Get Started with Formula Drift Betting Online
Formula Drift is the most well-known drifting championship series. In these types of motor races, drivers are judged on criteria such as line, angle, and style, rather than who can earn the fastest time. This approach combines some of the best, most exciting aspects of both traditional racing as well as action sports.
Now, many online sportsbooks will allow fans and enthusiasts alike to be able to bet on motorsports, offering betting markets on their favorite drivers, races, heats, matchups, and more. Here’s how and where to get started with online Formula Drift betting, plus a few things you should know and consider before making your first bet.
Where to bet on Formula Drift online
To get started with betting on Formula Drift online, you’ll need an account with a sportsbook that offers these types of bets. Check our our vetted and preferred partner sportsbooks to sign up and make your picks.
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Be sure to take advantage of each sportsbook’s latest sign up offer. A common approach is to sign up for all of them because some sportsbooks will offer different signup, deposit, or welcome bonuses, which are a nice incentive when you’re just starting. Not only that, some sportsbooks will offer different odds or betting markets, so it’s beneficial to have a few places to choose from, especially when you’re quickly looking to make a wager.
Types of sports bets to make on Formula Drift
Formula Drift Futures Bets
Futures bets (also known as Outrights) involve predicting the outcome of a race well in advance of the event or competition – either days, weeks, or even months. For example, you could bet on a particular driver to win the Formula Drift championship or show on the podium before the season even begins.
Formula Drift Winner Bets
For most events and races, the main type of wager available is simply to choose the driver who you think will be the overall winner for the entire event.
Formula Drift Top 2 Bets
These types of bets are also known as shows. Formula Drift is based on head-to-head matchups in a tournament-style bracket. So, in addition to potentially choosing the outright winner, some sportsbooks will let you wager on a driver that will finish in the top two.
Formula Drift Prop Bets
When you place a propositional wager, also known as a Prop bet, you are simply betting on something unrelated to the outcome of the event. For Formula Drift, this could include which driver has the best style score, if a driver will make contact, the fastest lap times, other bits of judging criteria, and more.
Formula Drift Heat Winner Bets
As mentioned earlier, in Formula Drift the top 32 qualifying drivers advance to the final bracket of an event. This opens up a lot of unique opportunities for betting. As the races begin and winners are crowned on each heat, odds will be created and betting will open based on which drivers advance to face each other. For example, Round 1 of the final bracket is 16 heats of two athletes each, driving for a better-judged score. Athlete A wins and Athlete B loses. We know Athlete A will face the winner of the next heat, but we don’t have odds until the end of that heat when both drivers are known.
Formula Drift Head-to-Head Bets
This type of bet is based solely on the final results of an event. Specifically, you’re choosing which of two athletes will have a better overall result, regardless of whether or not they ever face each other head-to-head in a heat. Another unique aspect of this bet is that it has the potential to be a tie. For example, the two athletes who lose their semifinal heats are both considered to be in third place.
Different books can define tiebreaks differently. Some may consider Qualifying round ranking points, which can break ties in real competition. Others will simply refund all bets, while others consider it a loss. Be sure to check depending on which sportsbook you choose!
Strategies and things to consider when betting on Formula Drift
Knowing what judges are looking for in terms of style, approach, and lines are crucial here. Also learning as much as you can about the drivers, such as their strengths and weaknesses, will be key to gaining an edge. Here are a few things to consider when placing a bet on Formula Drift.
Driver Performance and History
The skill level and track record of the drivers are crucial factors to consider when placing a sports bet on Formula Drift racing. Look at the past performance of drivers on the specific track, in similar conditions, their consistency throughout the season, and any recent changes in their driving style.
Weather, Track Layout, and Conditions
The layout and condition of the track can significantly impact the outcome of any race. Consider the track surface, weather conditions, and course layout when placing your bets. Some drivers may perform better on certain types of tracks, so researching the course beforehand can help you identify the best betting opportunities.
Teams and Cars
A well-prepared car with the right setup can make a big difference in a rallycross event. The car’s suspension, tires, and power delivery are key factors to consider when predicting a winner. Teams and drivers who have experience with a particular type of car, or who have spent more time preparing for the event, are more likely to perform well.
Formula Drift Events & Formats
One of the most common event formats for Formula Drift is a knockout-style tournament, where drivers compete in a series of head-to-head matchups until a winner is determined. This is done in two parts – the qualifying round and the Top 32 round.
Qualifying Round
The tournament typically starts with a qualifying round, where each driver completes two individual runs to determine their overall ranking. The drivers each perform a qualifying run where they are judged on line, style, angle, and x-factor. They are then each awarded a score out of 100, with the highest rankings moving on to the Top 32 bracket, where they then will compete in a series of one-on-one matchups.
Top 32 Round
During the Top 32 round, the highest-qualifying driver faces the lowest-qualifying driver, the second-highest-qualifying driver faces the second-lowest-qualifying driver, and so on. The winner of each matchup advances to the next round, with the ultimate goal of making it to the final head-to-head matchup.
Each heat involves the following steps:
- Both athletes do a simultaneous run together. Athlete A is the lead, driving in front and deciding what to do on the run, while Athlete B is the chaser with the goal of following Athlete A as closely and identically as possible, getting points for doing so with even more angle if possible. No judging is done at this point.
- Both athletes do another simultaneous run together, but change roles. Athlete B is now the lead and Athlete A is the chaser.
- Based on the same criteria of line, angle, and style, the three judges vote that either Athlete A wins or Athlete B wins.
If they can’t make a decision because it was too close, they can vote for an OMT (One More Time). This then follows the same judging criteria as the qualifying rounds, but an actual score is not input – just a final decision. The majority vote wins, so for example, Athlete A wins with 2 or 3 votes in their favor. If one judge votes for Athlete A, another for Athlete B, and another for OMT, there is no majority and an OMT is played out.
In an OMT, the entire heat is repeated and judged again with the same majority requirement. In theory, an OMT can happen an unlimited amount of times until a winner is determined.
Example of an OMT Run
As the tournament progresses, the number of drivers is gradually reduced until only two drivers remain for the final matchup. The winner of this final matchup is declared the overall winner of the event.
Throughout the tournament, drivers are judged based on their performance in each individual matchup, with the judges awarding scores based on the driver’s style, line, and angle during their run. The driver with the highest score in each matchup moves on to the next round, and the process continues until a winner is determined.
Overall, the knockout-style tournament format used in Formula Drift emphasizes head-to-head competition and rewards drivers who can consistently perform at a high level throughout the event.
Formula Drift Judging Criteria
In Formula Drift, drivers are judged based on their driving skills and ability to perform “drifts” – controlled slides through turns – while maintaining high speed and car control.
During each run, judges award points based on three main criteria: style, line, and angle.
Line - 40 Percent
Line refers to the driver’s ability to stay on the optimal driving line through the course, which is predetermined by the judges. For measurement, it’s dependent on where the vehicle is relative to inside clips and outside zones, the two areas of focus used by the judges.
Angle - 30 Percent
Angle refers to the amount of angle the car has during the drift, with more angle typically resulting in higher scores. This is measured by the degree or amount of angle the vehicle achieves and the stability or consistency of that angle.
Style - 20 Percent
Style points are separated into two categories: initiation descriptors such as fast, explosive, quick, and smooth, as well as transition descriptors such as dynamic, fast, accurate, quick, and smooth.
X-Factor - 10 Percent
X-Factors are defined as points of difference a driver can make that create a clear and notable difference in performance and execution relative to other drivers. Basically, these are “wow” factors. Some techniques or things judges look for are heavy, controlled throttle usage, driving with a big angle, but maintaining a consistent pace, or showing vehicle stability and balance while performing at a very high level of driving
The judges use a scoring system to rate each driver’s performance on these criteria during qualifying rounds with a maximum score of 100 points available for each run. Traditionally there are three judges, one for each aspect of judging. Each of the judges awards a score based on one specific criteria, which are then combined to give each driver a total score for the run.
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