Of course not....since you do not have to be a scientist to start spotting the common treads between the skills of drifting and racing or rallying. The method of skill may have some similarity, but the star drivers are different.
The stars are our sons and daughters who are looking for extra adrenalin intake, and some extra cash for set of spare tyres, upgraiding, power busting their cars. And very often paying the rapair bills and the damages caused by the tyre burning enjoyment.

Off street drifting is not as dangerous as the on road one, but my first experience has significantly determined my doubt of it, when I was sitting in the dummy seat of my son's car.

"You have to get use to it"....he sad with smiling face...after the demonstration.

WHAT IS DRIFTING?

Originating in Japan, (where else) drifting is the art of sliding a car around a course at an angle to the intended direction of travel. Drifting is wild and woolly, but safe because of the relatively low speeds achieved, compared with circuit racing. Drifting is entrenched in the Japanese Motorsport scene and is gaining a great level of popularity in Australia.

Competitive drifting is based on judging criteria, which include style, speed through the corner, the line taken through a corner and, of course, how sideways the driver gets the car.

The pinnacle of competitive drifting is the drift battle, where two cars drift against each other in close proximity. The idea is to get as close as you can to your opponent and out-drift them in a corner-by-corner battle. Nothing matches drift battles for excitement and wheel to wheel tyre smokin' action.

COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT DRIFTLAND

Driftland is located near the Northern section of Oran Park's famous Grand Prix Circuit, and comprises parts of the Grand Prix, Bike Racing and Go Kart circuits. The circuit provides a variety of corners and a variety of options for drifting, from the beginners' to high speed massive angle drift battles.

The place also offers a fantastic place for drifting beginners too. Competitors at off-street drifting are placed in a group of competitors of similar experience, on a track that is appropriate for their level of experience.
Beginners will be placed on a lower-speed circuit, designed to assist you with car set up and give you plenty of run off room until you are able to graduate to the other parts of Driftland. While more experienced drifters will be allowed to drift on a higher-speed configuration.

For experienced drifters, Driftland is able to host Australia's best high-speed drift battles. as recently hosted the Australian Drift Nationals and saw some high speed drifting between some of the most popular Japanese D1 drivers, Izemuda, Bai and Tezuka.

The Circuit also regularly hosts Drift Tournaments which culminate in the exciting Top-16 elimination drift battles, for which Driftland has become famous. Australia's best drifting teams and drivers regularly battle it out in these corners.

Driftland is for everyone. For those youngsters who want to show their temper, for those olders who want to convince themselves how vigorous they are, or just all who want to try out what could be done when a car drifts side by side. And most importantly where sliding is not the sign of awkwardness but virtue.

Remember, if it's sideways, if it's smokin' it's drifting!

(S.SZ.)