For the latest installation of Hypebeast’s How To series, we’ve tapped Arisa Mizuhara, a professional rally car and drift driver from Japan. In this presentation, she breaks down some simple steps on how to drift utilizing the Toyota GR86.
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While already a global star in the sport, Mizuhara continues to make her presence known through her social media accounts like Instagram and her very own YouTube channel TokyoDriftGirl-Arisa-, where she showcases her life and role in the world of drifting and rally car racing. In some episodes, she’s seen building out cars, profiling car parts and of course, getting behind the wheel for some viral worthy drifting clips. Some of today’s most popular automotive platforms like Hoonigan, GT Channel and more have also profiled the Japanese driver for her aggressive, yet creative driving style and ability to handle almost any car put in front of her. This time around, we have her behind the wheel of Toyota’s newest and highly coveted GR86 for a quick lesson on how to drift.
The Toyota GR86 is a street-ready ride that handles with precision. It’s undeniably fast with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine under the hood, producing 228 horsepower and 184 lb. -ft of torque. Mizuhara’s favorite parts about the car are in fact the horsepower and torque, and she also loves that it’s “easy and comfortable to drive on the streets.”
Safety is of utmost importance so, it’s urged to never just go out and perform these maneuvers at random. The first step is all about safety gear and checking if the weather conditions are right. In her demonstration, Mizuhara has her trusty helmet and safety belts on for security and protection. The lesson was also done on a clear, sunny day with dry conditions on a closed course – there were no dangerous obstacles present that could hinder the car or jeopardize the driver or other people.
Part of step one is utilizing the handbrake to enter the drift, according to Mizuhara. She emphasizes that every corner is different but she uses the second gear for the particular corner she’s entering in her demonstration.
The second step is all about the slide. “Step on the clutch while simultaneously pulling the handbrake to enter the drift,” Mizuhara says. “When you want to turn into the corner, you need to step on the clutch and pull the handbrake up at the same time.” Through this move, the car will eventually go into a slide.
Sliding then leads into the third step which involves wheel handling. As Mizuhara explains, “when you feel the car sliding, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction.” As seen in the video, the Japanese drift driver executes this perfectly with the Toyota GR86 going into a tailwhip movement, producing smoke from the friction between tire and track.
Step four, eventually brings us to exiting the corner involving gas release. “When exiting the corner, slowly turn the counter steering towards the exit while releasing gas at the same time,” Mizuhara instructs. “It is important to keep the balance of gas and slide.” In this instance, we see the Toyota GR86 smoothly getting back into road alignment courtesy of Mizuhara’s finesse driving skills. She also adds a very useful tip at this step, “whenever you are pulling the handbrake, you always want to step on the clutch at the same time.”
Ultimately, drifting, while as easy as Mizuhara makes it look, is still a high-risk maneuver, especially for beginners. However, it is a fun way to gain driving skills and improve creativity if becoming a professional drifter or rally car driver is something one aspires to be. It’s a necessary foundation for the sport and thankfully Mizuhara breaks it down in the simplest design while utilizing the fast, precise and reliable Toyota GR86.
For more information on the newest Toyota GR86, head on to toyota.com/gr86.
