Builds / Simulator Types / Drift
Drift

Drift simulator
built for angle.

Drifting is the one discipline where the controls change the build rather than the tier. A handbrake and a shifter are not accessories here, they are the point.

From $6,995 2–4 Week Build Time Nationwide Shipping
The Discipline

What this setup has to do.

Handbrake fitted to an Academy simulator build
The handbrake is the discipline, not an accessory

Everything else on this site is judged on lap time. Drifting is judged on angle, line and commitment, and that changes what the rig has to do. You are holding the car in a sustained slide and making constant corrections, which puts a completely different demand on the wheel.

What matters is how fast the wheel returns, not how hard it pulls. A wheelbase that responds quickly lets you catch a slide. One that is merely strong does not.

Configuration

How we spec it.

Seating position

Upright and fairly close, so you can work the wheel through large, fast movements without running out of arm.

Wheelbase

Response speed over raw torque. A 15Nm base is entirely sufficient for drifting, and we would rather see the money go into the handbrake, shifter and screens.

Pedals

Load cell brake is fine. Drifting is throttle-led, and pedal spend matters less here than in almost any other discipline.

Display

Triples, clearly. You are pointing the car somewhere other than where it is travelling, so peripheral vision is not optional. This is the strongest triple-screen argument of any discipline.

Software

Assetto Corsa is where most serious drift content lives, with a large community. It runs on every build here.

Tactile and motion

A Buttkicker helps you feel the rear breaking traction. Motion is less critical here than in endurance, because the information you need is mostly in the wheel.

The Lineup

Which build suits it.

These are our existing builds, not special editions. The table is the published spec.

BuildPriceDisplayWheelbasePedalsHaptics & Motion
Base From $10,000 49" curved 144Hz 15Nm direct drive Load cell Buttkicker
Club Triple $17,995 3 x 32" curved 165Hz 25Nm, DD2 or Simucube 3 Simucube Active Buttkicker

Base with a handbrake and shifter added is a strong drift rig. Club Triple if the field of view matters, which for drifting it does.

Who It Suits

Is this you?

This suits you if drifting is what you actually do, rather than something you try occasionally. The handbrake and shifter are the difference between practicing the discipline and approximating it.

If you race circuits and want to drift sometimes, spec for the racing and add the controls.

A simulator builds familiarity, repetition and consistency. It is practice, not a substitute for real seat time or instruction, and we do not claim it will make you faster on track.

Related

Keep reading.

Elsewhere at Academy

Try before you buy.

Every build on this site is a rig we run daily in the Tampa lounge.

Frequently Asked

Real answers.

Do I need a handbrake to drift?
To practice it properly, yes. Initiating and adjusting with the handbrake is part of the discipline, and without one you are approximating it.
Do I need an H-pattern shifter?
Most drift cars use a manual gearbox, so a shifter makes the practice realistic. It is an addition rather than a different chassis.
Is more torque better for drifting?
No. Response speed matters more than strength. A 15Nm base is entirely sufficient and the money is better spent on controls and screens.
Why do triples matter so much here?
You are pointing the car somewhere other than where it is going. Without peripheral vision you cannot see where you are actually headed.
Which software for drifting?
Assetto Corsa, where most of the serious drift community and content lives.
Can I add drift controls to a rig later?
Yes. The handbrake and shifter are additions, so a build can grow into drifting.
Next Step

Build it properly.

Tell us the racing you do and the space you have. We will spec it against the real lineup.