The History of Drifting and The Future of Formula Drift

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“The Future is Smokey, with a High Chance of Tire Rubber!”

So what is in the cards for drifting and Formula Drift?  What kind of future will we see in sliding cars? Honestly, anything is possible and from here on is purely my speculation. So don’t blame me if none of this comes true, but if it does, I will take full blame!

There are a lot of pictures of this Diesel drifting well all over the internet but can a diesel be competitive in Pro drifting?  As fuel prices go up and compact light diesel technology improves, perhaps, but it will take manufacturer involvement to do the development needed for drifting as the costs would be high.

In a shorter term look for the return of the turbo 4 and 6 cylinder.  Ever tightening fuel economy issues means that more and more manufacturers are returning to small turbo boosted engines to replace more thirsty larger displacement engines.  As the OEM’s push turbo development and more turbo engines are on the market, the enthusiast market will benefit.  If we could only get the OEM’s to make compact and affordable RWD cars again!  Is anyone from the OEM’s reading this right now?

The upcoming Scion FR-S seems to be the only hope on the horizon for compact car enthusiasts.  FR compact car reasonably priced, please OEM’s make some!

I think we will eventually see more alternative fuels and I do foresee the possibility of a diesel drift car competing here in the US professionally.  There was supposed to be a Mercedes-Benz powered by a Mercedes diesel using bio-diesel at Long Beach in 2011, but so far it hasn’t made it yet nor have I heard any more about it.  Furthermore, as more Freightliner/Mercedes-Benz/Dodge Sprinter vans end up in junk yards, there will be more relatively light and cheap diesel engines to choose from. Bio-Diesel is easy to make for the backyard cook and you don’t need to get attacked by your Federal Government because you made moonshine for your custom E85 blend.  It’s usually cheap, too, as you can get used cooking oils from your local McDonalds for the low, low price of free, most of the time, and you’re usually paying for the chemicals to convert the used cooking oil into a usable bio-diesel. (Editor Kojima does not agree, diesels are too heavy, require turbos, have too short of a powerband and have too slow throttle response.)

Not only is this a drifting diesel but it’s a drifting diesel truck!

I see diesel cars happening sooner than a KERS-type Hybrid or even a full electric drift car. Battery technology still isn’t at the point for automobiles to be used in such a hard, harsh environment that drifting provides in throttle use.  In research for a Full-Electric Time Attack Nissan D21 EV, I was actually advised against it by many Electric Vehicle converters because of the strain put on the batteries in just road racing. On top of that, the cost is currently very high, with most EV conversions going for $25-45,000 without the cost of a car. I believe we’ll see a Hybrid before a full EV car, but even then it will probably be a few years off. (Ed- Many years off)

The schedule for Formula Drift will grow and we will see at least two events in each US region, if not, more. Which means we will see a FD event twice a month and I think there will be a track that will be dedicated to just drifting and somehow I think Bruton Smith will have something to do with it.  In NASCAR, he was the first to have a raceway re-named after a corporation, Lowe’s Motor Speedway. When the NHRA gained some popularity again, he built the first and so far only four lane dragstrip in which four cars race at once. When dirt track racing popularity grew, he built The Dirt Track at Charlotte.  There will be a Drift Track and I think it will be in Charlotte, NC just outside of NASCAR Land and when it does happen, drifting will explode.

Electronic aids will help make judging easier and more objective but we don’t see them completely replacing Judges.  The D1GP drift box was a flop which didn’t work very well.   Now The King of Europe drift series announced that its events will be electronically judged.  We don’t think this will work very well as our experience with GPS based datalogging has shown that these system cannot judge angle of style very well if at all.

There will be more technology to not only aid in judging, but to let the fans see just what these drivers are going through. You will see G-Meters, steering angle meters, throttle, brake, and handbrake meters on Livestream and TV, all in an effort to let the fan get that much more connected and to see what it takes to make the car slide. I also foresee the live event broadcast on TV, instead of a tape delay viewing at the end of the season along with the Livestream. Judging will be more visible to the fan and the same meters fans will see will aid in judging a run. Unsuccessful devices like the Drift Box that was used in D1USA and D1GP will not be used.

As you can tell, I see a bright future for Drifting, and as fans begin to search for an exciting series with close battles and carnage, they won’t be looking to NASCAR anymore.  Instead, they will see drifting as the series to watch and Formula Drift will be there to push that idea forward.  I will be there as well, covering, interviewing, maybe even do a little driving along the way.

See Y’all at the Next Round

Looking Back to Look Forward