, where a successful drift or powerslide around corners will award the player with a short nitrous boost known as a «mini-turbo», with longer drifts awarding a slightly longer speed boost. Similar gameplay mechanics also exist in games from the Asphalt series, where drifting and other fast-paced vehicular maneuvers are a recurring theme.

Browser-based games include the popular Drift Hunters,^[38] NZ Performance Car’s Drift Legends^[39] (the first online game to feature real racetracks, and now ported to iPhone/iPod touch^[40]) and Mercedes-AMG’s Wintersport Drift Competition^[41] (the first manufacturer-backed drifting game). Drifting games for mobile devices are readily available from major developers and independent studios.

Documentaries[edit]

High Performance Imports. Volume 10 features Australian journalists from express publications, and Australian professional drifter Darren Appleton traveling to Japan, purchasing a drift vehicle (Nissan R32 GTS-T four-door), traveling with the likes of D1 champions and entering a drift event.^[42]

In 2011 Phil Morisson and James Robinson of Driftworks embarked on a journey to Japan where they would shoot a documentary about the local drifting scene, which would become known to the public as «Outsiders».^[43]

See also[edit]

• Opposite lock
• Tafheet—illegal street drifting in Arab countries.
• Fishtailing
• Handbrake turn
• Jackknifing
• Scandinavian flick
• Slip, similar technique applied to aircraft in flight, in which an aircraft is travelling somewhat sideways while moving forward
• Spinning (motorsport)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, with loss of traction, while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner. The technique causes the rear slip angle to exceed the front slip angle to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa, also known as opposite lock or counter-steering). Drifting is traditionally done by clutch kicking (where the clutch is rapidly disengaged and re-engaged with the intention of upsetting the grip of the rear wheels), then intentionally oversteering and countersteering. This sense of drift is not to be confused with the four wheel drift, a classic cornering technique established in Grand Prix and sports car racing.^{[citation needed]}

As a motoring discipline, drifting competitions were first popularized in Japan in the 1970s and further popularized by the 1995 manga series Initial D. Drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship, and line taken through a corner or set of corners.^[1]

History[edit]

Origin[edit]

Despite the popular belief that drifting originated in 1970s Japan, this driving technique was first practiced in Europe before 1950. Automotive legend Enzo Ferrari credits Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari as being the inventor of the four-wheel drift. Later, British racing driver Stirling Moss improved upon Nuvorali’s technique, mastering the art of drifting through curves in Formula 1 races by steering with the accelerator pedal. More recently, drifting as a specialized competition became popular in Japan.^[2][3][4] It was most popular in the All Japan Touring Car Championship races. Famous motorcyclist turned driver Kunimitsu Takahashi was the foremost creator of drifting techniques in the 1970s. This earned him several championships and a legion of fans who enjoyed the spectacle of smoking tires. The bias-ply racing tires of the 1960s–1980s lent themselves to driving styles with a high slip angle. As professional racers in Japan drove this way, so did street racers.^[5]

Keiichi Tsuchiya, known as the «Drift King» (ドリフトキング, Dorifuto Kingu), became particularly interested by Takahashi’s drift techniques. Tsuchiya began practicing his drifting skills on the mountain roads of Japan, and quickly gained a reputation amongst the racing crowd. In 1987, several popular car magazines and tuning garages agreed to produce a video of Tsuchiya’s drifting skills. The video, known as Pluspy,^[6] became a hit and inspired many of the professional drifting drivers on the circuits today. In 1988, alongside Option magazine founder and chief editor Daijiro Inada, he helped to organize one of the first events specifically for drifting called the Ikaten (short for Ikasu Hashiriya Team Tengoku). He has also drifted through every turn in Tsukuba Circuit.^{[citation needed]}

Popularity[edit]

One of the earliest recorded drift events outside Japan took place in 1996 at Willow Springs Raceway in Willow Springs, California, hosted by the Japanese drifting magazine and organization Option. Daijiro Inada (founder of the Japanese D1 Grand Prix), the NHRA Funny Car drag racer Kenji Okazaki, and Keiichi Tsuchiya gave demonstrations in a Nissan 180SX that the magazine had brought over from Japan. Entrants included Rhys Millen and Bryan Norris.^[7] Drifting has since exploded into a form of motorsport in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe. Grassroots drifting has seen a huge increase in popularity in the 21st century, which has in turn caused prices of FR cars to increase and parts become more scarce.

Drifting has evolved into a competitive sport where drivers compete (almost exclusively in rear-wheel-drive cars) to earn points from judges based on various factors. At the top levels of competition, IDCR in Worldwide, the D1 Grand Prix in Japan pioneered the sport. Other events such as Drift Games Extreme (formally known as the IDC — Irish Drift Championship) in Ireland, Formula D in the United States, Drift Allstars, King of Europe, Drift Masters and the British Drift Championship in Europe, WDS in China, RDS in Russia, Formula Drift Asia in the Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand/Indonesia, NZ Drift Series in New Zealand, the Australian Drifting Grand Prix, Spec — D Drift Series in Western Canada and the Greek Drift Championship (Drift Wars) have come along to further expand it into a legitimate motorsport worldwide. Drivers within these series are able to keep their cars sliding for extended periods of time, often linking several turns.

Drift competition[edit]

Judging takes place on just a small part of the circuit, a few linking corners that provide good viewing, and opportunities for drifting. The rest of the circuit is irrelevant, but it pertains to controlling the temperature of the tires and setting the car up for the first judged corner. In tandem passes, the lead driver (in the lead car, Senko) often feints their entry to the first corner to upset the chase driver (in the chase car, Atooi); however, in some European series, this practice is frowned upon by judges and considered foul play, resulting in deduction of points.

There are typically two sessions – a qualifying or practice session, and a final session. In qualifying sessions, referred to as «solo runs» (単走, tansō), drifters get individual passes in front of judges (who may or may not be the final judges) to try to make the final 16. This is often on the day preceding the final.

The finals are tandem passes called «chases» (追走, tsuisō). Drivers are paired off, and each heat comprises two passes, with each driver taking a turn to lead. The best of the eight heats go to the next four, to the next two, to the final. The passes are judged as explained above; however, there are some provisos such as:

• Overtaking the lead car under drift conditions is frowned upon even if the chasing car doesn’t interrupt the lead car’s drift.
• Overtaking the lead car under grip conditions automatically forfeits a pass.
• Spinning forfeits a pass, unless the other driver also spins.
• Increasing the lead under drift conditions helps to win a pass.
• Maintaining a close gap while chasing under drift conditions helps to win a pass.
• The level of smoke from the tires is also a factor.

Points are awarded for each pass, and usually, one driver prevails. Sometimes, the judges cannot agree, or cannot decide, or a crowd vocally disagrees with the judge’s decision.^[8] In such cases, more passes may be run until a winner is produced. On occasion, mechanical failure determines the battle’s outcome, either during or preceding a heat. If a car cannot enter a tandem battle, the remaining entrant (who automatically advances) will give a solo demonstration pass. In the event of apparently close or tied runs, crowds often demonstrate their desire for another run with chants of ‘one more time’.^[9]

Commitment is about how much throttle the driver applies, and the confidence and dedication the driver shows when approaching track edges and barriers. The higher the rate-to-angle, the more speed and angle a driver can carry through the course. In addition, the fewer corrections they apply through the course and the closer they drive to the track edges or barriers, the higher their style score.

Outside Japan[edit]

There is some regional variation. For example, in Australia, the chase car is judged on how accurately it emulates the drift of the lead car, as opposed to being judged on its own merit — this is only taken into consideration by the judges if the lead car is on the appropriate racing line.^[10] Other variations of the tansō/tsuisō and the tansō-only method is multi-car group judging, seen in Drift Tengoku videos where the four-car team is judged in groups.^[11]

The D1GP drift series has been prototyping and fine-tuning an electronic judging system based on custom sensors that record and transmit car data to a computer that judges the run. This system is also being tested in some European series. It is designed to remove subjectivity and/or predisposition of judges. Usually the track for such a system is broken up into several sections (usually three) and the system automatically generates scores based on speed, angle and fluidity of the driver in each section, combining the scores for the final score. In certain situations judges can change or overrule a score, which happens, though rarely.

Formula Drift is the top United States Drifting series. Its judging style for competition is based on line, angle, and speed. When judging for line the driver is judged based on their ability to stay on the line set in place by the judges. Points are allocated to outside zones and inner clips, and are also allocated to touch and go areas. Angle is the drivers ability to maintain a high level of angle that will be set by the angle judge in the drivers meeting. Style is judged based on three areas of focus; initiation, fluidity, and commitment. Initiation is based on how early and smooth the driver initiates into a drift. Fluidity is how smooth the driver drives from lock to lock, high angles of drift, and just overall smoothness on the track. Commitment is judged on consistent throttle throughout, and how close the driver is willing to get to walls and clipping points.^[12]
The King of Europe Drift ProSeries has developed its own telemetry system, which uses GPS data to accurately measure speed, angle and line, thus leading to a very objective result for the qualifying sessions.^[13]

Drift cars[edit]

Drift cars are usually light- to moderate-weight rear-wheel-drive coupes and sedans, offering a large range of power levels. There have also been all-wheel drive cars that have been converted to rear-wheel drive such as the Subaru WRX, Toyota Avensis, Scion tC, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Dodge Charger, and Nissan GT-R. Early on, AWD cars without conversion were allowed in some drifting competitions, and usually the rules allowed only a certain percentage of power to be sent to the front wheels, but they are banned in most (if not all) drifting competitions today.

Despite the possibility of obtaining desirable Japanese domestic market vehicles in continents outside Japan,^[14] drifters in other countries prefer to use local versions of the same cars (for example, a Nissan 240SX instead of a Nissan Silvia S13, etc.), or even domestic cars. A high volume of Japanese imports were brought to countries such as Australia and New Zealand, however it is not unusual to see Australian/New Zealand domestic vehicles such as the Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon used in drifting competitions.^[15]

The American market saw a relatively high volume of JDM cars being imported over the last decade, despite Japanese domestic vehicles being right-hand-drive only.^[16] Locally-sold imports such as the Lexus SC and Nissan 240SX feature heavily in American drifting, but they are usually modified with JDM engines to mirror their Japanese domestic equivalents (usually with a Toyota JZ-GTE or Nissan CA18DET/SR20DET/RB26DETT respectively).^[17]

In the UK, there are a high level of Japanese imports used within the drifting scene, due in part to the UK sharing a right-hand drive layout with Japan. However, these cars often cost more than UK-market cars, partly due to import costs. There are plenty of UK and European models used as drift cars as well — older BMWs are particularly prominent due to cost and availability, with Volvo 300 series and Ford Sierras also proving popular.^[18][19]

In the Formula Drift Professional series, cars range from highly tuned Japanese automobiles reflecting the original styles of drifting to all-new age makes and models. Due to no power limit restrictions in the series, it is not uncommon for competitors to use a variety of different powerplants. Popular variations of Chevrolet LS engines are often seen bolted down to Japanese frames.^[20]

In the King of Europe Drift Series, the main professional drift series in Europe, BMW models have long ruled the scene, winning event after event, year after year. The most successful models include the E30, E36 and E46, which also present an advantage in cost (being more affordable than their Japanese rivals). For a few years, BMW V8 engine swaps were the most popular, providing a healthy 300 to 400 horsepower output. With the continuous evolution of the sport, however, these have now become obsolete, making way for more powerful American V8 engines or classic Nissan RB26DETT and Toyota 2JZ-GTE engines.

As an example, the top 15 cars in the 2003 D1GP,^[21] top 10 in the 2004 D1GP,^[22] and top 10 in the 2005 D1GP^[23] were as follows:

The top cars in the Red Bull Drifting Championship were as follows:^[24]

As for 2017, the top cars participating in Formula Drift are the Nissan 370Z, Nissan Silvia S14, Nissan Silvia S15, Toyota 86, BMW E46, Ford Mustang, and the Mazda MX-5.

Drift tuning[edit]

Drivetrain[edit]

A mechanical limited slip differential (LSD) is considered essential for drifting. Drifting with an open or viscous differential in a sustained slide generally yields relatively less impressive results. All other modifications are secondary to the LSD.^[25]

The preferred form of LSD for drifting is the clutch type, in «two-way» form, for its consistent and aggressive lockup behavior under both acceleration and deceleration. Some drift cars use a spool «differential», which actually has no differential action at all — the wheels are locked to each other. Drifters on a budget may use a welded differential, where the side gears are welded to give the same effect as a spool. This makes it easier to break rear traction, because it reduces maximum traction in all situations except traveling in a straight line. Welded differentials have an inherent risk involved: due to the tremendous amount of internal stress, the welds may fail and the differential completely lock up leaving the rear wheels immobilized. Helical torque-sensing differentials such as the Torsen or Quaife (available on cars in certain stock trims such as the S15, FD3S, MX-5, JZA80, and UZZ3x) are also adequate. It is common for drifters to change the final gear ratio depending on the type of track layout.

The clutches on drift cars tend to be very tough ceramic-brass button or multiple-plate varieties for durability, as well as to allow rapid «clutch kick» techniques to upset the grip of the rear wheels. Gearbox and engine mounts are often replaced with urethane or aluminum mounts, and dampers are added to control the violent motion of the engine and gearbox under these conditions. The driveshafts are often replaced with carbon fiber drive shafts, as they offer the highest rotational mass savings, are stronger than alternative metals, and flexible enough to absorb and dissipate vibrations, thus easing the load on the gearbox as well as the rest of the drivetrain.

Gear sets may be replaced with closer ratios to keep the engine in the power band, or, on some cars that produce enough power and torque to four-gear transmissions similar to the ones used in NASCAR (such as the Andrews four-speed dog box that Vaughn Gittin Jr. ran in his 2016 Mustang^[26]) with more open-ratio gears, this limits the number of shifts the driver has to do during their run. These may be coarser dog engagement straight cut gears instead of synchronised helical gears, for durability and faster shifting at the expense of noise and refinement. Wealthier drifters may use sequential gearboxes to make gear selection easier and faster, while sequential shift lever adapters can be used to make shifts easier without increasing shift time.

Steering and suspension[edit]

Steering angles are also crucial as the driver progresses. The first stage of these modifications is usually a modified steering knuckle or upright. Extended control arms can be employed on MacPherson strut vehicles like the Nissan S-Chassis to allow for more clearance for higher steering angles. Many aftermarket companies have developed full lock kits including modification of the vehicle’s original scrub radius, kingpin axis, Ackermann angle, amount of bump steer, caster angle, and kinematics as to maximize front grip and eliminate mechanical bind at steering angles in excess of 60°. While MacPherson strut vehicles are prevalent in professional drifting, double wishbone suspension vehicles can also be competitive, with often better caster and camber curves.

Springs and shock absorbers are also tuned for higher skill levels, depending on track layout, which is included on almost all production cars. While Ackermann geometry is helpful in making a car turn easier, it inhibits the ability to slide sideways at full lock necessary to compete in drifting.

Cockpit[edit]

Because of the high centrifugal forces encountered during drifting, drivers are usually retained by a racing seat and five-point harness. This allows the hands to merely turn the wheel, instead of bracing the body in the seat. The same applies for the feet, which are free to move rapidly between clutch, brake and accelerator pedals. The steering wheel is usually relatively small, dished, and perfectly round, so that it can be released and allowed to spin in the driver’s hands as the caster returns the front wheels to center. The locking knob on the hand brake is usually replaced with a spin turn knob; this stops the hand brake locking on when pulled. Nearly all drivers move the hand brake location or add an extra hydraulic hand brake actuator for greater braking force. Additional gauges are used to monitor boost levels, oil pressure and temperature, intake and coolant temperatures, and air-fuel ratio, among other data. Some drivers, especially in larger cars, move the seating position for a better weight distribution, such as Daigo Saito and his 2014 JZX100 Mk.II Chaser.^[27]

Tires[edit]

In the United States, competitive drifters are required to run USDOT-approved (road-legal) tires similar to racing slicks in rubber composition, but with shallow treads included. This is permitted, with the exception of some major championships including D1GP and Formula Drift, which only permit commercially available tires that are approved by the sanctioning body. Professional drifting has come to the point where grip is tuned into cars to be defeated. It makes for a faster drift necessary in the current professional climate. Tires typically used by drifters are around the DOT tread wear rating of 200. Examples include the Hankook Ventus RS-3, Falken Azenis RT615K, Nitto NT05, Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08R, and Achilles Radial 123s. Some other companies from Asia have also started developing their technology through sponsoring professional drivers. These companies include Nankang,^[28] Westlake^[29] and Zestino.^[30] Tires are often modified with lettering to give them a more customized look.

R/C drifting[edit]

R/C drifting refers to the act of drifting with a radio-controlled car. R/C cars are equipped with special low-grip tires, usually made from PVC or ABS piping. Some manufacturers make radial drift tires that are made of actual rubber compounds. The car’s setup is usually changed to allow it to drift more easily. R/C drifting is most successful on AWD R/C cars. However, RWD chassis drift cars offer the most realistic experience. Companies such as Overdose, Yokomo, MST, Tamiya, Team Associated, and Hobby Products International^[31] have made dedicated drift cars and supported the hobby.^[32]

In the media[edit]

Film and television[edit]

One of the key sources responsible for the international spread of drifting is the Japanese manga and anime series Initial D, which features Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student who learns to drift on the Mt. Akina tōge (mountain pass) using a custom Toyota AE86. The series features a large number of Japanese performance vehicles, including the Mazda RX-7, the Nissan Skyline, the Toyota Supra, the Toyota MR-2, the Mazda MX-5 and many other vehicles.^[33]

Hollywood embraced the drifting subculture in the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

Paul Newman’s character Doc Hudson, a 1951 Fabulous Hudson Hornet in Cars (2006), uses drifting techniques on a dirt track in the desert to demonstrate his skills to skeptical NASCAR rookie Lightning McQueen.

The 2017 film Baby Driver features an extended drifting chase scene in which Ansel Elgort’s eponymous character drives a Subaru WRX to evade the police after a bank robbery.

The 2019 Netflix television series Hyperdrive is a reality competition show that focuses heavily on drifting, won by Diego Higa of Brazil.

Computer and console gaming[edit]

Drifting’s popularity in computer games extends back to early arcade racers where techniques for games such as Sega Rally and Ridge Racer involved drifting. The technique is now considered mainstream in modern games in all their forms. In-game communities have developed within games such as Assetto Corsa, Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, made up of teams who battle in user-created tournaments.

Assetto Corsa has become a popular choice for many due to the simulator featuring true to life physics that can translate to real world driving and the ever expanding variety of Championships it offers. Some of the most notable include the Virtual Drift Championship,^[34] The Drift Corner Grand Prix,^[35] and more recently the eSports Drifting Championship.^[36] Some championships have also been created by real world event organizers such as the Drift Masters Virtual Championship.^[37] Assetto Corsa is also extremely modifiable with individual players able to create their own custom built cars and tracks from scratch. Many models are controversially pulled from games such as Forza Motorsport 7 and then modified to fit the needs of the driver. The data that drives these cars is also completely customizable, allowing players to recreate engines from real world dynomometer data as well as suspension geometry. This results in an extremely realistic simulation of each vehicle when data is created accurately. Championships often scrutinize car data closely and are constantly aiming to more accurately depict the features of a virtual cars real life counterpart. Because of this, drivers are beginning to use Assetto Corsa as a tool to practice for real world championships.

Drifting also features heavily in the Need for Speed franchise (notably games since Need for Speed: Underground), the Grid franchise, the Juiced franchise and in Japanese domestic console games such as Initial D: Extreme Stage (PS3), which is based solely on drifting. It has become mainstream enough that there are also indie games about drifting such as Absolute Drift.

Drifting and the related technique of powersliding feature heavily in the Mario Kart franchise, where a successful drift or powerslide around corners will award the player with a short nitrous boost known as a «mini-turbo», with longer drifts awarding a slightly longer speed boost. Similar gameplay mechanics also exist in games from the Asphalt series, where drifting and other fast-paced vehicular maneuvers are a recurring theme.

Browser-based games include the popular Drift Hunters,^[38] NZ Performance Car’s Drift Legends^[39] (the first online game to feature real racetracks, and now ported to iPhone/iPod touch^[40]) and Mercedes-AMG’s Wintersport Drift Competition^[41] (the first manufacturer-backed drifting game). Drifting games for mobile devices are readily available from major developers and independent studios.

Documentaries[edit]

High Performance Imports. Volume 10 features Australian journalists from express publications, and Australian professional drifter Darren Appleton traveling to Japan, purchasing a drift vehicle (Nissan R32 GTS-T four-door), traveling with the likes of D1 champions and entering a drift event.^[42]

In 2011 Phil Morisson and James Robinson of Driftworks embarked on a journey to Japan where they would shoot a documentary about the local drifting scene, which would become known to the public as «Outsiders».^[43]

See also[edit]

• Opposite lock
• Tafheet—illegal street drifting in Arab countries.
• Fishtailing
• Handbrake turn
• Jackknifing
• Scandinavian flick
• Slip, similar technique applied to aircraft in flight, in which an aircraft is travelling somewhat sideways while moving forward
• Spinning (motorsport)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

В предыдущей статье мы разобрались, где и как зародился дрифт, кто сформировал его как движение и как культуру, а также на чем ездили и продолжают ездить те, кто не мыслит своей жизни без движения на грани разворота. Сегодня же мы выясним, как делать это правильно, по каким критериям оцениваются заезды на соревнованиях и почему же все-таки ваш дизельный Volkswagen Passat не подходит для дрифта.

Что вообще такое — дрифт?
«Дрифт (англ. Drift) — техника прохождения поворотов и вид автоспорта, характеризующиеся прохождением поворотов с намеренным срывом задней оси и проход в управляемом заносе на максимально возможной для удержания на трассе угла скорости, требующие от автомобиля наличие задней ведущей оси». Так гласит Википедия, и мы с ней согласны.

Английская ее версия дополнительно поясняет: «Автомобиль дрифтует, когда угол увода задних колес превышает таковой у передних, причем зачастую настолько, что передние колеса направлены в сторону, противоположную повороту«. Определение довольно исчерпывающее и правильное, поэтому от него и будем отталкиваться, говоря о понятии дрифта.

Зачем для дрифта задний привод и мощный мотор?
Когда я вижу «девятки» с наклейками Drift King, хочется закрыть лицо руками и убежать. Если вдруг для вас неочевидно, почему же нельзя дрифтить с передним приводом, то я поясню. В заносе, когда вы добавляете газу на переднеприводной машине, траектория движения спрямляется (передний привод вообще во многом для того и придумали), а на заднеприводной занос только «усугубляется«. Но ведь этого-то нам и нужно, не так ли?

Стоит добавить, что срыв задней оси и проход поворота в управляемом заносе требуют не только наличия заднего привода, но и непрерывной пробуксовки задних колес, а это приводит нас к тому, что двигатель объемом 1.2 литра и мощностью 50-90 л.с. вряд ли обеспечит нам желаемое (без боли и страданий, но мы ведь не хотим жертв, правда?). Просто потому, что крутящий момент мотора должен быть достаточно мощным, чтобы преодолеть силу, с которой шины трусливо цепляются за асфальт.

Чем дрифт отличается от силового скольжения?
Вернемся к нашему несчастному дизельному Пассату, который мы привели в начале как автомобиль весьма далекий от дрифта. Тут все просто. Дело в том, что он с момента своего рождения в 1973 году выпускался в основном переднеприводным, исключая редкие специальные модификации. А вот, кстати, для силового скольжения он вполне мог бы подойти.

Но в чем же разница? Само понятие силового скольжения более объемное, чем понятие дрифта, который, по сути, является одним из его видов. Однако многие называют почти любой занос дрифтом, и это — заблуждение. Силовое скольжение (пауэрслайд, от английского powerslide) возникает, когда при прохождении поворота центробежная сила, смещающая автомобиль наружу поворота, превышает силу сцепления колес с дорожным покрытием, что приводит к заносу задних или всех четырех колес.

Решающими параметрами при этом являются вовсе не тип привода или мощность двигателя, а лишь скорость автомобиля и коэффициент сцепления колес с поверхностью. Поэтому, разогнавшись на дедушкином Логане на входе в поворот на дачу (и выжив после этого), нельзя на следующий день хвастаться всем, как классно ты «дрифтанул» вчера.

Положение передних колес при силовом скольжении также мало на что влияет, так как управляемость в нем и его исход зависят в основном от параметров, заданных на входе, таких как скорость, угол поворота руля и использование/неиспользование «ручника«. Таким образом, не претендуя на абсолютную истину, мы разграничим понятия «дрифт» и «пауэрслайд» и в дальнейшем будем говорить исключительно о первом.

Учимся дрифтовать правильно:
Теперь, отделив зерна от плевел, перейдем к техникам дрифта. В их классификации также весьма преуспела уже помогавшая нам ранее энциклопедия, поэтому, отбросив предрассудки, возьмем описания приемов целиком, а затем рассмотрим частные случаи.

1. Hand braking drift. Техника является наиболее простой и предпочтительной для обучения дрифту. Она позволяет исправить допущенные ошибки при недостаточной поворачиваемости колес. Для вызова заноса нужно выжать педаль сцепления, сильным рывком ручного тормоза отправить заднюю ось в занос, после чего отпустить педаль сцепления. Важно при этом поддерживать обороты двигателя при выжатом сцеплении. Основная цель — научиться выбирать скорость и силу рывка ручного тормоза в зависимости от ситуации. Возможно использование серии корректирующих траекторию рывков.

2. Clutch Kick. Резкое бросание сцепления. Благодаря быстрому выжиманию и бросанию педали сцепления при поддержании высоких оборотов двигателя, возникает кратковременный избыток мощности, который срывает заднюю ось в занос.

3. Yorin drift. Скольжение со срывом четырех колес. Торможение в повороте скольжением со сносом всех четырех колес, когда машина полностью срывается в середине поворота.

4. Kanteria / feint drift. Раскачка, или «xлыст«. Занос, при помощи которого проходятся S-образные повороты. В данном случае занос в одну сторону является подготовкой для поворота в другую. Такая техника также используется в ралли.

5. Breaking Drift. В ходе выполнения этого приема тормоз нажимается во время вхождения в поворот, затем выжимается сцепление и включается «ручник» одновременно («ручник» нельзя держать больше секунды).

6. Dynamic drift. Осуществляется путем резкого сброса газа на въезде в длинный поворот, корректировок рулем и своевременным поддержанием заноса короткими нажатиями на тормоз без использования подгазовок.

7. Power over drift. Этот вид дрифта используется на машинах с высокой мощностью. Для входа в силовой занос нужно вывернуть руль в ту сторону, куда нужно направить машину, и нажать на газ до упора. Благодаря высокой мощности двигателя, задние колеса потеряют сцепление с дорогой. Чтобы выйти из поворота, не повредив машину, нужно отпустить газ, но не до конца, и повернуть руль в противоположную сторону.

8. Side braking drift. Боковое скольжение. Вариант дрифта, когда происходит срыв задних колес и машина скользит почти боком.

9. Chokudori. Обычно используется после проезда прямого участка дороги, чтобы снизить скорость и выполнить глубокий занос. Торможение посредством скольжения и выставления машины под нужным углом относительно дороги для наиболее выгодного прохождения самого поворота.

10. Manji. Выполняется на прямой дороге, когда водитель раскачивает машину от одной стороны дороги до другой. Обычно используется на показательных выступлениях по дрифтингу.

Как мы видим, приемов и техник в дрифте великое множество, но не стоит думать, что они используются обособленно. Каждый заезд — это сочетание перечисленных выше «фишек«, помогающее пройти трассу наиболее эффектно и эффективно. В целом все их можно свести к нескольким базовым приемам: резкое открытие газа, использование ручного тормоза, резкий сброс газа для разгрузки задних колес и потери ими сцепления, а также контрсмещение.

Контрсмещение вообще является очень важным и действенным приемом в мото- и автоспорте. Особенно важна эта техника в ралли, откуда она, собственно, и пришла в дрифт. Суть ее в том, что перед поворотом пилот преднамеренно производит легкое (или сильное, вплоть до выставления автомобиля боком) смещение автомобиля в сторону, противоположную повороту, а затем, резко выкручивая руль в сторону поворота, создает избыточную поворачиваемость и вызывает занос. В ралли этот прием позволяет быстрее и эффективнее проходить крутые повороты. В дрифте же он, как вы поняли, применяется для создания заноса, которым далее и управляет гонщик.

И еще немного истории дрифт-соревнований:
Теперь вернемся к нашим японцам. К 1988 году «Король дрифта» Кэйити Цутия совместно с Даидзиро Инада добились значительных успехов в популяризации дрифта как вида автомобильных соревнований, и результатом этого стала организация первых в Японии (а, соответственно, и в мире) соревнований, ставших прообразом будущей серии D1 Grand Prix.

Соревнования подразумевают правила и судейство, и судьи были достойными — кто, как не Цутия, мог по праву занять судейское кресло. Правила сформировались тогда же и с тех пор претерпели мало изменений.

Сначала заезды были одиночными, но спустя некоторое время дрифт-соревнования пришли к формату «дуэли«, когда в заезде одновременно принимают участие два гонщика, соревнующиеся между собой и получающие очки по результатам прохода трассы. Судьи при этом оценивают четыре основных параметра: траектория, угол, скорость и зрелищность (стиль). Именно за этими четырьмя сухими словами скрывается вся безудержная, бурлящая, феерическая стихия дрифта.

Траектория — это соответствие движения автомобиля заданной линии, которая обычно определяется судьями перед заездами.

Угол — это, соответственно, угол, под которым движется автомобиль относительно траектории.

Скорость — параметр, не нуждающийся в представлении, тут все просто: надо БОЛЬШЕ скорости!

Ну а зрелищность и стиль — это то, ради чего и проводятся все эти соревнования, стираются тонны покрышек и сжигаются килотонны бензина. Зрелищность оценивается не только судьями, но и зрителями, которые могут не согласиться с мнением судей и даже немного повлиять на их решение неодобрительным гулом и возгласами.

Ведь порой судьи настолько заняты «разбором полетов«, что их работа сводится к тому, что вынесено в цитату выше — выявлению ошибок. И это простительно, ведь аудитория всегда напомнит, что они не на соревнованиях по кёрлингу, и главное — не сантиметры отклонения от линии и градусы угла, а захватывающая атмосфера борьбы и клубы дыма из-под колес. Кстати говоря, прекрасной практикой дрифт-соревнований является проезд по трассе грузовичка, собирающего «урожай» оторванных бамперов, потерянных спойлеров и других внезапно демонтировавшихся запчастей, без которого не обходится ни одно уважающее себя мероприятие.

Настоящий дрифт-кар:
Раз уж мы заговорили о запчастях, стоит немного рассказать о том, что вообще представляет собой автомобиль для дрифта. Это, как мы уже поняли, заднеприводный автомобиль с мощным двигателем, как правило, максимально облегченный (насколько это разрешено здравым смыслом или правилами конкретной серии) и подготовленный к заездам. Слово «подготовленный» в данном случае может подразумевать разную степень «готовности» в зависимости от бюджета и уровня соревнований, но доводка машины обычно весьма объемна и серьезна.

Одной из основополагающих составляющих дрифт-кара является… нет, не двигатель, а задний дифференциал. Именно он обеспечивает пробуксовку одновременно двух задних колес, без которой нельзя добиться ни продолжительного управляемого заноса, ни успехов в соревнованиях. Обычно используется дифференциал с повышенным внутренним сопротивлением (его еще называют LSD, от английского «limited-slip differential«), который позволяет несколько варьировать пробуксовку колес, но не позволяет одному из них «бездельничать«. В упрощенных случаях используется принудительная механическая блокировка дифференциала, которая заставляет оба колеса задней оси вращаться синхронно, с одинаковой скоростью. В особо упрощенных случаях дифференциал банально заваривают, тем самым ликвидируя его функции практически полностью, но добиваясь столь желаемого синхронного вращения обоих задних колес.
От дифференциала перейдем к двигателю. Двигатель автомобиля для дрифта должен выдерживать высокие нагрузки, при этом работая максимально долго, так как он не меняется после каждых соревнований, как это может происходить в профессиональных автогонках с огромными бюджетами. Исходя из этого, предпочтение обычно отдается объемным двигателям, так как они позволяют получить большую мощность при большем ресурсе, а также выдают ее в широком диапазоне оборотов, что крайне важно для поддержания управляемого заноса на разных скоростях. Двигатели часто оснащаются наддувом, при этом основной задачей остается «размазать» их максимальную производительность по всем оборотам, сделав график крутящего момента как можно более плавным.

Коробка передач также зависит от бюджета и правил определенной серии соревнований. Она может быть как стоковой, так и спортивной, и поскольку переключение передач не должно отнимать у пилота много времени, вполне оправдано использование секвентальных КПП.

Подвеска, как правило, занижается для повышения устойчивости автомобиля в повороте. Амортизаторы и пружины устанавливаются жесткие, чтобы избежать раскачки и валкости, которая негативно скажется на управляемости. Рулевое управление часто дорабатывается с целью увеличения угла поворота колес. Да-да, это тот самый «выворот«, который порой достигает 90 градусов и более и которым хвастаются не меньше, чем объемом двигателя. Также для лучшего контроля автомобиля с вывернутыми колесами развал передних колес делают отрицательным, ставя колеса «домиком«.

В целом все вышеперечисленные модификации позволяют создать примерный образ автомобиля, который может успешно «валить боком«. Конечно, есть и другие способы радикально улучшить скорость и управляемость, такие как желтая краска и фирменные наклейки, но о них мы расскажем в нашем следующем материале, посвященном дрифту в массовой культуре и повседневной жизни.
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