Our first race in the Italian Drifting Championship

Well… it really happened.

After months of hard work, impossible logistics, modifications, sleepless nights, cold pizza, and busted hands… we competed in our very first real race in the Italian Drifting Championship.

And no, it wasn’t a test. It wasn’t a meetup. It was THE RACE. With real judges. A crowd. Tough opponents. A packed paddock.

And we finished SEVENTH in the Pro2 category.

But let me tell you—this isn’t your typical sports recap. This is the story of an adventure, the kind where every moment is priceless. The kind where you're dead tired, but you feel more alive than ever.

🎪 The paddock: style, sweat, and a burst of pride

We showed up a little tired, a little nervous… but as soon as the tent was up, we looked at each other and thought:

“Guys… damn, we’re killing it!!”

Our corner of the paddock wasn’t just a pit area.

It was a business card. A statement.

Custom graphics, carefully chosen colors, branded drinks that looked straight out of a top-tier energy drink lineup, matching t-shirts (that gave off serious “real team” vibes when worn all together), and of course, our car: a blend of originality, functionality, and style that turned heads—even standing still.

And no, it’s not just talk: some drivers actually stopped by to grab one of our custom drinks. Which made it all even more insane and amazing. Seeing seasoned racers take a sip of our “homemade brand”… it felt almost surreal.

🛠️ The team—the real deal

Our team may be small, but it’s got a massive soul.

• Me, behind the wheel, filled with tension, joy, and that “I can’t believe we’re actually here” feeling.

• Matte, the mechatronics wizard anyone would envy: precise, fast, brilliant.

• Micaela, our all-around helper, PR, logistics, water, food, social media, anxiety-slayer, and motivator.

Without her, we probably would’ve forgotten half the essentials. Three people, but we felt like ten. And not one of us held back for even a second.

🕹️ Sim Drift = Real Drift

Friday’s free practice rolls in. It’s my first time in an official championship. I sit down. Put on the helmet. I’m scared shitless.

My heart’s racing, the car’s shaking… but as soon as I release the clutch and roll up to the start, everything feels familiar.

Assetto Corsa.

Yeah, it’s also thanks to it that things went the way they did. I spent countless nights on that simulator, running lines, angles, brake points, over and over—on identical layouts. So when I hit the real track… I already knew it like the back of my hand.

The car felt like an extension of me. The line was burned into my mind. Everything clicked. The wheels went exactly where I wanted them to. From the very first lap, I felt at home. No confusion—just the drive to do well.

📝 Anecdote: right before the first lap, we told ourselves to take it easy—no drifting, just a calm run to get a feel for the track. NOPE! Foot down… and sideways right away!!

Thanks again, Assetto Corsa.

⚠️ Technical issues? Solved with style.

And then, of course… the plot twist.

The car starts cutting off at 5200 RPM toward the end of free practice, right before qualifying. In drifting, if you’re already low on horsepower and then self-limit… it’s game over.

A punch to the gut. Head down, hands on my head, and a thousand questions racing through my mind.

But Matte didn’t flinch for even a second. He pulls out the laptop, hooks things up, checks sensors, maps, parameters… and after about an hour of tweaking… he brings the car back to life.

But not just that:

“Oh, Dide… I think it actually runs better now.”

nd he was right.

The car’s running better than before—in fact, on the first test lap… I spin out!

It revs higher, responds quicker, pulls harder.

A miracle. Signed by Matte. Signed by Roadrunner Performance.

🙏 Shoutout: Lando, you're the best!

And among the moments worth remembering, there’s a small one that says a lot. We needed engine oil, fast. It could’ve been a major setback.

Then he shows up, Lando, and without a second thought, hands us a liter of oil with a smile and a joke:

“Come on, these are the best moments in the paddock.”

Amazing spirit, genuine person. Thank you from the heart. And huge congrats on winning the PRO category!!

🧨 Friday night: A qualifying run to remember

Friday night is qualifying. Head down, heart pounding, every second spent mentally reviewing the lines, the driving inputs, the feelings.

We’ve got half the horsepower of many others. A lot of them beat us in budget, experience, and prep.

First run: the gearbox jams. Zero points. A psychological disaster. I know my potential, but I blew the chance to put down a “safe” lap and score something.

Second run: the gearbox holds… and this time I go all in.

Lines, flow, drift zones, we nailed it.

BOOM. Eleventh overall.

For some, that might seem like nothing. For us, it’s a massive victory.

🤯 Saturday: the twins, the baptism

And then… Saturday comes. The twins. The real moment.

I’d never done one before, except for a few wet laps back in Sassuolo.

Now I’m here. Helmet strapped. Lights in front. Crowd all around. My team just as nervous as I am.

First run: I’m the lead car.

Red… red… red… green!

Tension drops, focus kicks in. Small mistake in turn 2, but I finish strong. My opponent was there, not too close, but there.

Switch. My very first chase run. Less horsepower, I have to give something up, but I stay on him well. At the finish, we hug: a good run, fair, intense, and emotional.

First twin? Won.

And my mind jumps straight to Michi and Matte back in the paddock… I wonder what their faces looked like!

I get back to the tent: stunned, happy, a little in disbelief.

Damn, we just won our first run!!

Second twin? Won again. The other driver made a mistake, but we were doing great anyway. We’re already beyond our wildest expectations.

Now we head into the Top 8. The opponent? Tough. The car? A beast. But of course, we're going for it.

Third twin? Lost. We gave it everything. Never backed down.

🏆 Top 8 – Seventh place, and proud of it

We stop at the Top 8.

Seventh overall, at our very first race in a national championship. Among seasoned drivers, structured teams, insanely powerful cars.

And yet, in that seventh place, there’s everything: the sacrifice, the dirty hands, the endless questions, the sleepless nights, the arguments and the laughs, the “why are we even doing this?”, the last-minute rushes.

And the awareness that we’re building something beautiful. Something real. Something that’s ours.

It's AllYouCanDrift Baby!!

❤️ What we’re taking home

• The confirmation that Assetto Corsa really works, if you take it seriously.

• That a small but tight-knit team can push incredibly hard.

• That style and passion can be seen, felt, and breathed.

• That you don’t need 500hp to have fun (though for competing… it might help 😅)

• That the Italian paddock still holds a spirit of community, support, and respect.

• And most of all… that this is just the beginning.

📸 Very soon we’ll show you everything: photos, videos, some behind-the-scenes moments…

If you crossed paths with us on track, in the paddock, or even just on social media… drop us a message!

We’d love to know what kind of impression we made, what you liked, what you didn’t.

And if you drank one of our custom bottles… just know you’re officially part of the team :)

🎥A special thank you goes out to everyone who watched the races from home, dropped comments on the YouTube livestream, and sent us messages in private.

Reading your messages and knowing you were there with us, was the coolest thing ever!

Until next time.

And we already can’t wait.

🔥– DIDE57