Moscow Drift Team goes to Europe

The World Drift Championships in Germany and France went to the Russian professional team of Moscow Drift Team. Before leaving the pilots told reporters on the progress made and preparations for the European competitions. The team leader, winner of the championship Formula Drift Russia 2008 "Andrei Bogdanov, is engaged in drift over four years. Interest in this discipline began with his rear wheel drive car launched into uncontrollable skid. Then Andrew set out to learn to control slip. He became pocherpyvat theory techniques of drift on the Internet, studying books and videos, and practiced in parking lots. Pilot Yevgeny Kharitonov, came to drift about in the same way, and today he shows good results in its powerful Toyota Altezza. It so happened that the Russian drifters prefer cars made in Japan due to the low cost and availability of spare parts. But one of the pilots' commands Moscow Drift Team, Andrei Zhdanov, gave preference to the German mark BMW, respected by European rivals. Pilot Life Seeds Alekseeva closely related to the drift, not only did he constantly trains and triumphs, but also manages to give expert advice to his girlfriend Alexandra, which is fighting for leadership in the amateur class. It is noteworthy that they have two completely identical cars - a bright red Nissan Silvia S14. One other representative of Moscow Drift Team, Basil Zykov, too Silvia S14, it is one of the top 15 drifters Russia in 2008. Moscow Drift Team was created last year. For two years, they passed the stages of the championship of Formula Drift, Russia, the guys showed great results and achievements have proved that they can compete with the Europeans. Although, according to Andrei Bogdanov, they will give everything to complete and even exceed the following: "The level of rivals higher, as they have actively carried out the competition since 2003. But as our race last year in the Luzhniki Stadium, we are not much behind. " Semyon Alexeyev said that in single races, he is sure, and in doubles the advantage on the side of the Europeans. They travel in pairs for five years, and the competition they have held almost weekly against our once a month. It's not that Russia has no pair of races, but in the politics of judging in the championship. Since the drift in our country only develops, competition organizers are more concerned about the stability of the races and, of course, security. Therefore, the pair races, we are not as aggressive as in other countries. In Japan, more entertainment value, the louder the squeal of wheels and more smoke from the rubber, the higher scores. In Europe, the most points gets technically pilots skillfully passing lane. Unfortunately, our country has no specific route, where local drifters could train. The kids have to disturb people, driving in parking lots, or spend a rather big money for rent track in Myachkovo. But even at this racetrack track is not suited for controlled skids, it is too narrow and the cars flew over the lawn. Team Manager Xenia Markova shared organizational difficulties in preparing for international competitions. His first catch on the way to Europe - transport vehicles across the border. Since auto travel is not only fighting vehicles, but "the donation of organs," the spare number units required documents. And with them napryazhenka - some parts are not formalized, so the mechanics of simply divided among themselves, without exhausting trips to the traffic police to re-register. And do not need it in Russia, nobody would compare rates of aggregates in a sports car, the more so if it gets to the competition at evacuator. Sets of rubber had to order in Germany, as across the border can bring in no more tires than can fit inside the machine. Team Moscow Drift Team falls a great chance to prove that Russia - a worthy competitor in the drift. It turns out that the European "colleagues" did not even know that until our country gotten to this discipline, and were doubly surprised to see the performances of our pilots. Foreign luminaries drift technique evaluated our guys noticed and pointed out their mistakes. But the Russian pilots noticed weakness of foreign pilots, with this knowledge they will use on the track. All the winter months, and to this day, the car teams are finalized. As acknowledged by Andrei Bogdanov, the complexity will still be to get used to the car after the technical change. Toyota Altezza wizard set up specifically for him, but each time, getting behind the wheel after a car service, it makes the trial races, learning opportunities. This is the specificity of the drift - it is important not only to train on the track, but also to keep pace with technology. Thus, the dream of Andrew - American V8 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang to a better time. At the international championship International Drift Series, which will take place on the track at the Nurburgring F1, the Moscow Drift Team equal chances with the contestants, because this track is only twice a year open to drift. Much will depend on how the participants prikatayutsya to the highway for the duration of their training - just one day. In France, the championship of French Drift Challenge, which will be held on the famous ring road L'anneau du Rhin, the Russian team will be given training for two days. Both championships will play Russia for the first time, and the team is going to get a list of the best pilots. Text: Olga Zabelkina. Photos: Olga Zabelkina.