Drifting into the fast lane

The tire-burning drift driving depicted in The Fast and the Furious movie franchise has thrilled millions of fans worldwide.

Now the real-life version of the pulse-pounding technique, which sees drivers intentionally oversteer, resulting in a loss of traction while maintaining enough control to "drift" through corners, is expanding in China.

The D1 Grand Prix Series has been increased to five stops - including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen - and looks set to further fuel fans' passion for action while diversifying the nation's motor-racing culture, organizers said on Tuesday.

"Despite the positive influence of existing races such as Formula One, the public perception of motor racing remains low in China. Bringing D1 here we expect to attract more fans to the sport with a different yet more exciting style than sprint racing," said Zhang Shaohua, a renowned drift racer and co-organizer of the China Series.

The D1 Grand Prix was founded in Japan in 2000. Only road-legal production vehicles with a limited range of modification are allowed to compete.

With more of his compatriots embracing drifting, Zhang, who first participated in a D1 race in Japan in 2015, decided to import the series after winning approval from the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China.

"The drifting series adds more flair to motor sport's already surging momentum in China with its relatively low access, more entertaining races and budgetary organization," said Wan Heping, vice-president of the federation.

"We hope it develops into another major event in Chinese motor sport."

This year's China Series opens in Beijing on May 20 at the Yaxiu Circuit, where 57 drivers, including 12 from overseas, will first run individually in the qualifying round before the final 16 drivers compete head-to-head to earn as many as points from a judging system called D1 Original Scoring System.

Japanese drifting master Daigo Saito, a two-time D1 Championship winner, will be joined by his fellow racer Masato Kawabata to test up-and-coming Chinese drivers' competence at the China Series.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/20/2017 page23)