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Drifting racers reveal their need for speed
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AS a boy who loved mountain biking, Wang Qi has always loved speed, thrills and a little bit of danger.
This passion soon evolved into a love for race cars. Now he is a professional driver, holding the Guinness World Record for the longest vehicle drift.
He is also the founder of DRS Racing Club, the first drifting club in Zhejiang Province.
His career path is unusual in China and many factors come into play for someone to pursue it.
“Passion, talent, effort and financial support are all needed to be a racing driver,” Wang said. “For beginners, 1 million yuan (US$160,700) is a start.”
He recommends joining a club to receive training and compete in races.
The 33-year-old has had to finance his passion for racing himself. He did so as the former head of a logistics company and Wang said he didn’t start DRS until 2007.
Wang has tried other motor sports like rallying before opting for drifting.
“I love the sense of being out of control,” he said. “Drifting is actually how a driver controls a car out of control, and makes it seem spectacular.”
Mao Jianrong, a DRS member, agreed.
“It’s not about how fast you can drive, or how fierce the driver is, it is all about technique.”
Drifting is both a driving technique and a motor sport. It occurs when a driver intentionally over steers, causing traction to be lost in the rear wheels through turns at high speed while maintaining vehicle control. A car is considered to be drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle before the corner apex, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn. The driver has to be controlling these factors for it to be considered drifting.
Three years ago Wang drifted his race car 5,802.3 meters at the World Drift Series Championship, completing more than 13 laps inside the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianjin.
Today DRS has 30 members and technicians from different areas of the country. Each year they participate in five national drifting championships held across China.
Last year, the club finished third among all teams and won the best technician team award at the China Drifting Championship.
The team was invited to accompany Taiwan singer and race car driver Jimmy Lin for a drift stunt at a 2013 New Year’s gala held by Hunan Satellite TV.
Members train two to three days a month at Tianma Circuit in Shanghai, Jiulongshan Circuit in Pinghu, and Changsanjiao Circuit in Haining.
The club has a strong reputation among drifters nationwide and has finished on the podium in most competitions.
The club and its members also modify race cars for drifting.
“Our cars are like a platform for advertising and exposure,” Wang said.
The club now owns five race cars. They plan to purchase new Infiniti, BMW and Toyota models and modify them so they are suitable for drifting.
Hardcore drifters
Shi Ge, 52, 8 years of experience, from Jinan, Shandong Province
Q: Why do you like racing? And why did you pick drifting
A: I used to be in equestrian and I was fond of rallying for years. I decided to get into drifting because it is very demanding regarding driving techniques and modifications, something that not everybody can do.
Q: What do you gain from racing?
A: I would be upset if I could not drive, even for a day, so I gain happiness. Also, (he laughs) I think it helps me avoid senile dementia.
Q: Tell us about a memorable event?
A: Once my car turned over during an off-road race. I started counting, 1,2,3… 7… the car turned seven times and did not show any signs of stopping. So I gave up counting and just waited. I was OK. Drivers are well protected as long as the safety measures are in place.
Reno Lee, 43, 20 years of experience as driver/technician, from Taiwan
Q: Why do you like racing? And why did you pick drifting?
A: I learned about drifting in 2002 when I was in Japan and I fell in love with the sport. I soon determined to be a technician to see how much I can extend the limit of drifting cars.
Q: What are your technical strengths?
A: I am adept at adjusting engines and ECUs (engine control unit), and I am one of the most experienced technicians in China. I also serve Japan’s D1 team and Thailand’s D1 team.
Q: Tell us more about your career?
A: I have modified more than 1,000 cars. In 2012, I employed nitrous oxide systems onto the DRS club’s racing cars to boost their speed. Thereafter, DRS and I have won almost all modification awards in China.
Mao Jianrong, 41, 4 years of experience as a drifting racer
Q: Why do you like racing? And why did you pick drifting?
A: Once I watched the World Drift Series Championship in Hangzhou’s Huanglong Stadium, and I just felt that is my dream. Though drifting is not as fast as F1, it is more spectacular.
Q: What do you gain from being a race driver?
A: I actually spend a lot of money, energy and time on drifting, but I have gained lots of happiness.
Q: What is the most impressive part about drifting?
A: Every second of drifting is impressive because it is super exciting and requires drivers to concentrate to the fullest.
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