Forza Motorsport 2: The Art of the Drift (Page 2)
Maintaining Drift Balance
The best way to describe the relationship between throttle control and countersteering is to consider them as two pieces to the overall balance of drifting. These two components are essential to drifting, and must be used simultaneously in order to maintain speed and angle. Throttle control will determine how much your rear tires slide out, and how much angle you get while drifting as opposed to countersteering, which prevents the car from spinning completely around. Your steering technique can also be used to achieve more or less angle; by steering into the drift you will reduce angle, by steering against the drift you will increase angle. As you can see, these two techniques work together in a balancing act, and therefore must be perfected if you are looking to drift in Forza 2.
Click here to watch a video demonstration of drifting balance.
Finding your primary car
Every car will react differently when faced with oversteer and as a result it is important to stick with one car when you are learning how to drift. Many beginners will constantly change between cars thinking that maybe another car will make it easier to learn. By doing this you are forced to find the drifting balance all over again, since each car will behave differently when faced with oversteer.
It is also important to stick with one car when you are a beginner, as over time you will start to feel comfortable with that specific car, making it easier for you to determine its characteristics and limits. Once you feel comfortable with your primary car then you will be able to take what you have learned and apply it to other cars with different characteristics. Experimenting with other cars will increase your overall knowledge and abilities; when learning however, it is beneficial to pick one of your favorite cars and start learning how it handles. Obviously we encourage experimentation as that is what Forza 2 is all about, however for the purpose of learning and understanding the basic techniques we recommend the use of a primary car.
When selecting your primary car, it is recommended to use of a front engine, rear wheel drive car that has a medium to long wheelbase. Cars that fall within this category will be much more stable when sideways and as a result will help you learn the overall balance of drifting as well as the basic initiation techniques described on the next page. Once again we encourage experimentation with different engine layouts or drive trains; (once you learn the basics of course) as they will all provide a very unique drifting experience.
Tandem:
Tandem drifting is a term used to describe the action of two or more cars drifting together while trying to match both angle and speed. The goal of a tandem drift will vary based on the scenario, but generally speaking it is desirable to maintain a small amount of distance between all the cars invovled. When three or more cars are involved in a tandem it is very dynamic as drivers must react quickly while attempting to maintain a small distance between each other. Tandem drifting is also how competitions are hosted as two cars will battle each other while being judged on various criteria.
As a beginner you will want to practice on your own before attempting to tandem as it is very difficult to follow another driver when you are learning. On the other hand it can be very beneficial to follow and observe a more experienced drifter who can show you the skills required to execute smooth and consitent drifting, so if you know some friends that drift make sure to watch closely, as you will learn alot about drifting in Forza 2.
Drifting Line/Ideal Line:
When approaching a corner it is important to understand how the line taken at the corner entrance will impact your ability to successfully drift around the entire turn. The word "line" refers to the path taken around the corner, and will change based on your cars characteristics and the turn that you are trying to drift. The same overall concept applies to both drifting and racing, however depending on the corner you may want to experiment with different lines. Generally speaking you want to choose a line that allows you to maintain the maximum amount of speed and angle, without having to re-adjust the drift with the brakes or the e-brake. For example if you begin a drift on the inside of a long sweeping turn and follow a shallow line, you will be forced to re-adjust your drift, a process that will have a negative impact on both angle and speed. As you become more experienced you will begin to notice how subtle differences in your line will impact the overall outcome of your drift, so make sure to take this into consideration once you feel comfortable with your car sideways.
Alright, now that you understand the basics it is time to learn the various techniques that can be used to successfully initiate a drift. So go grab a car, add some upgrades and start practicing the techniques described on the next page.
// Continue to Page 3: Initiation Techniques //