Snow Drift

What is snow drift?

Snow drift means driving a car in a controlled slide on snow or ice. Because grip levels are extremely low, drift angles are far larger than on asphalt, the car slides more slowly and the margin for correction is much bigger. That combination makes snow the ideal place to learn to drift.

Why snow is a good place to learn

On dry asphalt drifting is fast, risky and expensive. Tyres wear out and mistakes have consequences. On snow the speeds are low, the surroundings forgiving and there is time to correct. You feel exactly what steering, brakes and throttle do to the car, because everything happens in slow motion. Professionals recommend snow drifting precisely because it teaches the mechanics.

Equipment

Snow drift cars often run studded tyres for icy sections, soft suspension for uneven surfaces and sometimes all-wheel drive for easier handling. Rear-wheel-drive cars such as the 911 or 718 Cayman drift particularly elegantly on snow, because the rear axle load makes the slide easy to initiate.

Snow drift with ESC

ESC organises winter drift experiences in Scandinavia (Sweden and Finland) with professional coaches and ice tracks. They suit both beginners and experienced trackday drivers who want to learn to drift. Book a winter drift trip.