Few moments feel as satisfying as holding a clean slide through one corner and carrying it smoothly into the next. If you're learning how to drift in Forza Horizon 5, this guide gives you a clear starting point and practical guidance for gaining control.
How Do You Unlock Drift Zones in Forza Horizon 5?
If Drift Zones haven't appeared on your map, you'll need to advance the campaign and establish the Horizon Rush Outpost first.
Unlock Horizon Rush
1. Earn enough Accolade points to receive a Horizon Adventure chapter unlock.
2. Open Horizon Adventure and select Horizon Rush.
3. Travel to the Canyon Expedition and complete it to establish the Horizon Rush Outpost.
Once you finish the expedition, Drift Zones and other PR Stunts will appear across the map.
Find Drift Zones on the Map
Open the world map and apply the Drift Zones filter to hide unrelated activities. Each Drift Zone follows a marked section of road and has its own length, corners, surface, and score targets.
Understand the Star Targets
Each zone offers three score thresholds:
- Reach the first target to earn one star.
- Reach the second target to earn two stars.
- Reach the highest target to earn three stars.
Highlight a Drift Zone icon to view its star targets and best score. Points are counted from entrance to exit, while stopping, turning around, or staying off the road too long can cancel the run. You can retry each zone as often as needed, starting with shorter routes before progressing to longer mountain sections.
What Is the Best Drift Car in Forza Horizon 5?
The right choice depends on your experience, drivetrain preference, and route you want to tackle. For beginners, a controllable car with predictable responses is usually the best place to start.
Beginner-Friendly Drift Cars
- 1993 Nissan 240SX SE
- 2000 Nissan Silvia Spec R
- 2013 Toyota 86
These Rear Wheel Drive cars combine manageable power with predictable handling. A basic drift build provides enough wheelspin to hold an angle while leaving room to correct the steering or throttle before a small mistake becomes a spin.
Formula Drift Cars
Formula Drift models arrive prepared for sideways driving, with substantial power, generous steering angle, and setups designed to sustain long slides.
- 1997 Formula Drift #777 Nissan 240SX
- 1989 Formula Drift #98 BMW 325i
Both are accessible choices for exploring faster entries and wider angles. Some Formula Drift cars are available through the Autoshow or Wheelspins, while others require the Formula Drift Car Pack.
Advanced Drift Options
- Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10
- Formula Drift #117 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
These cars provide the power needed for fast transitions and long, high-speed Drift Zones, although their sharp responses demand disciplined throttle control. They suit experienced players who can anticipate weight transfer and catch the car before its angle becomes unrecoverable.
What Should You Look for in a Drift Car?
Look for controllable power, predictable handling, and sufficient steering angle.
- Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive offers direct control over tire slip, while All Wheel Drive makes slides easier to recover.
- Engine Power: A suitable power level should sustain the drift while leaving enough throttle range to increase or reduce rear tire spin as the corner changes.
- Handling: Predictable steering and balanced weight transfer make drifts easier to control.
How Do You Build and Tune a Drift Car in Forza Horizon 5?
To build a drift car, visit a Festival Outpost or Player House and open Upgrades & Tuning > Custom Upgrade. From there, focus on the essential upgrades and tuning adjustments that shape how the car behaves during a drift.
Install the Core Drift Upgrades
1. Drift suspension: Increases steering angle and gives the car the range needed to hold deeper slides and recover from transitions.
2. Drift tires: Use the drift tire compound for predictable slides. Wider front tires improve steering grip, while wider rear tires help powerful cars keep wheelspin under control.
3. Race transmission: Unlocks gear ratio tuning and helps keep the engine within its useful power range during a drift.
4. Drift differential: Helps both rear wheels spin together and gives you control over differential locking during acceleration and deceleration.
Optional Build Adjustments
Engine upgrades: Add power gradually if the current build struggles to sustain a drift in the gear you normally use.
Weight reduction: Reduce weight in stages, since a lighter car changes direction faster and may require quicker corrections.
Tune for Stability and Control
1. Gearing: Adjust the final drive and individual ratios until one gear can cover most of your chosen route without hitting the rev limiter or losing wheelspin.
2. Differential: Increase acceleration locking to keep both rear wheels spinning consistently. Reduce it if the car becomes difficult to control under throttle.
3. Tire pressure and alignment: Use small pressure changes to balance front grip and rear slip. Front camber and caster can help the tires maintain grip while the wheels are countersteered.
4. Suspension: Adjust springs, damping, and anti roll bars to control weight transfer. A setup that is too stiff may snap between angles, while a softer setup can feel slow and imprecise.
Test each change in the same corner or Drift Zone, adjusting one setting at a time. This makes it easier to identify which change improved the car and which one introduced a new problem.
How Do You Drift in Forza Horizon 5?
A controlled drift follows five stages: entry, initiation, countersteering, maintenance, and exit. Practise them on a wide corner before trying to link an entire Drift Zone, since each stage becomes easier to understand when you aren't rushing toward the next turn.
1. Prepare the Entry
Approach at a manageable speed and select a gear that keeps the engine within its useful power range. Brake before turning if you need to reduce speed, then steer into the corner and use one of the following methods to break rear traction.
Power over: Enter the corner under control, then apply enough throttle to make the rear tires lose grip, which works best in a powerful Rear Wheel Drive car.
Brake initiation: Brake as you begin turning to shift weight toward the front tires. The lighter rear can then rotate into the slide.
Clutch kick: With Manual with Clutch enabled, keep the throttle applied, press the clutch briefly, and release it quickly. The sudden return of engine power can break rear traction without using the handbrake.
Handbrake: Release the throttle, steer into the corner, and tap the handbrake briefly. Release it once the rear begins rotating, then return to the throttle. Holding the handbrake for too long removes speed and can interrupt the drift.
2. Countersteer and Manage the Throttle
As the rear swings outward, steer opposite the direction of the corner. For a left-hand drift, steer right. For a right-hand drift, steer left. Adjust the countersteering angle as the slide develops, since too little can cause a spin while too much can straighten the car.
At the same time, use the throttle to control the drift angle:
- Apply more throttle: Increases rear tire slip and pushes the car toward a wider angle.
- Ease off the throttle: Helps the rear tires regain grip and reduces the angle.
- Lift off completely: May cause the car to straighten or snap back suddenly.
Make small, coordinated steering and throttle adjustments to keep the slide balanced.
3. Link Drift Transitions
As one corner ends, ease off the throttle slightly and guide the steering toward the next turn. The rear will move across the car as its weight shifts, and you'll need to catch the new slide with countersteering before applying the throttle again. A smooth transition should feel like a pendulum changing direction.
4. Exit the Drift
As the car points toward the corner exit, reduce the throttle gradually and unwind the countersteering as the rear tires regain grip. Straightening the wheel too quickly can upset the car, while holding the drift too long may send it beyond the road.
How Do You Fix Common Drift Problems?
Spinning: Reduce your entry speed, apply less throttle, or begin countersteering earlier.
Straightening: Maintain a steadier throttle, use less countersteering, or select a lower gear if the engine falls outside its power range.
Running wide: Enter more slowly, initiate the drift earlier, and use additional angle to reduce forward speed while staying within the route.
How Do You Drift in Forza Horizon 5 with a PXN VD Series Racing Wheel Setup?
Before practising, follow our PXN VD Series FH5 setup guide to connect the hardware, apply the FH5 preset in PXN SimRacing, and bind the required controls. Once the steering, sim pedals, and optional accessories respond correctly, you can focus on how the hardware behaves during a drift.
Work with Force Feedback During Countersteering
When the rear steps out, force feedback creates a self-aligning pull that helps the wheel rotate toward the countersteering angle. Keep your hands in contact and relax your grip enough to allow this movement, then steer slowly and steady the wheel as the car settles into the slide. Avoid gripping so tightly that you fight the rotation or allowing the wheel to spin freely.
During a transition, the direction of the force changes as the rear moves from one side to the other. Guide the wheel smoothly through the center, then control its rotation as it moves toward the countersteering angle for the new slide.
Coordinate Your Physical Controls
Throttle and brake: Use gradual pedal pressure to control rear tire slip and entry speed. Abrupt inputs can unsettle the car or increase the drift angle too quickly.
Clutch and shifter: A clutch pedal supports clutch kicks when Manual with Clutch is enabled, while paddle or H pattern shifting helps you hold the engine within a useful power range.
Handbrake: An optional PC handbrake provides a dedicated lever for tight entries and quick line corrections. Use a brief pull, since holding it too long reduces speed and may interrupt the slide.
Refine Rotation and Force Feedback
Torque output and steering response vary across sim racing wheel bases, so start with the settings established in the setup guide, then adjust them according to how the wheel behaves:
- Countersteering requires too much hand movement: Reduce the steering rotation slightly.
- The wheel feels too heavy: Lower the force feedback strength in small steps.
- The wheel rotates too slowly: Reduce the wheel damping slightly.
- The wheel oscillates or feels unstable: Add a small amount of damping.
During each test, adjust either wheel rotation in PXN SimRacing or Steering Sensitivity in FH5, leaving the other unchanged. This isolates the effect of each change and prevents overlapping adjustments from creating new problems.
Ready to Take On the Drift Zones?
Now that you know how to drift in Forza Horizon 5, begin with a forgiving route and focus on consistency before chasing higher scores. Adjust your car tune or PXN VD Series settings when the same problem appears repeatedly, then compare the results across several runs. Progress shows when clean entries, controlled corrections, and smooth transitions become repeatable.
FAQ
Should You Turn Off Traction and Stability Control for Drifting?
Yes. Traction control limits wheelspin, while stability control counters rotation, so disabling both gives you greater control over the drift. ABS serves a different purpose by helping prevent wheel lock under braking and can remain enabled while you learn.
Do You Need a Clutch Pedal or Handbrake to Drift in Forza Horizon 5?
Neither is necessary. A clutch pedal adds clutch kicks as an initiation technique, while a handbrake helps start tight drifts and correct your line.
Is It Easier to Drift with a Controller or Steering Wheel?
A controller is usually easier for beginners because its inputs are quicker and more assisted. Racing wheels require more coordination and offer physical force feedback, finer pedal control, and a more involved experience.