Vroom, vroom! Automotive culture festivals are taking over São Paulo, and here we’ll tell you everything you need to know to join in! With controlled demonstrations, drift events transform shopping mall parking lots into real race tracks, complete with smoke and even flames shooting out of the exhaust!
Car events in São Paulo usually feature a large display of vehicles of all kinds, customized and modified. In addition, some festivals incorporate elements from the world of video games, music with live performances, and even cosplay contests.
The Origins of Drifting
The origins of modern drifting date back to the 1970s, when Japanese driver Kunimitsu Takahashi— considered one of the pioneers of drifting —began incorporating a controlled skidding technique into his cornering. Soon, this style began to influence other drivers.
However, the culture began to take shape outside of racetracks when it became associated with “touge, ” which are races on Japanese mountain roads. Keiichi Tsuchiya, another Japanese driver better known as the “Drift King, ” was one of the people responsible for popularizing the maneuvers, performing them in competitions and videos.
One of the first official drift events took place in 1989. The Ikaten Ikasu Hashiriya Team Tengoku (いかす走り屋チーム天国) was conceived by Tsuchiya and Daijiro Inada. As the translation of the name suggests, the“Paradise of Cool Racer Teams” was an amateur tournament open to the speed-loving community of the time.
Drifting Around the World
It didn’t take long for globalization to take its toll: videos, magazines, and Japanese tuning culture spread the aesthetics of drifting around the world.
Of course, pop culture has also introduced the movement to the younger generation, with games like Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and , most notably, the Forza Horizon franchise.
In cinema, the film series that began with *The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift* (2006) also played an important role in popularizing the sport.
In Brazil, drift events have been taking place since early 2010, especially in São Paulo and in regions outside the city. In fact, today we even have a national championship: the Ultimate Drift, recognized by the Brazilian Automobile Confederation (CBA).
Last season, four states hosted seven rounds, proving that these maneuvers are no longer just informal stunts but have become a sport in their own right.
Drift Events in São Paulo
Although it is not a new culture, changes in consumption patterns, scale, and the professionalization of this type of event have contributed to the growth of such events in recent years.
There were already events related to car tuning, track days, and modified car meetups, but these took place at racetracks, go-kart tracks, or private areas.
However, the latest trend is holding these events at shopping malls. Bringing this culture to a more urban setting—and, moreover, embracing other niches such as cosplay and anime —has also contributed to the rise in popularity of drifting in São Paulo.
Check out the schedule of upcoming events so you don’t miss out:
Forza Meeting
Next event: October 31 (Halloween special)
Location: Mais Shopping: Rua Amador Bueno, 229 – Santo Amaro
Tickets: Starting at R$ 30
BRClub
Next event: October 31 (10th-anniversary celebration)
Location: Shopping D: Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul, 1100 – Canindé
Tickets: Starting at R$ 49.90
DKINGS
Next event: November 7 (Japanese Halloween special)
Location: Aldeia da SerraKart Track : Estrada Doutor Yojiro Takaoka, 210 – Itapevi
Tickets: Starting at R$ 29.90
