The history of drifting in the automotive industry has its roots in mid-20th century Japan. Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally causes the rear wheels to lose traction with the road, resulting in the car sliding sideways.
The organic development of drifting took place within the tuning culture and automotive events in Japan. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, iconic Japanese drivers like Kunimitsu Takahashi and Keiichi Tsuchiya began using drifting techniques in their performances.
However, the true surge of interest in drifting occurred in the 1980s and 1990s when specialized competitions like the D1 Grand Prix emerged in Japan. These competitions attracted a large following and popularized drifting as a distinct discipline in motorsport.
It's important to note that drifting became popular not only in professional competitions but also in the culture of street racing and car tuning. This led to the global spread of drifting, and today, there are drifting competitions and events in various countries.
In summary, drifting originated as an organic driving technique in Japan and later evolved into a popular discipline in the automotive industry, appealing to both professional racers and enthusiasts of street racing.
