DEFINITION
The start (or start gate) is the line that marks the official beginning of the scoring section. Crossing the start gate is the moment the run is recorded as begun and judging becomes active.
Initiation must happen at or just past the start gate. Initiating before the gate doesn't count; initiating well after the gate is a deduction.
HISTORY & ORIGIN
The start gate as a discrete on-track feature dates from the earliest organised drift events. Modern courses mark it with high-contrast paint and timing beams.
TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN
Driver builds entry speed before the gate, hits the gate at the planned speed and throws angle right at it. Timing systems and judge cameras record the exact frame.
PRO TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES
• Mark your initiation point in your head with a fixed reference (the first cone, the start tower's base). Don't trust 'about there'.
• Common mistake: initiating two car lengths past the gate, losing entry score.
She initiated exactly on the start line and held angle all the way to the finish.