Lance Feliciano - On the Fast Track, An exclusive interview with the only Filipino-American Professional Licensed Drifting Champ (excerpts)

by Oliver Carnay, Weekend Balita / HollywoodFLIP.com

Lance Feliciano made history in October 2006 by being the only Fil-Am licensed professional Drifting racing champ among 38 licensed U.S. professionals from across America.

At that time, Lance was the youngest racer in the world of Drifting to be given professional status. In a press release by Drift & RWD sports magazine, he was named as "one of the next superstars to watch in 2007." Lance is fast becoming an icon in the Drifting arena.

There are only 38 professional "drifting" racers and no one can join under the professionals division this year. You have to have a professional license in order to join, and I got mine last October when I was 19 (years old). Basically, right now, I'm one of the youngest professionals to have a license, and the only Filipino-American contender, out of 38 licensed professionals...

"When I was younger I really liked watching Japanese Option videos, the popular drifting videos from Japan. And my dad used to teach me in the mountains of Antipolo, in the Philippines. In 2005, I started joining amateur events. And in October last year, I entered the Pro-Am, the amateur events in which if you want to turn Pro, you have to win that event.

There was a Pro-Am within the whole west coast region. We all battled from the Irwindale Speedway, 55 to 60 drivers, and I won first. I was the No. 1 in the west coast, so I represented the west coast. Then, they sent me to Las Vegas, in Laughlin, to represent the west coast region, and I won the 2nd over-all in the nationals. In Vegas, only four drivers were able to get their Professional license.

I became a Pro when I won that event. In November 2006, I got my Professional license.

"Somehow, I knew that I was born to be a racer my whole life. I feel so passionate about racing that I can't think of anything I'd rather do in my life but race. In 2005, I raced in the World Championship and people were saying, 'Who is this kid trying to prove something—he just came from nowhere?' And I was coming on so strong that they wrote about me and mentioned me in their press release saying: The Japanese champions need to watch out because if the U.S. pro drivers are going to give them a run for their money. There's going to be plenty of rookies giving 100 percent, like Casper Canul and Lance Feliciano. These guys are definitely going to be the next superstars of Drifting."

At a young age, Lance grew up in an environment of speed and cars. Lance Feliciano came from a bloodline of racing champions. His father, Larry Feliciano, who hails from Antipolo, used to be a rally champion in the Philippines in the 80's, where he used to race for Mitsubishi.

My dad's cousin, who lives here in California, was also a big influence to me. He started me off with the Southern California Car Association (SCCA). He was also a race car driver and I used to watch him. Just the fact that my dad and uncle are race car champions means that I can be nothing else than a champion as well.

I want to be the first Filipino car race champion in the United States. Now, it's more than a dream to me, it's my goal in life. I want to be the champion of Drifting. After Drifting, I want to go to different kind of racing, like rally.

"Drifting is definitely a precise sport. You need to have a well-tuned, perfectly conditioned, rear-wheel drive car with good suspension. A Limited Slip Differential (LSD)—powering with both rear-wheels—makes it a lot easier to slide the car. In a normal rear-wheel car drive, only one rear-wheel is spinning. That's why you need an LSD. You also need a reliable car. Make sure the car and motor are in the best condition."

Any car can slide but a car that can be competitive in Drifting would be a rear-wheel drive, where the power is in the rear of the vehicle rather than be at the front. Most of the cars nowadays are front-wheel cars. The good drift cars are usually Nissan 240SX, Nissan 350 Zs, or Toyota Corollas from 1986. These are the popular cars in the drifting series.

"The Toyota Corolla 1986 is a popular car used and it's actually my favorite car. The way the body was made very light, it was rear-wheel drive, and it had the perfect balance for Drifting. The Toyota Corolla didn't have that much horsepower, though."

"Now, I drive a Nissan 240 SX S14. (Then, why don't you get it?) The reason why is because I am so competitive with what I have right now. The difference between the two cars is that it has power lock and more horsepower, and I've developed a driving style with it."

"Drifting is one of the most expensive sports out there (in a way). Not only because of the cost of the maintenance of the vehicle, but the cost of the tire is the most tremendous expense in drifting itself. Each tire I burn up would cost about $180, and on a good day I normally burn 8 to 10 tires a day! I could even burn out two tires every four minutes."

"Drifting is a sport where you can't be in control all the time because of the environment, like when the road is wet. I learned from every mistake I've made. I probably went through about 5 cars to where I am now. There was one time when I was practicing late at night in the mountains. I crashed into the mountain and it was raining. I flipped over and my car was all messed up. It didn't stop me—the next day I was drifting again!"

"There was a time I was going flat out and my motor blew up. My car actually caught on fire with me inside while racing. After that event, for about five months straight, my car was not dialed in correctly the way I liked, and I was having the worst time. I almost quit then. I was coming in 15th place, then 13th, 12th place. But as soon as my car got properly tuned, I was back in the top 3. I felt I was finally placing where I should be."

Currently, there are only 38 Drift pros across the United States. They go to the race track and they practice everyday. There are only about 32 who make it, and another qualifying round is set up to get the Top 16. The Top 16 then go against each other, two cars at a time. The guy in the rear (called the follower) chases the guy in front to try to get as close as he can without hitting the lead car. The guy in the front has to focus on keeping a good line. The field narrows down to the Top 8, then to the Top 4, and from the Top 4, it all comes down to 1st, 2nd, and then 3rd.

There is a Finish Line, but that doesn't mean whoever passes the finish line first, wins. You're being judged on speed, your racing line, how far sideways—how much angle you have and how much smoke is coming out of your tires, and how fast you are coming into the third. You can tell the difference between a driver who's committed and not committed on the race track. They even take off points for letting go of the gas pedal. The judges are drifters themselves, so they know exactly what the drivers are doing in their cars. If they see the driver is stepping on the brakes because he/she is scared, then points are also taken off."

Formula D is the name of United States drifting series (incidentally, is Japan's equivalent championship in Japan, the D1 Grand Prix Series). The series is sponsored by the popular video game series, Need for Speed (official name is Need for Speed Formula Drift Presented by Circuit City. It was inaugurated in 2004, and is a division of the Sports Car Club of America).

"It's very important that the driver has to be very confident because there's not much time to react and be scared when you're racing on the track or practicing. And one should think very fast and be fully committed before you drift. I learned to be very confident and to be very smart on the decisions that I make. I don't look back either. You have to have determination and full commitment when you decide something. I think that's what got me so far when it comes to drifting."

"I'm very close to my dad. Although, he now lives in the Philippines, we always talk and he always gives me pointers. He teaches me what kind of mental attitude I should have behind the wheel. He tells me that before I go out there, I should close my eyes and relax. And once I'm ready to commit myself at the wheels, once I'm ready to make a perfect run, then go!

But if I'm not ready, then I shouldn't even leave that starting line! What I do every time I race—I close my eyes and visualize my run; perfectly, and clearly in my mind. And even when the flag comes down for me to go—I'm not going to leave until I'm ready. And when I'm ready, it just flows.

"Yes, I need to be 100 percent determined and confident before I go."