Rock your handbrake! Red Bull Car Park Drift brings the sideways action back to Durban

In 2021, Red Bull Car Park Drift made its way to South African shores for the first time. To mark its first event, Guinness World Record holder and renowned drift judge Abdo Feghali was sliding a Nissan 350Z through the streets of Durban and some of its most famous landmarks in a special clip that celebrates the city titled 'Durban Drift'.

The country's top drifters will again come together in Durban to face off in the Red Bull Car Park Drift South Africa National Qualifier. The event will occur at Suncoast Hotel and Casino on 9 April 2022.

Rising interest in drifting

Drifting is one of motorsport's most exciting and fastest-growing disciplines, demanding the perfect balance of speed, style, and fearlessness from its drivers. The aim is to set the car into a sideways drift through a corner by intentionally oversteering to initiate the controlled loss of traction.

In South Africa, the sport as we know it today goes back to around 2004 with pioneer drifters such as Faheem Salie and DJ and TV host Ready D - they kicked off the drifting scene in Cape Town with the Nissan 200SX S13, which resembled Japanese styled drift cars. The crew was known as 'The Drift Squad' and were mainstays in various parking lots around Cape Town.

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Ready D is excited to finally have a tournament as prestigious as Red Bull Car Park Drift return to South Africa to shine a light on the talent the country has to offer. "Having this event come to South Africa is a huge occasion for drifters and high adrenalin motorsport fans", says Ready D. "I hope it will continue to grow locally and that we can eventually have the event hosted in Cape Town."

A chance to