How to Drift a 900-HP Audi on Ice Without Wrecking
“Perhaps we should take your car in for repairs since the brake lights seem to be malfunctioning,” Stefan remarked to me through my driver’s side window while I waited for my turn at the slalom. Unbeknownst to me, he was being sarcastic. The seasoned racing instructor, who oversees numerous Audi Driving Experience centers worldwide, was using humor as a reminder that if the car skidded too much, I needed to perform a quick tap on the brakes to regain control.
I was indeed sliding too much. I didn't use the brakes. Stefan made sure to let me know.
During my next attempt, I maintained better control of the 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance as I navigated through the cones. This time, if I sensed the rear slipping out, I’d swiftly tap the brakes, allowing the tail to tuck in just in time for the car to change direction and begin sliding again. A quick press on the throttle kept the momentum, a turn of the steering wheel initiated the rotation, another quick brake tap kept everything neat, and I eventually managed to connect four cones into a smooth R-L-R-L-R-L drift. Stefan smiled.
Even though I’ve been reviewing cars for ten years, I had never really engaged in this sliding sideways concept. Despite living in the snowy Midwest for 13 years, my experience with sliding was limited to doing donuts in the Kroger parking lot. I enjoy spirited driving, but I’ve never aimed to be a drifter. I love speeding through corners but never wanted to kick the tail out. If you’ve followed my stories over the last seven years, you already know I grew up racing shifter karts and other small open-wheel race cars. Unless absolutely necessary on tight sprint tracks, drifting is frowned upon because, when chasing lap times, losing traction or causing extra tire wear is a major mistake. However, it turns out, making mistakes can be quite enjoyable.
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**Ice Missile**
I swapped a chilly and snowy Indiana for a cold and snowy Austria, though I was grateful to see blue skies and, momentarily, the sun. However, instead of cornfields, there were towering rocky mountains and tall trees heavily laden with fresh powder. My first venture into drifting involved learning car control on ice, with a backdrop that could belong in a James Bond film. The vehicle was equally intimidating; my ride for the day was more akin to an ice missile. With dual motors powered by a 105-kWh battery, the 2025 Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance delivers a remarkable 912 horsepower, distributed expertly to the ground via its Quattro all-wheel drive and Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires fitted with non-road-legal 7-mm studs. And by “ground,” I meant a solid layer of ice approximately 10 inches thick.
After completing a reconnaissance lap to preview the day’s first exercise—and realizing how much understeer and oversteer occurs on ice—Stefan looked me and four other U.S. auto journalists squarely in the eye and stated, “Do not get close to the wall. Do not crash the car into the wall.” Fair enough. But couldn’t the walls be positioned a bit farther from the course?
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**Glacial Car Control 101**
The first lesson I had to absorb about the art of car sliding was that a smooth, controlled slide begins slowly. “Walking pace,” Stefan repeatedly reminded me, emphasizing that, similar to racing, the principle for an excellent slide is “slow in, fast out.” Drivers tend to want to accelerate too quickly, resulting in excessive speed when initiating the slide, which throws the car off balance and requires tremendous skill to manage. Thus, while Chris Forsberg might make it look easy, most cannot.
Timing is another crucial component of a controlled slide. Not referring to the hour on the clock, but rather the timing of the driver’s actions. On ice—especially with studded tires—the process is slightly easier than it would be on dry pavement with sticky summer tires. Regardless, the first step is a quick jab of the throttle. Not a prolonged rev, but rather a sharp press. Think of it as if you were lifting your leg to crush a pesky cockroach on the floor and accidentally stomp on the throttle. That quick, decisive action is essential, as it generates a rapid increase in revs, delivering a surge of power to the tires and causing the rear end to slide out.
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According to Stefan's precise guidance, the sequence is as follows: Drive slowly, ideally no faster than 10 or 15 mph, take a wide line into the turn, promptly hit the throttle, and feel the car begin to rotate. It’s critical to avoid rushing into opposite lock, as this can worsen the spin. Wait for the vehicle to slide smoothly before managing the angle of the drift with a combination of steering and throttle input—and, if necessary, the brakes.
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How to Drift a 900-HP Audi on Ice Without Wrecking
Racers understand that drifting a car will definitely result in lost lap time and damage to the tires. It's a mistake. However, it appears that making mistakes can be enjoyable—particularly with the most powerful Audi to date.