Today, I had the opportunity to attend Caterham’s Drift Experience at the famous Brand’s Hatch race track. For a fee of $450, anyone can book this experience and learn the art of drifting in a single day. The day started with a safety briefing and a pep talk from the expert instructors, who have trained some of the best young drivers in the industry.
We were then introduced to the cars we would be driving – the Caterham Seven 360 Rs, which are specially modified for drifting. The instructors guided us through a slalom course to get us comfortable with the cars and initiate our first slides. Despite a rough start with some stalls and incorrect laps, the instructors provided valuable feedback and tips to improve our technique.
As we progressed to figure of eights and donuts, the challenges became tougher. Throttle control and finesse were key in mastering these skills, especially when the rain added an extra layer of difficulty. With practice and guidance from the instructors, we started to see progress and gain confidence in our drifting abilities.
The highlight of the day was a drifting competition among the participants, including journalists and influencers from the automotive industry. The track was set up with various obstacles, requiring us to showcase our drifting skills in a judged run. While my first run was filled with slick slides and awesome drifts, the pressure got to me in the final judged run, leading to some mistakes.
Despite not winning the competition, I was proud of the progress I had made throughout the day. From never having drifted before to confidently sliding around corners and making donuts, the experience was truly rewarding. I even received a medal for participating, which served as a token of my newfound drifting skills.
Overall, Caterham’s Drift Experience was a challenging yet enjoyable day that taught me the art of drifting from stalls to slides. With dedicated instructors, specially modified cars, and a supportive environment, anyone can learn to drift like a pro in just a single day. I left Brand’s Hatch with a big smile on my face and a newfound passion for drifting.