The sport of drifting -- or the controlled skid -- was first practiced in Japan in the late ‘80s before gaining worldwide popularity in the decade that followed. Earlier races were held on public streets; but thankfully, closed-circuit races quickly replaced this dangerous practice. The first-ever official drift competition took place in October 2000 at the Ebisu racecourse in Fukushima, Japan. The Japanese D1 Grand Prix championship was established in 2001.
The Asian drift scene drew worldwide attention, inspiring the creation of the American Formula Drift Championship in 2004. The organisation grew beyond its borders, and the Formula Drift Asia Championship, which includes Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, was established a few years later.
The Eastern Europe Drifting Championship and the European Drift Championship, established in 2010 and 2011 respectively, are the two main European championships.
Canada hasn’t been left behind, as it has its own series. The Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC) became a nationwide series in 2006, having received a shot in the arm from the successful drift demonstration at the 2005 Molson Indy event at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Whether behind the wheel of a Nissan 240SX, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Corolla or Scion FRS, a number of talented and dedicated drift drivers have made their mark in the world of drifting these past few decades.
Here is a list of the top 10 drivers who have made history in the world of drifting. A few are still active, and some have become genuine legends.
1 - Keiichi Tsuchiya
Better known as the “Drift King,” this Japanese driver played an important role in popularizing the art of drifting. This pioneer inspired many successful drivers. He appeared in the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and he is often employed on various movie sets as both driver and stunt coordinator.
The Asian drift scene drew worldwide attention, inspiring the creation of the American Formula Drift Championship in 2004. The organisation grew beyond its borders, and the Formula Drift Asia Championship, which includes Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia, was established a few years later.
The Eastern Europe Drifting Championship and the European Drift Championship, established in 2010 and 2011 respectively, are the two main European championships.
Canada hasn’t been left behind, as it has its own series. The Drift Mania Canadian Championship (DMCC) became a nationwide series in 2006, having received a shot in the arm from the successful drift demonstration at the 2005 Molson Indy event at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Whether behind the wheel of a Nissan 240SX, Mazda RX-7, Toyota Corolla or Scion FRS, a number of talented and dedicated drift drivers have made their mark in the world of drifting these past few decades.
Here is a list of the top 10 drivers who have made history in the world of drifting. A few are still active, and some have become genuine legends.
1 - Keiichi Tsuchiya
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| Photo: Wikipedia |
Better known as the “Drift King,” this Japanese driver played an important role in popularizing the art of drifting. This pioneer inspired many successful drivers. He appeared in the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and he is often employed on various movie sets as both driver and stunt coordinator.