Drifting, what it is and how to learn: the importance of a professional course

Drifting is a word we don't hear often, or at least: car enthusiasts and fans of the Fast & Furious movie saga know it well. This English term "drifting" is a driving style that consists of keeping the car in a "controlled skid", but it is very important to enroll in professional courses to do this in complete safety. First of all, in fact, it is essential to acquire technique and sensitivity, since drifting can become dangerous if you are not completely expert. How to become one? With the drift courses: at the Drift Arena, a Drifting school in Bologna, you can learn it with instructors who have been practicing this discipline for more than 20 years. Obviously safely.

What is drifting

Before going into the courses in detail, we want to focus on what drifting is and how this name can be used in the world of motorsport. Simple: the car loses control, precisely of the rear part, and is therefore controlled by the front part. The rear wheels lose grip, and the car slides, therefore, as expected by the term, it drifts. Obviously, you need to know how to trace the trajectory to maintain during this maneuver, because the goal is to avoid going off the road, so you need to have full control of the car to avoid causing damage to yourself or others.

Explained with these words, it may obviously seem like a dangerous maneuver. We don't want to lie: it is a maneuver that requires a high level of self-control and above all an in-depth knowledge of the technique and the car itself. For an expert driver, for example, drifting is not difficult, in fact, it becomes like driving an ordinary car. How did this technique come about? As a form of competition, but speed is not the success factor, but rather the precision of the driver's driving. Among other things, it is one of the most used maneuvers in the world of rallying, where there is the need to maintain speed when facing a tight curve, but without completely losing control of the vehicle. In the drifting discipline, however, the car is always rear-wheel drive and front engine, this is to ensure that the yaw is more constant and long-lasting than in a 4x4 car.

An adrenaline-filled maneuver for professionals

This car maneuver, as we have seen, is spectacular and adrenaline-filled at the same time. To perform it perfectly, however, it is essential to study: for true professionals, it is "almost" child's play. Also because there are real sports competitions for drifting champions. The sporting discipline is known throughout the world, also thanks to the Fast & Furious saga, which also dedicated a film to this technique originating from Japan.

As anticipated, drifting in the correct way is not so simple, in addition to the fact that there are different techniques, especially during the first part of the exhibition, which is the one that actually triggers the drift. One of the simplest involves the use of the handbrake, and a variant is called the bridge block. Then there are other more complex and professional maneuvers such as the pendulum and the use of the foot brake with the right foot. In competitions, however, you need to have an even greater mastery of the skid, because in this case you will have to drive in twin drift, that is, go in pairs with the opponent imitating all his movements.

A clarification: you cannot drift on a busy road or where there are obstacles or pedestrians. We repeat: as spectacular as it is, this maneuver must be performed safely, on the track or in any case in very large and deserted places, where, therefore, you cannot cause accidents.

Where to learn to drift

There are many drifting schools in Italy, such as the Drift Arena, Drifting School in Bologna, exactly in Crespellano BO, where training courses for sideways driving are periodically offered. Obviously, it is a safe area to learn, not on a road open to the public, but an equipped area where you can carry out all the maneuvers with ease and in complete safety. With the Drift Arena Academy, there is the possibility of learning in safety, thus avoiding that this exhibition can become dangerous. It must also be said that doing it in the presence of instructors who have been practicing the discipline for more than 20 years makes you feel more relaxed and at ease. The cost of a Drift course starts from 160 euros, including cars for one hour. But there are many other types of courses, starting from the novice up to the improvement of the expert pilot

On scuoladriftingbologna.it, you can find out more information about it: there is a contact form where you can request all the data, leaving your name and surname, email, telephone number and a message. Very important to underline is the fact that you start from scratch: it is not necessary to have previous experience in the world of drifting. The cars are of excellent quality, the instructors teach the correct driving position, how to work on the pedals, but also on the steering wheel and the handbrake. All students will always be followed by the instructor, present inside the vehicle. Password: adrenaline in safety.