RC DriftClub’s “Drift Showdown” championship points series, “Streetstyle” competitions, and other events sanctioned by RC DriftClub will all adhere to a universal rule set as listed below. All RC DriftClub events will follow these official rules.

Event Qualifying Rules

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A. Qualifying System

1. In order to place in the Battle bracket, each competitor will run a series of laps through one qualifying run. Each run will consist of 2 laps per driver. Both laps will be scored. Both scored  laps will be continuous, with a specified start and finish point marked on the course.

2. Each class will be divided into groups of 8-10 drivers. Please note which group you are in and be ready when your group is called. We will not wait for drivers who are not ready.

3. Each group will qualify together, at the same time slot, on the same course. Therefore, traffic is an included obstacle during qualifying.

B. “Streetstyle” Qualifying Method

1. Our “Streetstyle” qualifying method was first used in our Streetstyle 1 competition. Each group of drivers will take to the course at the same time, spaced out, taking warm up laps similar to what is done during open practice.

2. There will be 3 scoring areas spread out on the course, at specific corners. These scoring areas will only be positioned within the natural driving flow of the course. No scoring area will be randomly placed in the middle of a lane. The goal of the driver is to enter the scoring area in a drift, proceed through the area while in a drift, and exit the area in a drift.

3. Scoring areas will be one of the following: an apex corner, an outside line, or a “manji” line. Each scoring area will be specified during the driver’s meeting, and will be marked on the course layout map posted prior to the event date.

4. Along with the three scoring areas on the course, judges will also award points based on: overall speed and smoothness of driving lines:

Overall Speed: Judges will be looking at the overall speed that the driver drove their vehicle through the course. The faster, the better. Maximum 3 points for overall speed.

Smooth Driving Lines: Judges will be looking for smooth, flowing transitions between corners, where the vehicle changes directions in a smooth, graceful, non-erratic manner. Maximum 3 points for smoothness.

C. Qualifying Zone Definitions

1. Zone 1 – Corner Apex: Scoring zone placed at the apex of a corner. The goal of the driver is to successfully drift through the zone, getting the nose of their vehicle as close to the inside apex as possible, without committing a driver error. A maximum of 3 points can be earned at each apex zone.

3-points awarded if nose of vehicle is adjacent to the corner marker or border;
2-points awarded if nose of vehicle is near (within approx. 6 inches) the corner marker or border;
1-point awarded if the vehicle simply executes a drift around the corner or border, regardless of distance but not within the specifications for 2 or 3 point makes;
0-points awarded if the vehicle does not execute a drift, commits a driver error, or drifts over (on-top) the corner marker or border.

2. Zone 2 – Outside Line: Scoring zone placed at the farthest point from a corner dot, against he outside wall of a corner. The goal of the driver is to drift through the zone, getting the rear end of their vehicle as close to the outside wall as possible, without committing a driver error. A maximum of 3 points can be earned at each outside line zone.

3-points awarded if tail of vehicle is adjacent to the outside wall or border;
2-points awarded if tail of vehicle is near (within approx. 6 inches) the outside wall or border;
1-point awarded if the vehicle simply executes a drift around the corner or border, regardless of distance but not within the specifications for 2 or 3 point makes;
0-points awarded if the vehicle does not execute a drift, commits a driver error, drifts over (on-top) or makes contact with the outside wall or border resulting in a crash or spin.

3. Zone 3 – “Manji” Line: Scoring zone placed between two consecutive corners. Drivers must be drifting in one direction before they enter this type of zone, and must be drifting the opposite direction (“the switchback”) when they exit the same zone. Driving line is up to the driver; the “point of initiation” will be an apex corner or a cone placed at a location where the drivers are expected to change drift directions (the “switchback”) while continuing through the zone.

3-points awarded if the driver executes a successful switchback drift, where the nose of vehicle is adjacent to the corner marker or border specified as the point of initiation for the switchback;
2-points awarded if the driver executes a successful switchback drift, where the nose of of vehicle is near (within approx. 6 inches) the corner marker or border specified as the point of initiation for the switchback;
1-point awarded if the vehicle simply executes a successful switchback drift around the corner or border, regardless of distance but not within the specifications for 2 or 3 point makes;
0-points awarded if the vehicle does not execute a successful switchback drift, commits a driver error, or drifts over (on-top) the corner marker or border specified as the point of initiation for the switchback.

D. Driver Errors (Qualifying)

1. A driver error is defined as any loss of vehicle control, vehicle stall, vehicle spinout, or vehicle contact with a course marker or border that results in a crash.

2. Loss of Vehicle Control -Any situation in which the judges feel that the driver loses control of the vehicle while executing a drift. This may/may not include a driver going off of the intended qualifying driving line.

3. Vehicle Stall – A situation where the vehicle loses its drifting motion due to heavy braking or a high loss of speed, in an area of the course where a drift is expected to be performed.

4. Vehicle Spinout – A situation where the vehicle over-rotates beyond the intended drift angle. For clarification, the general guideline for a “spin” is when the vehicle exceeds a 90-degree angle during a drift, in relation to the direction of the drift.

5. “Tail First” entries – A situation where the vehicle’s rear bumper is leading the drift (a.k.a. “Ken Block” line), and the vehicle ends up in a stall position due to the extreme angle of the drift.

6. Contact Resulting in a Crash -A situation where the vehicle comes in contact with a corner marker, track border, or track wall resulting in a crash or spin as a direct effect of the initial contact.

E. Other Notes on Qualifying

1. Score Tiebreakers – In the event that there is a tie in qualifying points, we will remove the lowest-difficulty zone score for each driver, and then continue until the tie is broken. For example:

Course zones are: apex, switchback, outside line, with the apex corner considered the “easiest” of the zones.
Driver A scored 3/3/2
Driver B scored 2/3/3

By removing the first score (the “easiest” of the zones for this particular example), then the tiebreaker will go to driver B, who is left with a 3/3 score compared to driver A’s 3/2 score. This tie breaking method favors the driver that was more consistent through the more difficult sections of the course.

2. Mechanical Failure During Qualifying – If a vehicle encounters a mechanical failure during their first qualifying lap, the driver will forfeit the remainder of that lap and may return to their pit to repair the failure. The driver will then be placed in a following qualifying group in order to finish their second qualifying lap. If the vehicle encounters a mechanical failure during the second qualifying lap, the driver will forfeit the remainder of that lap and has completed their qualifying run.

3. Battery Failure During Qualifying – Please note that a battery at low voltage is NOT considered a mechanical failure. Drivers are instructed to be ready to qualify when their group is called – and that includes having a battery installed that is charged and ready to go.

4. Incidents of Contact During Qualifying: If any vehicle-to-vehicle contact occurs during qualifying, the judges will examine each incident and determine if the qualifying driver is at fault (and thus penalized) or if the driver not qualifying is at fault, in the judges may instruct the qualifying driver to repeat the section of the course in order to give them a fair attempt at scoring qualifying points.

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