What is drifting? Despite the incredible popularity it enjoys across the world, it’s still hard to put a firm definition on this sideways form of driving. Yes, it always involves cars sliding around some type of corner, but there are really no universal rules to describe exactly what does or does not constitute drifting.
Is giving it a little extra gas and pushing the tail out in the rain drifting? What about a doing big donut? How about pulling the e-brake and waiting for the rear end to come around?
While everyone’s definition of drifting will vary, most will agree that you’re going to need a rear-wheel drive car to do it – after all, there’s a reason why drifters flock to S13s and AE86s rather than Civics and Golfs. But is it possible to drift a front-wheel drive car? Some will laugh at the idea, but after encountering one very eccentric Honda driver at last month’s Fuji drift event, I’m convinced it is possible…
Meet Genki Hirata, a drifter from Kanagawa whose weapon of choice is not a Silvia or a Chaser, but an EK4 Honda Civic SiR. While Hirata-san isn’t the first person in Japan to drift a front-wheel drive car, he and his Civic are quite well know amongst Kanto’s drift community.
It’s hard to not to chuckle when you watch Hirata-san’s Civic take to the track amongst the crowd of turbocharged rear-drive Toyotas and Nissans, but once you see him work his magic in the corners you can’t help but find yourself impressed – and wondering how the hell he does it.
The Machine
The car itself is battered. The rear end has been smashed down to almost nothing after countless wall rides and the interior is equally thrashed. But in spite of all that, Hirata-san still drives the Civic on the street.
And while the driving style very unconventional, the Civic itself is actually quite basic in its specification. There’s definitely no trickery going on. Under the hood sits an almost-stock B16A DOHC VTEC motor, but it’s not the horsepower which makes the Civic capable of its moves. In fact, power makes little difference when trying to drift an FF car, as you aren’t actually using the drive wheels to keep the slide going.
Is suspension the secret? Well it’s certainly important. Hirata-san tells me the car is running a mismatched set of coilovers, and as you might guess he keeps the rear end very stiff to help the car rotate easier.
Brakes are one of the more crucial components in making a front-wheel drive car drift, and just as the suspension is setup for extra rear stiffness, the aggressive rear brake pads also help to make the EK swing around.
And of course there’s the hand brake, which is going to be the most important part of making any FF car drift. Not only is this a crucial component for initiating oversteer, it’s through a balance of e-brake and throttle inputs that the car can maintain its slide.
Wheel and tire choice also plays a significant role in the Civic’s setup. As you can see, Hirata-san runs wider wheels and grippy tires up front – in this case SSR mesh wheels with Federal 595 RSR rubber.
And in the rear you’ll find narrower wheels with junk tires, which once again contribute to the Civic’s tail-happy nature.
The Passion
But more than any parts or settings on the car, Hirata-san tells me it’s about “passion.” Sure, he could drift any car he wants to, but he’s fully embraced the challenge of making his front-wheel drive Honda do something many will say is impossible.
And how does the car look on the drift course? Well, that depends who you ask – but in my eyes this guy has mastered the art of sliding a front-wheel drive car.
Sure, the drifting will never look the same as that of a rear-wheel drive car. The slides can’t be initiated as early, and you can’t just add more power to pull out of the corner. But in the middle of the corner the delicate balance of throttle and braking is very convincing. Here’s a quick Instagram video clip I shot.
Here’s a video from Hirata-san’s YouTube channel showing him having some fun with another FF drifter last year.
And some more FF shenanigans at Suzuka Twin Circuit.
A drifting purist might laugh at the notion of a drifting Civic, but you can rest assured that Hirata-san doesn’t care. He’s too busy driving and smiling.
And really, who’s to say what does or doesn’t constitute drifting? The whole spirit behind the sport is about having fun and being a little rebellious. And what’s more rebellious than sliding around in a front-wheel drive Honda?
Haters gonna hate, but whether it’s ‘real’ drifting or not, this guy is out there having a blast and never taking himself too seriously.
How can you not be on board with that?
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japanifornia_media
mike@speedhunters.com
Genki Hirata’s EK4 Honda Civic SiR
Engine
EK4 Honda B16A 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC 16-valve, Mugen air filter, stainless steel header, stainless steel exhaust, Spac radiator cap, tuned ECU
Driveline
EK4 S4C 5-speed manual gearbox, heavy-duty clutch
Suspension/Brakes
Coilover shocks/springs, factory EK4 4-wheel discs with competition pads, custom e-brake lever
Wheels/Tires
15×6.5-inch SSR Reverse Mesh wheels, 195/50R15 Federal 595 RS-R tires (front), various wheels & tires (rear)
Exterior
Factory EK, custom side skirt extensions, custom front lip, refashioned rear end
Interior
Sparco fixed-back race seats, Willans harness for driver side, 3-spoke rally-style steering wheel, oil pressure & water temperature gauges