DEFINITION
Straightening is the moment a drift ends — the car comes back into line with its direction of travel. Sometimes it is intentional (planned end of a section); often it is unintentional and counts as a broken drift.
Unintentional straightening on a section that is supposed to be a continuous slide is a major scoring negative.
HISTORY & ORIGIN
Standard English-language drift term, used identically across all major series.
TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWN
Driver reduces throttle and steering input until grip returns and the car is pointed forward again. In a planned exit, this happens at the finish gate.
PRO TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES
• Plan where you straighten. Drifting through the finish gate adds nothing because judging stops at the gate.
• Common mistake: straightening early on the link straight, then needing to re-initiate before the next clip.
He straightened a fraction too early before the second clip and had to re-initiate.