Capturing The Desert Drift
- Words
- Monika Mróz
Modified SUVs, high speed, spinning without control – in the middle of Arabian desert there’s a new form of drifting being formed, captured in a brilliant documentary series by Peter Garritano.
Unlike any other ‘traditional’ drifting events, there’s no space for winding circuit or the judges looking for speed and technical precision. Instead, drivers take turns showing off the power of their vehicles and counting points for various forms of showmanship: burning the furthest through a set of tires, spinning the most rotations, displaying the most apparent recklessness. This “freestyle display of machismo”, as Garritano describes it, is based on something called ‘Hajwalah’, in which thrill-seeking young men would reach high speeds on public roads and then spin seemingly out of control. Having visited the United Arab Emirates, Garritano has shot a dynamic and honest document about a movement that claims its place in the world of motorization.
All images © Peter Garritano