The racing is done in conditions you could call tricky. The temperatures usually hover between -10°C (fairly nippy) to -29°C (you’ll wish you stayed indoors). When the Motul Media Crew visited Siberia, the temperatures were surprisingly mild… a balmy -5°C. In other words, a warm day in Krasnoyarsk.
Although the temperatures might be below zero the atmosphere isn’t. The Winter drift battle is one of these events where all of the drivers are one big family. There’s fierce competition on the track but it’s all about the fun. And everyone is really warm and welcoming.
The winter cars are Ladas. And round here they’re just as Iconic as the Nissan S-chassis or GT-Rs they race during summer. These Ladas are all but relics of a Soviet past, but they’re fully prepared for the purpose of drifting on ice. To know more about these Ladas, check out this story on these.
Although most cars are Ladas there are some Japanese cars that are participating as well. There’s a Honda, a prototype Smart coupé and even a Mitsubishi Colt, though the award for most crazy is a blue Toyota Starlet, a small hatchback that packs a serious punch.
Although that is definitely not the craziest part about the car. Upon closer inspection we notice the driver is sitting on the back seat instead of the front. It’s all in the name of getting weight over the rear wheels to give the studded tyres grip.
![“Baby, it’s cold outside”](https://d23zpyj32c5wn3.cloudfront.net/images/masonry_bricks/pictures/58434/big/20200215_winterdriftbattle_0256.jpg?1582275855)