Formula Drift Japan

FORMULA DRIFT® JAPAN

2004 FORMULA DRIFT® was born in the USA.

Currently, there are two categories of competition: the main FORMULA DRIFT® Pro Championship series and the Pro2 series.

Drifting is a motorsport that requires an extremely high level of technique in which the driver controls the car by turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the direction in which the car is going to turn. It has a growing number of competitors and fans all over the world, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

In North America, where FORMULA DRIFT® is held, competitions are held on familiar oval and city courses, and the sight of the cars racing along the edge of walls and billowing white smoke is unique and popular, with one event attracting over 100,000 spectators. Drifting, which was born in Japan, has established itself as an entertainment and motorsport event in the USA, and has become a major event that has sparked a huge movement.

One Japanese man, Kazuhiko Iwata, was concerned about the current state of motorsport in Japan, and with a passionate desire to pass on his love of motorsport to future generations, he spoke again and again about his passion and enthusiasm to FORMULA DRIFT® President Jim Law and Vice President Ryan Sage, and persuaded them to invite the sport to Japan. Finally, FORMULA DRIFT® made its first appearance in Japan in 2014!

The course was held as a pre-season event at Fuji Speedway, an international racing course at the foot of the iconic Japanese mountain Fuji. From the following year, 2015, the event will be held as the "FORMULA DRIFT® JAPAN" of the "FORMULA DRIFT®" "International series" at the Tsukuba Circuit, Fuji Speedway, Suzuka Twin Circuit and Okayama International Circuit. Four rounds of the series have been held at Japan's leading racing circuits, Tsukuba Circuit, Fuji Speedway, Suzuka Twin Circuit and Okayama International Circuit. Since then, the "Mecca of Drifting" Ebisu Circuit, popular with drifting fans all over the world, has been added to the race calendar.

The main attraction of FORMULA DRIFT® is the powerful driving that appeals to people's senses. Three judges from the USA have been invited to judge the event, using the same scoring criteria as in the USA. The scoring style, which takes drifting seriously, has been well received by participating drivers.

The unique, "powerful cars and exhaust sounds" and "driver techniques" in accordance with strict technical and sporting regulations, as well as the American-style open paddock with a low barrier between spectators and teams, make FORMULA DRIFT® JAPAN a pleasantly different atmosphere from conventional motorsports in Japan. FORMULA DRIFT® JAPAN is a motorsport category that car enthusiasts should check out, with a pleasant atmosphere that is slightly different from conventional domestic motorsport, such as an open paddock with low barriers between spectators and teams.

The Race

The race is contested over two days: qualifying on Saturday and the final on Sunday.

Qualifying is scored on two solo runs. The qualifying rounds are scored on three criteria: the car's driving track "line" according to the course layout, the angle of the drift, and the power of the drift "style". The results of the judging will be announced in real-time on the global Livestreaming service.

High scores are awarded if the drift angle is large enough to produce big smoke, the lines are precise and the speed is high. In the qualifying rounds, drivers have to drive on the edge of what the judges are looking for. The 32 drivers with the highest score out of the two runs will advance to the final the following day.

The final is a tandem battle between 32 drivers. The lead car is called the "lead" car and the chase car is called the "chase" car.

Tandem battles are fought in two runs, with the "lead" and "chase" being swapped. In the "lead" race, the question is how close to 100 points you can get in the qualifying round. The appeal of the final is that it shows the determination and technique of the two drivers.

The scoring system is the same as in the qualifying rounds, with three judges judging, and it is possible to see in real time which judge gave the better or worse driver. The winner will be decided by this system.

Judgement System

"Line"

Determines if the in-clip point and out-clip point (zone) can be passed closer and more ideal line.

"Angle"

Score how deep and smooth the angle (angle) is to the points set on the course.

"Style"

Scoring takes into account the beauty of the drift, speed, power, amount of tyre smoke and passion (enthusiasm).

Judges' scores are explained to all drivers at the drivers' meeting prior to the competition, with scoring points and course details. Zero points will be awarded for off-course, spins, engine stalls at the start of the race, etc.

The same scoring criteria will apply to the final. However, zero points will be awarded if the car clearly contacts another car or if the car following overtakes the car ahead for no reason.

FORMULA DRIFT®, which was born in the USA in 2004, and FORMULA DRIFT® JAPAN, which started in 2014, continue to attract not only drifting fans but also many other motorsport fans in the industry and around the world with their various creative rules built up through years of trial and error, without being bound by the past. It continues to attract not only drifting fans but also many other motorsport fans in the industry and around the world, and is still creating new challenges.