Last Saturday, the Chayka Autodrome in Ukraine hosted a worldwide series of drifting competitions... Virtual Drifting. 60 eSportsmen from different corners of the globe took part in the third round of Bitlook Virtual Drift.

The organizers have prepared a unique track layout that has never been used before in real competitions.

You can check the specifics of the track with this video briefing:

Sports drifting consists of three main components: Line, Angle and Style. Let's look on it with more details.

Under the Line judges look how clearly the drivers follow the given direction on the track and how they choose the route.
Each track is wider than the body of the car, so you can move in different ways. The basic directive of the Line requires that the line should be rounded, without cuts. Then the car is able to move faster.
Clipping zones are used on the track for Line reference. This is a special markings that drivers must follow. Clipping zones are divided to:

• Outside - should be filled completely from beggining to the end with the maximum approach of the back of the car to the edges of the track;
• Inside - must be overcome as close as possible with the front of the car;
• Touch&Go - where is not necessary to completely fill and it is enough to touch and continue moving. But at the same time the depth of contact is important. 

When we talk about the Angle of drift we do not mean the largest degree, but the most optimal selection of the angle so that the car can accelerate.
From the point of physics the optimal drift angle is around 45 degrees. If the angle is greater the car slows down. If it is smaller it is possible to accelerate, but a small angle will not give you more points from the judges.

Style is the most difficult criterion, but it also has its own objectification. No, it's not about the appearance of the car. Style is more about the manner of the driver.
In sports we divide style into two sub-directions:

• Commitment is how the driver overcomes the track. Does he use the width of the track and the depth of clipping zones, does he risk high speed or can overcome the track more carefully and so on;
• Fluidity is the behavior of the car around its own axis. That is how clearly the driver controls the angle or vice versa is constantly correcting it. How fast and accurate are the translations, and so on.

We already talked about the intricacies of drifting judging before: All-Ukrainian podium at 2024 Bitlook Virtual Drift R2, Suzuka Circuit

The best qualification result was demonstrated by the current leader of the personal standings Aleksander Element, who scored 98 points out of 100 possible.

Watch the replay of qualifying at the Bitlook channel:

Drama developed during the tandem battles. One of the contenders for the title Mykhailo Mordvinov finished the competition at the Top-16 stage. The winner of the previous round Artem Chulkov could not pass his opponent and took away points from this round only for the Top-8 stage.

So, three Ukrainians and an athlete from Australia reached the semi-finals.

Aleksander Element won in the confrontation with Vitaly Isaev. But we were unable to see Stanislav Tarasov's battle against the Australian Kobe Wells due to Tarasov's technical issues.

The final battle consisted of a couple of powerful and close runs. Aeleksander Element was more confident and finished on his home track with a "golden double".

We recommend to watch the replay at the Bitlook YouTube channel:

The final result is:
1. Aleksander Element / Ukraine
2. Kobe Wells / Australia
3. Vitaly Isaev / Ukraine

The IRT-OlyBet team earned the most points in the team standings.

The Top-32 bracket after the final looks like this:

The final round of 2024 Bitlook Virtual Drift will take place on March 9 at the US oval - Wall Stadium.
Qualification starts at 16:00, and double heats - at 20:00 EET/Ukraine time.
Competitions are held live on the Bitlook YouTube channel.

You can always find more information on Bitlook.net