Mumbai motorheads can experience thrill of drifting at this festival in Thane

Racing as a sport has always defied physics and human belief Think Ayrton Senna driving onehanded through the streets of Monaco in 1990 or Michael Schumacher in the rain at the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix Yet beyond the speed of racing lies the complex art of drifting The threeday long Festival of Speed at the Raymond Race track in Thane seeks to transform the art into an unforgettable experience for Mumbairsquos motorheadsldquoIt drifting is the most exciting thingrdquo shares Mudit Grover cofounder Bad Boi Drifts that will be hosting the festival alongside BND Motorsport The 28yearold began his journey into motorsports in 201415 and has since participated in rallies track time attacks drag races among others ldquoDrifting is difficult and not to be tried without supervision or controlrdquo he warnsEspecially as it requires the car to move in a way it is not often meant to ldquoYou have to throw the car into a slide where it is not in complete control At the same time you use the throttle input steering input the weight and balance of the car to maintain the slide precisely through the cornerrdquo he elaboratesThis dissonance between the expectation and reality of the carrsquos trajectory makes it an exciting watch To transform this into an experience for users can be both expensive and challenging Since their first drift event that was held earlier this year in March the team has been working towards hosting more training camps and events across Delhi and Mumbai By stripping down and modifying a fleet of cars to suit drift specifications it is possible to reduce the cost Grover believesCofounder Mudit GroverldquoIt takes a lot to build a car aside from the maintenance tires fuel transportation etc Our setup enables an allinclusive platform where people can enjoy the ride and test their skills The time and resources are managed by us at a budget pricerdquo shares cofounder Mugdha Grover For this event the decision to team up with Gautam Singhania a doyen of Indiarsquos motorsport scene was a natural fit she admitsThe event combines elements of autocross mdash track time attacks speed rides mdash with drifting battles for the first time For Esports enthusiasts there are drifting and racing simulators available Car owners with access to vehicles with rearwheel drive can sign up for drift lessons before trying it out in the controlled environment A recommended experience is the drift taxi ride where passengers can sign up for up to three laps with a racing professionalFans examine the cars during an eventldquoMost people have witnessed it only in the movies When you are in the passengerrsquos seat your brain is expecting that the car will move right at the next corner When it drifts left while moving right there is a dissonance Throw in the Gforce and it becomes an exhilarating experience Nothing comes close to itrdquo he concludesFrom October 6 to October 8 8 am to 10 pmAt Raymond Race Track JK Gram Thane WestLog on to insiderinCost Rs 500 onwards spectator charges Rs 1200 onwards participation chargesA supercar sets the track time during a previous editionDriver safety instructionsgtgt Drivercodriver should wear protective clothing Shorts are not permittedgtgt Footwear must cover the entire footgtgt All loose items within and outside the car must be removed These include handheld items such as but not limited to cameras and cell phonesgtgt Ensure that your car does not have any leakage or a loose batterygtgt Cars must have functioning headlights if the vehicle is scheduled to run after sunsetgtgt Drivers must enter and exit the pit lane at a safe speed relative to other cars in or near the pitsgtgt Do not block the lineupgtgt Donrsquot offer passenger laps to spectatorsgtgt In case of a red flag slow down and return to the pits immediatelySpectator safety instructionsgtgt Donrsquot walk on or across the racecoursegtgt If you are travelling with children please keep them under supervisiongtgt Do not stand too close to the trackgtgt At service points do not crowd over mechanics while they are workinggtgt In case of any incident or injury please alert the nearest marshal