After consultation with members and feedback from events this year we are implementing some changes to improve the quality of our events and the standard of vehicles and drivers at these events preparing for a bigger and better 2026.
GRADING
Driftwest hosts the only main track practice events and as such we want to improve that experience for all. There’s nothing worse than turning up to drift and consistently being lined up so we are reinstating a grading system to try and reduce incidents involving less experienced drivers in problem areas of the circuit.
Grades and restrictions will be as follows:
| Grade | Level | Restrictions |
| A | Experienced drivers
(Can link the whole track with limited to no mistakes) |
No restrictions
May take passengers if car is also approved |
| B | Moderate/Experienced driver
(Can link most of the track but occasionally makes mistakes or ends up off track) |
Turn 4 onwards – No turn 1 or 2 / 3 complex
May take passengers if car is also approved |
| C | Beginner/Moderate
(Has just passed training or is still not able to consistently link the track, makes mistakes and ends up off track occasionally to often) |
Turn 5 and Short track ONLY
No passengers |
| T | Beginner | Infield ONLY
No passengers |
If drivers have not attended a Driftwest event before this will not restrict them to any particular grade and they will be allowed to nominate which grade they believe they are.
Grades are fluid and drivers are able to move up and down, drivers not meeting requirements for the grade that they initially nominate may be demoted grades at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course.
Drivers wishing to be upgraded to a higher grouping will request to be assessed and must prove that they exceed the requirements of their current grade.
Drivers will receive a sticker either “A”, “B”, “C” or “T” that reflects their grading.
DRIVING STANDARDS AND CAR PREPARATION
When drivers sign on they are agreeing that their vehicles meet the requirements outlined in the Motorsport Australia policies. If a driver causes a red flag and is found to not have adequate or any tow points as required by these policies they will be asked to rectify this issue before re-entering the track and be sidelined for up to ONE HOUR.
With the implementation of grading, drivers drifting outside of their restricted areas will be called in and spoken with. If a driver causes a red flag in a sector they were not supposed to be drifting in due to their grading they will automatically be sidelined for ONE HOUR a record will be kept and should this happen again the driver may be asked to leave.
Causing a red flag of any description will draw attention from race control and causing another one may result in grade demotion. General driving standards will continue to be monitored during events.
NUMBERS
All vehicles on main track require a number moving forward, we will be starting a register of all numbers and drivers.
Numbers are a way to enable recording of incidents, issues and grade tracking.
Passing training will mean selection of a number. Drivers will be given their first set of numbers and C sticker as congratulations for upgrading.
PASSENGERS GENERAL
Changes to the passenger policy will align with grading from 11th October event only A and B drivers with approved vehicles will be eligible to take passengers. This is a permitting and safety issue as well as an incentive for those that could be progressing to do so.
Infield participants will no longer be able to take passengers if they are T grade. A and B drivers with eligible cars are welcome to take passengers in the infield area if there is room and training drivers take priority.
PASSENGER APPROVAL – VEHICLES
Vehicles carrying passengers must have a full cage which includes side intrusion protection.
Vehicles must be fitted with fixed seats and harnesses for both driver and passenger (5 point or higher is preferred)
Vehicles must meet all other standards in Schedules A and B and be fitted with at least one (1) 1kg extinguisher.
PASSENGER APPROVAL – DRIVER
Drivers that wish to take passengers must be:
Driving a vehicle that meets the above requirements
AND
A or B grade
AND
Assessed at a practice to be competent as a driver
Drivers wishing to be assessed for passengers and meeting the other requirements can request this before entering the track and must complete 2 full passes of the course without mistake.
Drivers that have then met all these requirements will be recorded and given a ‘Passenger Approved’ sticker for their vehicle.
Taking passengers at our events is a privilege and this approval can be revoked at any time.
ENTRY PORTAL
DriftWest Practice events will align with our Members Test and Tune events with members who register via the entry portal getting priority entry to the event and to the track.
Each event will have a link to book your sport and we will be encouraging all Drift event participants to utilise the portal.
CONCLUSIONS
It is our hope that these changes will improve the overall quality and standard of our events so that we can continue to build Driftwest and strive to be the premier events for our members.