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What is D1 Grand Prix?

• Determination of who has the coolest driving style.

D1 Grand Prix is a sport, which is judged, based on who has the coolest and radical drifting performance style. Drifting is a way of driving that force the rear tires and/or all 4 tires slide while controlling the pass of forward motion. The steering wheel is turning to the same side of the sliding direction, and drivers are to control the vehicle in extreme speed, often exceeding 120mph, and driving conditions.

Drifting is an extremely difficult driving style that requires high level of skills and techniques. It’s very amusing to watch each driver’s performance as well. In addition, unlike Rally and other motor sports, the determination of winner/loser is largely based on driver’s skill instead of the machine advantages. D1 Grand Prix is all about the rivalry of each driver’s drifting skill.

System of D1 Grand Prix

Qualifying round

• 80 to 100 drivers down to 28 to 32 drivers
• Only the D1 license holders are allowed to participate.

D1 Grand Prix always starts from the Qualifying round. Participation is limited to drivers who already obtain a D1 license. However, the top 10 drivers in series ranking at that time (series ranking of the past year for the first round) are exempt from the qualifying round. The highest record of participating drivers in 2004 series was 97 drivers at the qualifying round.

The drivers are judged by solo run's performance at qualifying round. They are given 2 or 3 judging runs. The highest point out of those 2 or 3 runs will be used for the final judgment. The points are given based on following elements; Angle, Speed, Lines(closer to a given clipping points is better), engine's throttle angles(wide open throttle is better), and whether the vehicle accelerates on the straightway. According to the point earned, the top 22 drivers plus the 10 ceded drivers proceed to the actual First round. The qualifying round usually takes place a day before the main D1 event.

1st round

• 32 drivers down to 16 drivers
• Determining of proceeding drivers for Tsuiso (chase run) tournament.

Total of 32 drivers, which are 22 proceeding drivers from qualifying rounds and 10 seeded drivers, are allowed to participate in 1^st round of main D1 event. First round is judged by solo run as well. 2 or 3 judging runs are given and the judging standards remain the same as that of qualifying round.

However, the higher levels of performance can be seen compared to the qualifying round. Only top 16 drivers will proceed to the next Tsuiso (chase battles) round.

The pairs for Tsuiso battles are determined based on the points earned in this round. Generally, the 1^st round of Tsuiso battles are paired up in order of 1^st place vs. 16^th place, 2^nd place vs. 15^th place, 3^rd place vs 14^th place and so on.

Tsuiso (Chase battle)Tournament

• 16 drivers down to 1^st place driver
• Side by Side, drift battle

The most intense battle starts from this point. This Tsuiso battles will present many perfect drift performances of top drivers going side by side, to grab the taste of victory.

The judging runs begin after competing 2 vehicles go for a practice run for warm-up. The line is no longer drivers' concern; it's the battle against survival. It would be a loss if a chasing driver is left behind. The chasing driver will win once he closes in on the leading driver and takes the inner line. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee of proceeding to the Best-16 round due to machine advantage since the judgment is also based on the drifting angle and considering the each machine's potentials. Large amount of points will be deducted when the vehicle spins out and/or in case of under steer during performance. There are cases where the leading driver intentionally slows down dramatically in order to force the chasing driver to swerve straight while drifting.

Point system and D1 round series.

• Only top 16 drivers earn points.

Drivers earn series points according to their result at each round. 1^st place gets 20 points and 2 points are deducted from 2^nd place on, giving 10^th place 2 points. 1 point is given for 11^th to 16^th place drivers. Points are given only to the drivers who proceeded to Tsuisou Round.

1^st and 2^nd places are determined by actual battle, but from 3^rd to 16^th places are determined by judges' evaluation.

There are 7 rounds per year, and overall points will determine the champion at the end of the D1 series.

How do I participate in D1?

• Obtaining the license.

You must be a D1 license holder in order to participate in D1 Grand Prix. There are 2 main ways of obtaining D1 license. One is to maintain good results at D1 Drivers search events that are certified by D1 Grand Prix Officials. The second way is to participate in “ikaten” drivers search sponsored by Sanpros and score high points in it. If a driver has fairly good reputation in other motorsports, then the judges may grant a right to participate in D1 Grand Prix.

2005's D1 certified Drivers search events are; ADVAN Drift Meeting, APEX CUP WITH POTENZA RE-01, ORC Drift Challenge, and BN Sports D1 Drift Challenge. The details are provided at each sponsor's website.

Ikaten drivers search participators must form a group of 5, and the participating groups are chosen by screening their documents.

(Reprinted Pernission from www.d1gp.com)