Drifting

Drifting, also known as Powersliding is a racing technique that the player (and NPCs, although it is scripted) can use to lose a pursuing vehicle (i.e. Cops), help win races (single/multiplayer races) or Machinima. The player could drift from GTA III onwards, but from the start, was proven difficult without the help of modifications. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV are have been know to be the best games (in the series) to drift. Tactics like these can prove valuable in missions and more in racing, as it is quicker than slowing down in a turn; that is, if done right.

Drifting is where a driver comes up to a turn, and instead purposely slides into and angle moving around a turn...This is generally faster than slowing down at a turn. The most popular kind of drifting in GTA is the "Handbrake Drift" or "E-Brake Drift".

How to do a handbreak drift
First of all one should know how much handbrake a vehicle requires to slide, as it is obviously a core aspect in this technique. Generally, 2-seat sports coupes and hatchbacks have oversteer, which need less handbrake (tap), and larger trucks and vans have understeer, which need more handbrake (hold) Oversteer is, when a driver is going around his/her apex (the path the driver wants the car to go), the car goes under it. Oversteer is key to doing a drift, but drift should never be keeped to oversteering cars only. Understeer is obviously the opposite, where the car goes over apex (and possibly into oncoming traffic).

Countersteering is where one counter their turn, hence the name, to save themselves from crashing/spinning out etc.

Now, to drift around a corner, follow these steps. This applies to all road vehicles...

1:Steer into the apex

2:While still steering into the apex, apply handbrake (amount differs between every vehicle) and (counter)steer appropriatly.

3:When at the end of the turn, steer where you want to go and continue on going.