Just days after Mercedes-Benz and Mauro Calo set a new world record for the longest drift, keeping the C63 AMG with its tail out around a skid pad for 2,308 meters, slashing 2010 Formula Drift champion Vaughn Gitting Jr’s previous record of 1,916 meters, Gittin himself has come out to question what precisely constitutes a drift.
According to the guardians of the record, Guiness World Records, drifting is defined as ‘driving a car with rear slip angle that is greater to the front.’ Sounds like a pretty basic explanation for the layman. The beef lies with Gittin and fellow Formula Drift participant, Michael Essa, calling the new record my Calo and Mercedes-Benz a ‘donut.’
The video posted earlier shows the C63 AMG circling the skidpad for around two minutes before it pops its tyre and the attempt is over. Gittin was unimpressed by the feat.
“There are about 60 drivers that show up to Formula Drift every month, as well as thousands of grassroots drifters, that can do giant donuts until the tires pop as well,” said Gittin.
The Team Falken and Monster Energy drink driver suggested to put some credibility back into drifting to ensure that the talent behind drifting is recognised and not just a spectacle of smoky donuts. His suggestion is for it to be defined as ‘drifting without intersecting your drift line.’
Formula Drift operates by setting up a course for the competitors to drift their vehicles through with a variety of turns at different speeds. The whole course must be navigated with the tail out, making it a real game of skill.
“This result would be a record that took a lot of skill, balls, and wouldn't put you to sleep watching the video of it,” added Gittin. We second that.
Source: Autoblog
