I do wonder sometimes if human beings are really wired to deal with the modern convenience of international airline travel. The past 2 weeks has seen me drop in and out of London, Marseille, Vancouver and Seattle as easy as going round to the shops. And when I look back on this whirlwind, transcontinental tour, the whole trip seems like one big impossible dream.
However there is photographic evidence to show otherwise. I was indeed shooting at Paul Ricard Circuit two weeks ago, and immediately followed this with the trek to Evergreen Speedway last weekend.
So as I got to photograph and experience at these two events back to
back, I thought it would make an interesting Speedhunting article to
cross compare these rather different motorsports disciplines:
Professional Drifting and International GT Racing.
I’m a big fan of both Formula D and the FIA GT1/GT3 series, and will attempt here to articulate what I like about both arenas.
Let’s start with the GTs.
The FIA GT1 and GT3 series are typical of European motorsports culture at its best. These are some of most desirable, production based GTs on the planet.
But exclusivity also breeds desire.
And its the access to these fields of racing supercars that’s the true appeal of the two FIA GT championships. You can’t help but get excited to see all these amazing cars, at once, in the flesh.
Yes, some of the cars on the grid are big budget builds, but they’re still fundamentally the same models that you see at meets, grass roots events and around town.
So is one better than the other?
For me no, but I tend to have a wider range of automotive tastes that most people.
In terms of cars, I’d say they are different, with one not really outweighing the other.
Other people might argue that high end exotics are for rich people… for snobbish playboys. The real deal are the machines which represent true drift culture.
Anyway I digress… Let’s look at the locations where I shot these photographs.
First up, we have Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France.This is truly an astounding motorsports facility.
It’s more like a high end country club than a race track. The entire grounds are manicured, landscaped gardens.
Check out the entrance lobby to the pit building. In all my travels I’ve never seen a racing facility on this level.
The walls are decorated by several of these 1 story tall paintings. They depict the graphical styles of the Paul Ricard circuit. Pretty cool.
There is no more an exclusive and facinating place to be than on the GT1 pre-grid.
This certainly is NOT open to the public. But if you are one of the lucky few with the correct pass, then the excitement is all the greater.
And I suppose this shot sums up the difference between these two very different worlds: one is inclusive, the other exclusive. One represents the many, the other, the few…
But Is one better than the other?
I’ll be back soon with part two to explore this question further.
:Rod Chong
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Wow amazing photos and a great article. Some very interesting points brought up. Very well written, this is why i come back to speedhunters over any other blog. Keep it up.
Gimmie either and i'd be ontop of the world.
Give me a chance to drive? i'd choose the rarest piece of art i could get my hands on!
Well Im fan of drifting but this have no point for discusse.
They'r really diferent and theres more money in race than drifting.
So thats make more serious the race but its more fun the drifting.
Its a about enjoy one of them.
We're lucky to have such a diverse culture, is there any other sport like ours? Also, this is one of the best articles i've ever seen mate, good work!
maan those poor billionaires, they probably don't know how many nissan 240s they could buy with that money they spent on their f40
Drifting is more of a sport for the young.. Thats why its not as coordinated as GT racing. Also its a fairly new sport and mostly privateer. If Drifting was backed by Factory and rich princes from Saudi Arabia then it would be a elegant looking exclusive event.
There is no "better" sport. It's all on personal preference, and mine would have to be Japanese street/grassroots drifting.
Nice circuit !
Oh my god, that first brunetter girl for the formula d is HOTTT. ROD HOOK A BROTHER UP!
desktop the 3rd pic its vrycool well writen to
Great imagery. GT1 has some great cars, but not long to live now. Then they will be dinoasurs
Why is this fascination on calling it Grip on here, because of ProStreet or possibly Time Attack. NO ONE in the traditional circuit world, calls it grip. Get with it
This is a fantastic article. Working in both arenas of racing I see your points. I would not trade road racing for anything, the thrill of endurance / GT racing is just unparallelled. BUT, when I do not want all of the pressure of running a GT car, there is nothing better than kickin back with some friends and sliding our cars around. Its almost an apples and oranges thing, but I'm interested in seeing what everyone else has to say too!
"...the automotive appeal of drifting is the fact that most of the cars... [are] still fundamentally the same models that you see at meets, grass roots events and around town."
Except the ones that are winning.
"Other people might argue that high end exotics are for rich people... for snobbish playboys. The real deal are the machines which represent true drift culture."
GT3 is for rich people? True drift culture? Leading the standings in Formula D currently is a $250,000 tube-frame MUSTANG. Not too many people are running one of those on the streets.
I agree with what you're getting at, that GT3 and drifting are two different beasts that can't really be compared to say which is better/worse, but it feels like you're being a bit generous as to the connection between current professional rides and the streets.
Sabias palabras, realmente sabias, ojala traduzcas esto y lo leas, espero tener tu suerte, porque vaya que la has aprovechado
un real genio!
Translate this!
Drift vs Grip are two different worlds. each one has a different language, different style, and different emotions. however, no matter how different they are, ive come to enjoy and love both that i couldnt imagine life without them.
this post rocks on all levels.
FWIW, there's a ton of grassroots "grip" events all over. just google SCCA, NASA, autocross, etc, etc...
Very intriguing editorial Rod, you've piqued my interest, and i'm eager to see what you've got lined up for a part 2
Very intriguing editorial Rod, you've piqued my interest, and i'm eager to see what you've got lined up for a part 2
I feel sorry for that Miata in the Fatlace car show. Ruined, in my opinion.
Great article!
"... FIA GT cars on the other hand are the ultimate evolution of the road going supercar."
"Yes, some of the cars on the grid are big budget builds, but they're still fundamentally the same models that you see at meets, grass roots events and around town."
Well said! That's exactly what true race fans want!! I loved the Group A racing back in the late 80s and early 90s with the Skyline GT-Rs, the E30 M3, the AMG 190E because every race car in the series looked similar to their road-going versions. Similarly, I am very excited to see Formula Drift and the FIA GT series retaining that spirit.
D1 pits aren't open to then public are they?
Could compare a *ahem* higher level of drift to a more grassroots grip now?
At least D1GP has professional judges.
You either race or you´re a fake. End of discussion.
good one ROD, you know i agree with u , they shouldnt even be compared. maybe time attack would fit more into the comparison
both these types of automotive sports are very good, both exciting and enjoyable! the cars are sick and i believe both are dope and would be fun! but the common thing between these two is a love of sport(automotive) and a love of cars, so if you haten on any of these or think one is better then another you should widen you perspective! haters be hate'n and if you are GO HATE SOMEWHERE ELSE!
What a crazy couple weeks! For my driver's blog this time, I decided to alter the form a little bit