How To Drift The Car

Learning how to drift the car is a goal for many driving enthusiasts. Drifting the car is a controlled technique where you intentionally oversteer to make the rear wheels lose traction. It’s a skillful balance of car control, throttle input, and steering correction. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step path to understanding and performing this advanced driving maneuver.

Before you begin, safety is the absolute priority. Drifting requires a specific environment and vehicle preparation. You should never attempt this on public roads. This article will cover the essentials: from the basic concepts and required equipment to detailed techniques and common mistakes.

This section breaks down the core process into manageable steps. Mastering the drift involves a sequence of actions that must become instinctual. We will start with the fundamental method and then progress to more advanced techniques.

Essential Preparations Before You Start

You cannot learn to drift without the right setup. Rushing into practice without preparation is dangerous and ineffective. These are the non-negotiable prerequisites for your safety and success.

Finding A Safe And Legal Location

The only appropriate place to practice drifting is a controlled, closed course. Public roads are illegal and extremely dangerous for this activity. Look for the following options:

A dedicated racetrack or drift track that allows practice days.
A large, empty, and secure private parking lot with explicit owner permission.
An autocross or skid pad facility designed for vehicle control training.

The surface should be paved and free of obstacles like light poles, curbs, or debris. A wet or slightly slippery surface can be helpful for initial learning as it requires less speed.

Preparing Your Vehicle

While you can drift in many rear-wheel-drive cars, some modifications and checks are highly recommended. Your car must be mechanically sound.

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): This is mandatory. Front-wheel or all-wheel drive cars use different techniques not covered in this basic guide.
Handbrake (Emergency Brake): A functioning, cable-operated handbrake is crucial for initiating drifts, especially for beginners.
Tires: Use older, less expensive tires for practice. The rear tires will wear out very quickly. Some drivers slightly over-inflate the rear tires to reduce grip.
Mechanical Check: Ensure your suspension, brakes, and steering components are in good condition. The stress of drifting will highlight any weaknesses.
Fluids: Check engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid levels. Consider a higher-temperature brake fluid if you will be doing extended sessions.
Safety Equipment: At a minimum, wear a certified helmet. A roll cage, racing seats, and harnesses are recommended for serious practice.

The Core Techniques And Steps

With a safe location and a prepared car, you can begin to learn the physical actions of drifting. Start slowly and focus on one element at a time. Do not try to link drifts immediately.

Step 1: The Handbrake Initiation

This is the most common and accessible method for beginners. It allows you to break rear traction without needing high speed or aggressive steering inputs.

Approach a corner at a moderate, safe speed in second gear.
As you turn into the corner, quickly pull and release the handbrake while keeping the button depressed. This locks the rear wheels momentarily.
Simultaneously, apply a quick burst of throttle. The goal is to get the rear of the car to step out.
As the car begins to slide, immediately counter-steer. This means turning the steering wheel in the direction of the slide (if the rear is sliding right, steer right).
Modulate the throttle to maintain the slide. Too little throttle will grip up and straighten the car; too much will cause a spin.

Step 2: Controlling The Slide With Throttle And Steering

Initiating the slide is only the first part. Sustaining it is where true car control happens. Your primary tools are the throttle pedal and the steering wheel.

Throttle Control: This is the key to a sustained drift. Smooth, precise adjustments are vital. More throttle increases the slide angle; less throttle decreases it. It’s a constant balancing act.
Counter-Steering: You must steer into the slide to prevent the car from spinning out. The faster the slide, the more counter-steer you will need. Your hands should be active and quick on the wheel.
Vision: Look where you want the car to go, not at the wall or directly in front of the hood. Your hands will naturally follow your gaze. Focus on your exit point.

Step 3: The Power-Over Initiation

This technique uses power alone to break traction, which is more challenging but smoother once mastered. It requires more power or a slippery surface.

Approach a corner with more speed than you would for normal turning, still in second gear.
As you begin to turn in, apply a sharp, strong burst of throttle. This sudden power delivery will cause the rear wheels to overcome their grip.
The moment you feel the rear end break loose, ease slightly off the throttle and begin counter-steering.
Then, apply steady throttle again to maintain the slide’s momentum through the corner.

Step 4: Transitioning And Linking Drifts

Linking one drift into another, or transitioning, is the hallmark of advanced drifting. It involves changing the direction of the slide smoothly.

To transition from a left-hand drift to a right-hand drift, you must first straighten the car. As the car approaches a neutral position during the first slide, quickly apply a sharp steering input or a quick flick of the handbrake in the opposite direction while maintaining throttle. This will snap the rear of the car the other way, requiring you to immediately counter-steer again for the new slide. It’s a rapid, fluid motion that takes considerable practice to perfect.

Common Mistakes And How To Correct Them

Every new drifter makes errors. Recognizing and correcting them early will accelerate your learning. Here are the most frequent issues.

Spinning Out

This is the most common result of a mistake. A spin occurs when you lose all control of the slide. The primary causes are:

Too much throttle during the initiation or mid-slide.
Not applying enough counter-steer, or applying it too slowly.
Lifting off the throttle completely mid-slide, causing the rear tires to suddenly grip and snap the car in the opposite direction (a “snap oversteer” spin).

Correction: Be smoother and more progressive with the throttle. Practice your counter-steering reaction until it becomes instant. If you feel a spin coming, you can sometimes catch it with very quick steering and a slight clutch kick to regain momentum.

Not Maintaining The Slide

The opposite problem is the car straightening up and regaining grip prematurely. This happens because of:

Insufficient throttle to keep the wheels spinning faster than the car’s speed.
Over-counter-steering, which actually begins to point the car in the direction of the slide and ends it.
Entering the corner with to little speed to carry the slide through.

Correction: Commit to the throttle. Understand that maintaining a drift requires consistent power. Practice finding the “balance point” where the throttle input just sustains the slide without increasing it or ending it.

Advanced Drifting Techniques

After mastering the basic initiation and hold, you can explore techniques that allow for more angle, style, and control in different situations.

Clutch Kicking

This is a method to extend or initiate a slide by shocking the drivetrain. While in a drift or during initiation, you quickly press the clutch in and then release it (a “kick”) while maintaining high engine RPM and throttle. This sudden re-engagement of power breaks traction violently. It’s useful for adjusting angle or saving a drift that is dying due to low speed.

Feint Or Scandinavian Flick

This weight-transfer technique is borrowed from rally driving. You turn the wheel slightly away from the corner first, then quickly turn into it. This shifts the car’s weight to one side and then violently to the other, helping to unbalance the rear and initiate a slide with minimal braking or handbrake use. It requires precise timing and is very effective on loose surfaces.

Braking Drift

In this technique, you use the foot brake while entering a corner to transfer weight forward, lightening the rear end and making it easier to break loose with throttle or a handbrake tug. It’s a more advanced way to control the car’s balance during initiation.

Vehicle Setup And Modifications

As you progress, you may want to modify your car to make it more predictable and durable for drifting. These are common starting points.

Limited-Slip Differential (LSD): This is one of the most important modifications. A welded or aftermarket LSD ensures both rear wheels spin together, providing more consistent power delivery and control during a slide. An open differential will often spin only one wheel, making controlled drifts difficult.
Coilover Suspension: Adjustable suspension allows you to tune the car’s handling balance, making it more responsive to steering and weight transfer.
Steering Angle Kit: This modification allows the front wheels to turn at a sharper angle, enabling more extreme drift angles and making it easier to maintain control during long slides.
Hydraulic Handbrake: A dedicated hydraulic handbrake system provides more consistent and powerful rear wheel locking than a stock cable handbrake, offering better initiation control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Drift An Automatic Car?

Yes, you can drift an automatic car. The techniques are fundamentally the same. You may need to use the handbrake more frequently for initiation since you cannot clutch kick. Using the manual shift mode, if available, to hold a gear is also very helpful for maintaining control.

What Is The Best Car To Learn How To Drift?

Inexpensive, rear-wheel drive cars with good aftermarket support are ideal for learning. Popular choices include the Nissan 240SX, Mazda MX-5 Miata, BMW 3-Series (E36, E46), and older Ford Mustangs. They are relatively affordable to buy and repair, and parts are readily available.

Is Drifting Bad For Your Car?

Drifting puts significant stress on your vehicle. You will experience accelerated wear on tires, brakes, suspension components, and the drivetrain. Regular maintenance and inspections are crucial. It is a high-impact motorsport, so mechanical failures are more likely than with normal street driving.

How Do You Practice Drifting Safely?

Always practice in a legal, controlled environment. Start at low speeds to understand the car’s reactions. Use cones to mark a large, simple course. Have an experienced spotter if possible. Never push beyond your comfort zone prematurely, and always ensure your vehicle is in proper mechanical condition before each session.

What Is The Difference Between Drifting And Powersliding?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but purists make a distinction. A powerslide is often a shorter, less controlled slide that may not be sustained through an entire corner. Drifting implies a deliberate, sustained, and controlled oversteer state through a corner or a series of corners, often with a higher degree of angle and intent.