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Many people wonder if car racing is a sport, but if you ask the hundreds of thousands of fans who rush to race tracks all over the country, they would tell you car racing is a sport, no matter what anyone else says. There are different kinds of car racing and each enjoys its own place in the racing world.
Of course everyone has heard of NASCAR, and of Formula 1 racing. But have you ever heard anything about Formula D racing? This style of racing is also called Formula Drifting, or just Drifting. Even many hard core racing fans have not heard of this kind of racing. It is not a race as we know it, but it is action packed, exciting and fun to watch.
If you have seen the movie The Fast and The Furious, then you have seen Drifting. So you actually may know more about drifting than you realize.
The first Formula Drifting Pro Race was held in 2004, so it is a very new event. It has been popular in Japan and is now in the US, so even if you don't know much now, you will soon learn. You will be hearing a lot more about Formula Drifting.
Formula D Racing, Formula Drifting, is not really racing. It is more about driving with control, speed, and at the proper angles. A Drift Racer will try to maneuver his vehicle through corners, and angles at speeds that challenge the cars ability to continue to grip the road. It has been told that using the correct drifting lines will help a driver reach the highest speeds that his car is able to attain.
It may not sound too tough, but believe me, it is. It takes not only skill but lots of practice, work and of course, determination to be able to drive as a professional drifter.
In the art of Formulas D Racing there are two races. These races are known as qualifying runs and tandem battles. Drivers complete courses on their own when qualifying for a run, but in a Tandem Battle there are two drivers, who are drifting at the same time, and also being scored upon by the judges. In the qualifying run the drifting line and the speed of the car are used as criteria for a win, where in the Tandem Battle there are more factors
involved, including collisions and passing.
Right now the only professional drifting series in the US is the Formula Drift Championships, at least the only one that is currently sanctioned by the SCCA Pro Racing. This keeps the standards and challenges in the races tough, because when racing is sanctioned by a particular organization the sport needs to follow a well defined set of rules. It makes for a more difficult and exciting challenge in many cases. Because the SCCA Pro Racing Organization is behind the new Drift Racing, the drift drivers are finding that the best and newest equipment is available to them along with other benefits.
The only place for the popularity of Drifting to go is up. Many fans are already thrilled with the action and excitement watching it brings. The skill levels needed by the drivers are always an adventure to watch, and they are improving all the time.
Even though you may have not heard of Drifting before, keep your eyes and ears open, because it will most likely become as popular in the states as it is in Japan, and there it is one of the most popular sports they have.
There are several different ways that you can watch a Formula D Race when you decide you want to. The races take place all over the US and some of the bigger sites are in California, Washington State, Georgia and New Jersey.
If you can't get to a race in person, you can tune into one on your TV set. The Formula D Racing program has teamed up with G4TechTV, also known as G4. You can turn to this channel to find When Drifting events have been scheduled.
Yes, Formula Drifting is a very up and coming exciting new sport. Once you see it your will be amazed at the skills necessary to compete in the races, and at the skill levels of the drivers. Who ever thought these moves were possible in cars?
Hey, remember never try this kind of stuff at home. If you are interested in learning more about Drifting, check your local race track for information.