Drifting
Drifting is a form of motorsport in which the driver maneuvers an automobile to oversteer through an apex or straight, often with opposite lock. To perform this type of driving requires precise control over a vehicle, and sustaining such a drift for an extended period of time (and in a controlled manner) is often the object of drifting competitions. Because drifting is not the quickest way to take a turn, drivers are judged more on car control, technique, and style.
Furthermore, although nearly any wheeled vehicle can be placed into a drift for an instant due to loss of control, in general only rear-wheel drive (RWD) automobiles are capable of maintaining a controlled drift for an extended period of time. For this reason, sporty RWD cars such as early Toyota Toyota Truenos, Mazda RX-7s, and Nissan 180SXs, which are relatively inexpensive yet were engineered with sophisticated suspension and rear-wheel drive configurations, are especially popular with amateur drifters.
The sport is particularly popular among young automotive enthusiasts in Japan, and the popularity has spread to the United States, Australia, Europe and various other locales.
Keiichi Tsuchiya, nicknamed the "Drift King" is one of the most famous drifters and is now a official D1 Grand Prix judge.
Drifting in technical racing terms refers to a car's slip angle.
