Drifting for track performance...

[E90ice]

BMW track day is coming up soon so I need your opinion.

Does drifting improve track performance or not?

How much or how little drifting is beneficial?

Any opinions or suggestions are welcome.

[Taittinger]

I would think none just based upon watching F1, IndyCar and other racing. None of them voluntarily slide.

[spacedogg]

You mean...does drifting improve your track times?

From what I hear, on a street car...a little drifting (not balls out "Tokyo Drift" type drifting) will improve your speed through the corner and allow you to obtain a higher exit speed out of the corner.

This theory does not apply to race cars.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

You mean...does drifting improve your track times?

From what I hear, on a street car...a little drifting (not balls out "Tokyo Drift" type drifting) will improve your speed through the corner and allow you to obtain a higher exit speed out of the corner.

This theory does not apply to race cars.

Curious, why would the theory be different for race cars?

[oneshare325]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

You mean...does drifting improve your track times?

From what I hear, on a street car...a little drifting (not balls out "Tokyo Drift" type drifting) will improve your speed through the corner and allow you to obtain a higher exit speed out of the corner.

This theory does not apply to race cars.

He is right (at least I think) You are pretty much going to be doing a single lap, maybe two. But race cars also need to try and preserve the tires as much a possible, (fewer pits, different tire materials).

Yea keeping your speed up in the corners is the name of the game. But don't slide the back end around to get the car sideways. But push the tires are far as they are willing to stick.

[arcrox]

When on asphalt, you do not want to lose traction. Oversteering sure looks cool and you may be carrying more speed into the corner, but you are also rapidly scrubbing it off and will be slower overall on corner exit than someone who properly getting their power down at the limit.

Drifting is commonly used in rallying because when on low-traction surfaces like dirt, not as much speed is lost and they are able to carry more speed into the corner and better position themselves for corner exit.

[spacedogg]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Curious, why would the theory be different for race cars?

Someone explained it to me because race cars (especially F1 cars) are aerodynamically tuned to go as fast as possible around corner with maximum downforce. They do not benefit from slight drifting...if anything...drifting slows them down. Not to mention the tire wear. Not to further mention F1 cars would (theoretically) be hard to drift since they have all that weight in the rear of the car with almost no weight in the front (would likely cause them to spin more than anything).

Suffice to say...you don't ever really see F1 drivers drift around corners.

But on normal street cars...or your typical daily driver...I think the theory is that you can gain some more speed by some drifting. I have also heard that this also only applies for tight corners...but that on wide corners it's still faster to go the traditional way.

Nevertheless...drifting does look impressive to people watching. These days...everyone thinks you are the stuff if you drift around a corner...even if that means you are 2 - 3 seconds slower than everyone else.

[BNR32]

Race car drivers tend to use opposite lock all the time. I guess u can call that "drifting"

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by arcrox

When on asphalt, you do not want to lose traction. Oversteering sure looks cool and you may be carrying more speed into the corner, but you are also rapidly scrubbing it off and will be slower overall on corner exit than someone who properly getting their power down at the limit.

Drifting is commonly used in rallying because when on low-traction surfaces like dirt, not as much speed is lost and they are able to carry more speed into the corner and better position themselves for corner exit.

you are correct, sir. drifting would be faster on surfaces that don't have much grip because you can slide your way through without losing as much speed as say tarmac. Tarmac is grippy and your tires will want to stick to it so that'd just be slowing you down

[achien]

None, nadda, zip, zero...

[rsjames]

Originally Posted by BNR32

Race car drivers tend to use opposite lock all the time. I guess u can call that "drifting"

Only the bad ones.

If you're using opposite lock all the time, you're losing.

[JayL-F1]

sportcompactcarweb.com


drifting is for shows not racing

[voltron1011]

If you ever watch 5th Gear when Tiff does a couple of 'show off' laps he'll be drifting, but when he does the actual real lap, he drives with no drifting to get the best lap time. Drifting is only for showboating.

[Dammmittt]

Depends on the car.

[K3N R3D]

Yes it helps on a dirt track when done professionally. On a regular track the stickier the better, so drifting slows you down in the turn.

[K3N R3D]

By the way your poll question wont get you the right answer cause its not specific enough.