I think V-tec just kicked in

 

You can induce oversteer to get you set up for the next apex in a multiple turn situation. I don't think that is ricey, just faster. Turn, lift, gas.

 

I just might have to purchase a few extra tires to see what the old bones can do in the P-car....

-Eli

 

I would say Fabryces comments are right on. I would however state that while watching best motoring once (japanese car show where race drivers race real cars around the track) there was one succession of corners where Keiichi Tsuchiya was using a drift in one turn to position the car perfectly so he could get a faster exit speed on the second corner. The technique was certainly working for him as he was gaining lead through that series of turns.

So why I think 99.9% of the time a drift will be slower, there might be a place or two where a minor drift could help set you up for another corner.

I'm no expert though and those japanese are crazy. And I do realize Tsuchiya is called the drift king, he is also a very well accomplished racer and he was racing to win not for style in this competition.

 

In general, a well executed drift may be the fastest way around a corner. However, a correct racing line will be the fastest way around a track, since races are won and lost on the straights (minimum time around corner is secondary to setting up to take advantage of straight).

 

I live my life a 1/4 mile at a time. It is all that matters. And for those 10 seconds or less, i am free.

 

not always, in rally it does help (ex: 180 turn) in the dirt, gravel, snow, etc.

 

1/4 mile quote, not a drift quote....

 

I have to admit the F&F Tokyo Drift was a pretty good movie. I almost had to shoot myself after watching the first two.

 

I thought that drifiting came from togue, mountain racing in japan where sliding was actually quicker as it was a way of maintaining momentum.

 

Every tire/surface combination has a slip angle of maximum coefficient of friction (i.e. fastest). The rules of thumb are as follows:

1) Narrower tires have a greater slip angle (hence the Nuvolari comment).
2) Looser surfaces have a greater slip angle (hence the WRC cars)

On dry pavement in a modern car, grip is maximized at around 10 degrees of slip. Any more than that is slower. An exception to this is in heavily underteering situations (slower corners usually), where you are strongly limited by front end grip. If your front is washing away, and you throw the tail out, you lose grip at the back, by increasing the slip angle above optimum, but you restore some grip to the front, by reducing the slip angle there, resulting in an overall increase in grip. That's about the only time it's quicker.

Drifting is hella cool to watch, though.