How to Drift: Car Drifting Basics and Game Tips
To drift, enter a bend with some speed in a rear-wheel-drive car, make the rear tyres lose grip (a flick of the steering, a clutch kick, the handbrake or a burst of power), then steer the other way (countersteer) as the back steps out and hold the slide with the throttle. Ease off and straighten the wheel to grip again. Practise only on a closed course; in a game like Drift Racing you hold Drift as you turn in and steer into the slide.
1. What a drift is
A drift is a controlled slide: the rear of the car steps out, the car travels through the bend at an angle, and the driver holds that angle with the steering and the throttle. The front wheels point away from the bend (countersteer) while the nose points into it. Want the background first? Read what drifting is and where it came from.
2. How to drift a real car, step by step
Only ever practise on a closed course, a skid pad or at a drift school, with permission and safety gear. Drifting on public roads is dangerous and against the law in most places.
- Use a rear-wheel-drive car, ideally with a limited-slip differential and a manual gearbox. A front-wheel-drive car can slide for a moment but can't hold a drift.
- Arrive with steady speed in second gear, in a wide bend or around a cone, with plenty of open space around you.
- Make the rear lose grip. Turn in and add a burst of throttle, or use one of the techniques below (clutch kick, handbrake, feint).
- Countersteer straight away. As the back slides out, steer the other way, towards where you want to go. Look where you want the car to end up, not at what you might hit.
- Balance it on the throttle. More throttle swings the rear out further; less lets it come back. Small, smooth changes hold a steady angle.
- Exit straight. Ease off the throttle a little and let the steering unwind as the tyres grip again, then accelerate away.
Most beginners spin because they countersteer too late or press too much throttle. Start slowly in a big open space and add speed only when the slide feels predictable. Choosing a car? See the best drift cars.
3. Drift techniques compared
Common ways to start a drift. Pros mix them; beginners usually start with power over or the handbrake.
| Technique | How it starts the slide | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Power over | Turn in and press hard on the throttle so the rear wheels spin | Powerful cars, slow bends |
| Clutch kick | Press the clutch and let it out sharply with the engine revving | Topping up a slide, cars with less power |
| Handbrake (e-brake) | Pull the handbrake briefly to lock the rear wheels as you turn in | Tight hairpins, starting a slide at lower speed |
| Feint (Scandinavian flick) | Swing the car the opposite way first, then into the bend so the weight throws the rear out | Fast bends, big angle |
| Braking drift | Brake into the bend so the weight moves forward and the rear goes light | Entry speed, linking bends |
4. How to drift in Drift Racing
In Drift Racing the hard part of a real drift (catching the slide) is done for you, so you can focus on the line and the score.
- Computer: ↑ gas, ↓ brake, ← → steer, Space = Drift, Shift = Boost.
- Phone: gas is automatic and the car follows the road. Hold ◀ or ▶ into a bend at speed for a gentle slide, or press Drift for a deep one.
- Hold the slide: keep steering into the bend and keep the gas on. Let go and straighten to grip again.
- A deep drift scores about twice as much as a gentle slide, and fills your Nitro faster.
5. The drift line: outside, inside, outside
The fastest way through a bend is the same in a game and on a track: start wide, clip the inside at the apex, finish wide. That makes the bend as gentle as possible, so you keep more speed and need less angle.
- Turn in early and start the slide before the bend, not in the middle of it. A late drift ends in the outside wall.
- Aim for a steady 30 to 40 degrees. More angle looks great but scrubs speed; in the game, a drift that's too fast for the bend slows you down.
- Straighten up as the road opens out and get on the Nitro.
6. Score more drift points
Drift points in the game are angle × speed, multiplied by a combo that climbs while you keep sliding:
How drift points work in GameLake's Drift Racing.
| What you do | What happens |
|---|---|
| Hold a drift | The multiplier climbs by one about every second, up to ×5 |
| Reach ×4 | Your car leaves a fire trail |
| Slide again within 1.5 seconds | The combo carries on into the next bend |
| Stop sliding for 1.5 seconds | The points are banked |
| Hit a wall or a car | The unbanked points are lost and some Nitro spills |
So link bends together: on the esses and switchbacks, flick straight from one drift into the next and the multiplier keeps climbing. Bank the points before a risky overtake.
7. Ice, puddles and sand
Each circuit has its own surface. Puddles on Midnight Circuit and the three ice patches on Frost Pass have very little grip, and the sand beside the road in Dune Canyon slows you right down.
- Brake before the ice, not on it.
- Steer gently. Small inputs; big ones spin you on low grip.
- Keep it on the road in the desert. Run-off sand bogs you down, so a wide drift costs more there.
Practise with Teach me: Hops calls the bends and tells you when to drift and when to boost. Then play Drift Racing on Easy, Medium or Hard, or race friends online.
Frequently asked questions
How do you drift a car for beginners?
In a rear-wheel-drive car on a closed course, take a wide bend in second gear, turn in and add a burst of throttle so the rear steps out, countersteer straight away and balance the slide with small throttle changes. Ease off and straighten up to finish.
Can you drift an automatic car?
A powerful rear-wheel-drive automatic can drift with power over or the handbrake, but it's harder to control because you can't use the clutch. Most drift cars use a manual gearbox.
Can a front-wheel-drive car drift?
Not really. It can slide for a moment with the handbrake, but it can't hold a drift on the throttle, because the front wheels pull the car straight.
Is drifting bad for your car?
It wears tyres very quickly and puts extra strain on the clutch, gearbox, differential and brakes. That's why drifters often use cheap, tough cars and keep spare tyres.
How do you drift on a keyboard?
In Drift Racing, hold ↑ for gas, steer into the bend with ← or →, and hold Space for a deep drift. Keep steering into the slide, then let go of Space to straighten up. Shift fires your Nitro.
Why does my car keep spinning out?
Usually too much throttle or too much steering, or a countersteer that comes too late. Use smaller inputs and start the slide earlier. In the game, a gentler angle (30 to 40 degrees) is faster than a huge one.