How To Drift A Car : Rear Wheel Drive Techniques

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Learning how to drift a car is a goal for many driving enthusiasts. To drift a car, you initiate a slide by combining steering input with throttle and sometimes brake. It’s a controlled loss of traction that looks spectacular when done right.

This guide breaks down the process into clear, actionable steps. We’ll cover the essential techniques, car setup, and safety measures you need.

Mastering this skill requires practice in a safe, legal environment. Always prioritize safety for yourself and others.

How To Drift A Car

Drifting is the art of oversteer. You make the car’s rear tires lose grip and slide sideways while you control the slide’s angle and direction with the steering wheel, throttle, and brakes. It’s not just about power; it’s about balance and car control.

The core principle is managing weight transfer. By shifting the car’s weight, you can induce and then control a slide. Different techniques use the throttle, brake, and clutch to achieve this.

Before you try any of this, you must find a suitable location. A large, empty, paved area like a private track or a sanctioned drift event is the only appropriate place. Public roads are illegal and extremely dangerous for this activity.

Essential Preparations Before You Start

Jumping straight into drifting is a recipe for a crash. Proper preparation is non-negotiable. This involves your car, your mindset, and your environment.

Choosing And Preparing Your Car

While you can drift many rear-wheel-drive cars, some are better suited than others. A manual transmission is highly recommended for the control it offers.

  • Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): This is mandatory. Front-wheel or all-wheel drive cars use different techniques.
  • Manual Transmission: Allows for clutch kicks and precise gear selection, which are vital for many drift techniques.
  • Reliable Power: You don’t need 500 horsepower to start. A balanced car with 150-250 horsepower is often easier to learn in.
  • Limited-Slip Differential (LSD): A mechanical or clutch-type LSD helps both rear wheels spin together, making initiating and holding a drift much easier. An open differential will spin one wheel, making sustained slides difficult.
  • Good Condition: Ensure your tires, brakes, and suspension are in good working order. The stress of drifting will highlight any weaknesses.

Safety And Location

Your safety and the safety of others is the top priority. Never attempt this on public streets.

  • Find a Legal, Empty Space: A racetrack, a private industrial lot with explicit permission, or a designated skid pad are the only acceptable venues.
  • Inspect the Surface: Check for debris, potholes, or anything that could cause a loss of control or a tire blowout.
  • Use a Helmet: A proper automotive safety helmet is essential.
  • Secure Loose Items: Everything inside the car should be removed or tightly secured.
  • Consider a Roll Cage: For serious practice, a roll cage is a wise safety investment.

Core Drifting Techniques Explained

These are the fundamental methods used to initiate a drift. Start with the basic power-over technique before moving to more advanced methods.

The Power-Over Technique

This is the simplest method for beginners. It uses raw power to break the rear tires loose. It works best in a car with sufficient power or in wet conditions.

  1. Approach a corner at a moderate speed in a low gear (usually 2nd).
  2. As you turn into the corner, apply a sharp, strong input on the throttle.
  3. The sudden power surge will overwhelm the rear tires’ grip, causing them to spin and the rear of the car to slide out.
  4. Once the slide starts, you must counter-steer (turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide) and modulate the throttle to maintain the drift.

The Clutch-Kick Technique

This technique is excellent for lower-powered cars. It uses a sudden shock from the drivetrain to break traction.

  1. Approach the corner in the appropriate gear, typically 2nd.
  2. As you begin to turn in, quickly press the clutch pedal to the floor.
  3. Rev the engine to a high RPM (e.g., 4000-5000 RPM).
  4. Suddenly release the clutch pedal. The rapid engagement will shock the drivetrain and cause the rear wheels to spin, initiating a slide.
  5. Immediately counter-steer and use throttle control to balance the car.

The Handbrake (E-Brake) Technique

The handbrake is a very direct way to start a slide, especially for tight corners or low speeds. It’s crucial to use a car with a hydraulic handbrake or a well-adjusted mechanical one that locks the rear wheels.

  1. Approach the corner slightly wider than the normal racing line.
  2. Just before you turn in, pull the handbrake firmly while keeping the clutch depressed (in a manual) or your foot off the accelerator (in an automatic).
  3. This will lock the rear wheels, making the car’s rear end swing out.
  4. As the rear slides, release the handbrake, turn into the slide (counter-steer), and apply throttle to continue the drift.

The Braking (Feint) Technique

Also known as the Scandinavian Flick, this advanced technique uses weight transfer to initiate a slide. It’s very effective for changing direction quickly.

  1. As you approach a left-hand turn, briefly steer slightly to the right. This transfers the car’s weight to the left side.
  2. Immediately and aggressively steer left into the actual corner. The sudden weight transfer to the right side will lighten the rear left tire, making it easy to break loose with throttle or lift-off.
  3. The car will pivot into a slide. You then counter-steer and use throttle to control it.

How To Control And Maintain A Drift

Initiating the slide is only half the battle. The real skill lies in controlling the car’s angle and direction throughout the corner.

Counter-Steering And Throttle Control

These two inputs work in constant harmony. Counter-steering points the front wheels where you want to go, while throttle controls the slide’s angle.

  • Counter-Steer: As the rear slides out, you must turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide. If the rear is sliding right, you steer right. This keeps the car pointing down the road.
  • Throttle Modulation: More throttle will increase the slide angle, making the car more sideways. Less throttle will allow the car to straighten out. Smooth, precise adjustments are key.
  • Balancing Act: If the car starts to straighten up (understeer), apply more throttle. If it spins too far (over-rotate), reduce throttle and possibly add a slight correction of opposite lock.

Transitioning And Linking Corners

To drift through multiple corners, you must transition the drift from one direction to the other. This is where the feint technique or a combination of throttle lift and steering input comes in.

  1. As you exit the first drift, reduce the throttle slightly to bring the car’s angle back in line.
  2. Quickly counter-steer in the opposite direction to catch the car as it flicks back.
  3. Immediately apply throttle again to break the rear loose in the new direction for the next corner.
  4. This requires rythym and anticipation, feeling the car’s weight shift from side to side.

Common Mistakes And How To Correct Them

Every beginner makes errors. Recognizing them early will speed up your learning process.

  • Not Enough Counter-Steer: This is the most common error. You must turn the wheel into the slide aggressively and early. Hesitation leads to a spin.
  • Stabbing The Throttle: Jerky throttle inputs upset the car’s balance. Practice smooth, progressive pressure on the pedal.
  • Looking At The Apex: Your eyes guide the car. Look where you want to go, down the track, not directly in front of the hood or at the apex curb.
  • Giving Up Too Early: When a slide starts, your instinct is to lift off and brake. You must fight this instinct, apply counter-steer, and modulate the throttle.
  • Poor Car Setup: Trying to learn in a car with an open differential or badly worn tires will lead to frustration. Adress these basics first.

Practice Drills For Beginners

Start with these simple exercises to build muscle memory and car control before attempting full corners.

Donuts

This is the best first drill. It teaches you to maintain a constant drift in a circle.

  1. Find a large, open, smooth area.
  2. Drive in a small circle at low speed.
  3. Use the power-over or clutch-kick method to break the rear loose.
  4. Focus on using only throttle and counter-steer to keep the car in a constant, small circle. Try to make the circle bigger and smaller with throttle input.

Figure Eights

Once you can do donuts consistently, figure eights teach you to transition.

  1. Set up two markers or cones in a large space.
  2. Drift a donut around one marker.
  3. As you come around, reduce throttle, straighten the wheel slightly, then steer towards the other marker and apply throttle to initiate a drift in the opposite direction around the second marker.
  4. This drill is fundamental for learning weight transfer and transition control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Drift An Automatic Car?

Yes, you can drift an automatic car, though it offers less control than a manual. Techniques like power-over and handbrake turns work fine. Using the automatic’s manual mode, if it has one, to hold gears is very helpful. The lack of a clutch eliminates the clutch-kick technique.

What Is The Best Car To Learn To Drift?

Affordable, rear-wheel drive, manual cars with good aftermarket support are ideal. Common choices include the Nissan 240SX, Mazda MX-5 Miata, BMW 3-Series (E36, E46), and the Toyota AE86. These cars are relatively inexpensive, simple to work on, and have a proven drift pedigree.

How Much Does It Cost To Start Drifting?

Costs can vary widley. You can start with a used car for a few thousand dollars. Essential initial costs include safety gear (helmet), tires (you will go through them), and entry fees for track days or drift events. Maintenance costs will be higher than normal street driving due to increased wear on components.

Is Drifting Bad For Your Car?

Drifting puts significant stress on your car. It accelerates wear on tires, brakes, suspension components, the clutch, and the differential. Parts will fail more quickly than with normal street driving. Proper maintenance and using a dedicated or beater car is highly recommended to avoid damaging your daily driver.

What Is A Limited-Slip Differential And Why Is It Important?

A Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) is a device that allows both rear wheels to spin at similar speeds, even if one loses traction. An open differential sends power only to the wheel with the least grip, making it very difficult to sustain a drift. A mechanical LSD is one of the most important modifications for a drift car.