Getting Started Guide
What you need, what to buy, and how much it costs — from your first slide to a competition build.
Start Simple, Upgrade as You Learn
RC drift is welcoming and you don't need the most expensive gear to have a great time. The best approach is to get a capable car, put in track time, and upgrade once you understand what you want to change. This guide breaks down what a full car needs, whether to buy ready-to-run or build your own, and rough budgets for three skill levels.
Pricing below is a rough guide for the UK market and changes with brands and deals. Pop into the track and ask — we're happy to point you at what works on our surface.
What Makes a Full Car
Every running drift car comes down to these parts. RTR cars include most of them; a self-build means choosing each one.
Chassis
The rolling platform that everything else bolts to. For drift you want a dedicated RWD (rear-wheel-drive) chassis — the rear wheels drive the car while the front steers and counter-steers. What separates a drift chassis from a basic touring car is adjustability: caster, camber, toe, steering angle (Ackermann) and a countersteer differential or spool. These are the settings you tune to change how the car breaks traction and holds an angle.
Example
MST RMX 2.5 / RMX-4S PRO kit
~£150 – £280 (kit, no electronics)
Motor & ESC
The motor turns the wheels; the ESC (electronic speed controller) feeds it power from the battery and takes commands from your radio. Drift runs a brushless motor — for drift you generally want a lower-turn, higher-RPM motor to keep the rear spinning. A sensored motor/ESC combo gives smooth, predictable throttle right off idle, which matters far more for control than outright top speed.
Example
Acuvance Agile Luxon 10.5t motor + RAD ESC
£124.99 motor / £174.99 ESC
Gyro
The single part that makes RC drift possible. A steering gyro senses the car rotating and automatically applies counter-steer far faster than a human thumb can — it's what lets you hold a long, controlled slide instead of spinning out. Gain (how aggressively it corrects) is adjustable, usually from a dial on the gyro or a channel on your radio.
Example
Yokomo DP-302 V4 drift gyro
£69.99
Servo
The motor that turns the steering. In drift the servo works constantly alongside the gyro, so speed and a firm, accurate centre matter more than raw torque. A slow or vague servo lags behind the gyro and the car feels twitchy; a fast, high-quality digital servo makes the whole car feel planted and responsive.
Example
Reve D RS-ST high-speed steering servo
~£45 – £70
Radio & Receiver
Your controller (transmitter) and the receiver inside the car, paired over 2.4GHz. This is the interface between you and the car, so a good one is worth it — the premium brands (Futaba, Sanwa, FlySky Noble) give you fine steering rate/EPA control, adjustable throttle curves, extra channels to trim gyro gain on the fly, and rock-solid response with no lag. Sanwa and Futaba are the long-standing pro choices; the FlySky Noble NB4 is a popular high-spec option at a lower price.
Example
FlySky Noble NB4 Plus / Sanwa MT-R / Sanwa MT5
£249.99 / £190.99 / £290.00 (Tx + Rx)
Battery & Charger
Power comes from a 2S (7.4V) LiPo battery. A short 'shorty' pack is popular in drift for weight and fit. You'll want at least two packs so you can keep driving while one charges, plus a balance charger to keep the cells healthy and safe. A LiPo-safe charging bag is cheap insurance.
Example
Cayote 4600mAh HV Shorty LiPo + BAT-SAFE Mini
£55.99 pack / £33.99 safe bag
Tyres
Drift tyres are hard plastic or ABS rather than grippy rubber — the point is a controlled, consistent slide across our P-Tile surface. They wear and the surface changes, so it's worth carrying spares. Ask staff on the day what compound is working best on the track.
Example
Hard ABS drift tyres (glued to wheels)
~£8 – £15 per set
Body Shell
The clear Lexan (polycarbonate) body that goes over the chassis — this is where your car gets its personality. Shells come untrimmed and unpainted: you cut them out, paint the inside with polycarbonate-safe paint, and fit them with body posts. It's the most personal part of the build.
Example
D-Like S15 shell + Core RC lexan paint
£52.99 shell / £5.49 paint
Ready-to-Run or Build Your Own?
Two ways in. Neither is wrong — it comes down to how you want to start.
Ready-to-Run (RTR)
Everything in the box, assembled and ready to drive after charging.
Pros
- +Fastest way onto the track
- +One purchase, no assembly
- +Great for first-timers
Trade-offs
- –Less choice of individual parts
- –Upgrades come later as you learn
Best if you want to start driving this week.
Build Your Own
Choose a chassis kit and each component, then assemble it yourself.
Pros
- +Full control over every part
- +You learn the car inside out
- +Easier, cheaper upgrades down the line
Trade-offs
- –Takes time and patience to build
- –More upfront research
Best if you enjoy the build as much as the drive.
Pick Your Starting Point
Rough budgets and gear for three levels. Most people start at Beginner and grow into the next tier as they learn.
Beginner
Get on the track and learn the basics — mostly RTR.
From ~£395 (RTR)
What You'll Need
- ✓A ready-to-run RWD car (motor, ESC, servo, gyro, radio, body)
- ✓One or two spare 2S LiPo batteries + a charger
- ✓A set of spare hard drift tyres
- ✓See the MST RMX 2.5 RTR options below
Focus on seat time. Don't upgrade until you know what you want to change.
Intermediate
PopularBuild a kit and dial in your setup.
~£300 – £600 (kit + electronics)
What You'll Need
- ✓A tunable RWD chassis kit (electronics bought separately)
- ✓A quality steering servo and a Yokomo DP-302 V4 gyro
- ✓Brushless motor/ESC and a 2.4GHz radio
- ✓See the Yokomo RD2.0, MST RMX-4 or DC10 kits below
Building the car teaches you the whole platform. Setup knowledge — camber, toe, gear ratio — starts to matter here.
Advanced
Competition-ready, fully custom.
£500 – £800+ (chassis)
What You'll Need
- ✓A high-end competition chassis (Yokomo SD3.0 / MD3.0)
- ✓Premium servo + programmable gyro and brushless power
- ✓Carbon conversions and Japanese option parts
- ✓See the SD3.0, MD3.0 and conversion kits below
At this level you're fine-tuning the last few percent. Our in-app AI Tuning Advisor helps here.
Recommended Electronics
The parts that make the biggest difference to how a drift car feels, whatever chassis you run.
Steering Servo
Reve D RS-ST / RS-ST Pro, Savox SV-1257MG
Fast, high-torque, precise centering for countersteer.
Gyro
Yokomo DP-302 V4, Futaba GYD series
Assists countersteer and stability — essential for drift.
Motor & ESC
Brushless sensored (e.g. Hobbywing, Acuvance)
Smooth low-speed control and consistent power delivery.
Radio
Flysky, Futaba, Sanwa 2.4GHz
Entry radios work; mid-range adds channels and adjustability.
Brand and model names are for guidance and are not endorsements. Availability and prices vary — ask staff at the track for what's working well right now.
Ready-to-Run Cars
Complete cars you can drive out of the box. Expand each for detail, and tap through to see the real product.
MST RMX 2.5 RTR (86)
£394.99The go-to beginner RTR. RWD, factory drift-tuned, ready to drive.
More details▾
1/10 RWD, 257mm wheelbase, adjustable caster (6–12°), full ball bearings and hydraulic dampers. Factory-set for stable control so beginners get going easily, with a big upgrade path as you improve. Add a battery and charger and you're driving.
MST RMX 2.5 RTR Brushless
£399.99Brushless RTR bundle — motor, ESC, servo, gyro and body included.
More details▾
Includes the assembled RMX 2.5 chassis, brushless motor, ESC, 2.4GHz radio, servo, gyro-ready electronics, pre-painted body, tyres and wheels. A complete brushless package straight out of the box, in a range of body styles.
Find it at
Price/photo shown from ASBO RC. Other links search that retailer's store.
MST RMX 2.5 RTR Supra
£394.99Same proven RMX 2.5 RTR with a Supra body.
More details▾
The popular RMX 2.5 RTR platform in a Supra shell. RWD, fully adjustable, and factory drift-tested. A solid, well-supported first car with plenty of upgrade options.
Chassis Kits
Build-your-own platforms, from first kits to competition chassis.
Yokomo Rookie Drift RD2.0 Kit
£179.99Beginner-friendly Yokomo kit — a proper platform to build on.
More details▾
Yokomo's entry drift kit with improved steering angle and rear grip so first-time drifters can enjoy it. New 4-gear gearbox, revised geometry and SD2.0-standard knuckles/hubs. Chassis only (no electrics or wheels); a value kit with the YG-302V2 gyro is also offered.
Find it at
Price/photo shown from ASBO RC. Other links search that retailer's store.
MST RMX-4 S PRO Kit
£235.99Next-gen RMX with gear diff, adjustable wheelbase, TR56 dampers.
More details▾
1/10 MR-layout kit with three wheelbase options (257/266/275mm), quick-release gearbox, gear differential (S PRO), anti-torque 4-gear transmission, ATK V3 knuckles and TR56 aluminium dampers. Beginner-to-pro platform with deep tuning.
Find it at
Price/photo shown from ASBO RC. Other links search that retailer's store.
Team Associated DC10 Kit
£299.99Carbon-fibre 1/10 RWD competition drift kit.
More details▾
2.5mm carbon-fibre chassis and shock towers, hard-anodized threaded aluminium shocks, tool-free caster adjustment, adjustable battery placement, tunable Ackermann plates and high/low motor mounting. A precise, adjustable competition platform.
Reve D RDX Kit
£238.99Consistent control for all levels; light, rigid, easy to build.
More details▾
Lightweight, highly rigid graphite composite parts that are easy to assemble and hard to break. Fixed arms and tie rods mean even first-time builders get the optimum drift alignment straight from the manual. Takes short and long 2S LiPo batteries.
Find it at
Price/photo shown from ASBO RC. Other links search that retailer's store.
Yokomo Super Drift SD3.0 Kit
£549.99Competition-grade Yokomo with new forward-tilt steering.
More details▾
Graphite double-deck chassis, new aluminium steering system with forward-tilt base to reduce toe change under suspension movement, aluminium SLF big-bore shocks and rear battery placement for drift-biased weight. A top-level competition platform.
Yokomo Master Drift MD3.0
£799.99Flagship belt-drive competition machine.
More details▾
Yokomo's flagship with an innovative belt drive for a smooth, controllable launch and a direct feel. Increased front rigidity boosts controllability on corner exit; H-arm suspension convertible to A-arms. Black standard with limited colour anodised versions.
Individual Parts
The upgrades and spares that make up a build, grouped by type. Prices are a guide — check the live page.
Gyros
The single most important drift electronic — assists countersteer and keeps the car controllable.
Yokomo DP-302 V4 Steering Gyro
£69.99Industry-standard drift gyro, beginner to competition.
More details▾
Super high-performance gyro with 4 selectable modes and the latest chipset to eliminate unwanted steering shake. ASSIST mode lets total beginners enjoy RWD drift; NOR mode prioritises your steering for full control. Endpoint adjustment protects the servo. Available in several colours.
Reve D REVOX Steering Gyro (RG-RVX)
£109.99Premium Reve D gyro — 6 curve settings, EPA, gain 0–100.
More details▾
Reve D's high-end steering gyro with 6 adjustable curve settings, 0–100 gain, EPA function and reverse switching in a compact aluminium case. Suits everyone from beginners to competition drivers.
Find it at
Price/photo shown from ASBO RC. Other links search that retailer's store.
Chassis Conversions & Upgrades
Higher-end conversions and premium parts for serious builds.
Rhino Racing SV2 Chassis Conversion Kit
£459.99Premium carbon lower-deck conversion (transmission, deck, blocks).
More details▾
SV2 lower-deck conversion with carbon lower chassis, SV2 transmission gearbox set, rear shock tower, motor plate and suspension blocks. Designed for use with a DDSS front bulkhead. Not a complete chassis — a competition conversion for existing platforms. Various colours.
R31 House GRK5-R HRP Conversion Chassis
£349.99Competition-focused carbon conversion for the GRK series.
More details▾
HRP (HAYATO Racing Performance) competition conversion for the GRK5-R, using custom Japanese carbon fibre for a balance of rigidity, strength and low weight. A dedicated, performance-first layout that trades versatility for pure competition capability.
HRC Effect Arm (aluminium lower arm)
£149.99High-precision Japanese aluminium lower arm set.
More details▾
Made-in-Japan low-friction aluminium lower arms with pre-inserted bearings, adjustable caster and wheelbase without removing the suspension mount, and a hard black alumite finish. A premium handling/precision upgrade.
Products, prices and links via ASBO RC, a UK RC drift specialist. Prices change — always check the live page. Product photos appear on their site; add your own licensed images to feature them here.
Where to Buy
A few UK retailers we'd point you at. Shop around — stock, prices and deals vary between them.
ASBO RC
→UK RC drift specialist — chassis, RTR cars, parts and body shells.
Drift Manji RC
→Yorkshire-based 1/10 drift specialist, run from their own track.
Modelsport UK
→Large UK RC retailer with drift cars, electronics and batteries.
RC Kitout
→RC parts and chassis-building services for drift builds.
Big Licks RC
→Second-hand chassis, full setups, shells and wheels — they buy and sell.
Leigh Models and Hobbies
→Local Leigh model and hobby shop.
Not affiliated unless stated. Links are for convenience — always check each retailer's current stock and pricing.
Cars, Chassis & Parts
A look at what goes into a build. Come down to the track to see setups in person.
Ready-to-Run
Complete cars
Chassis
The platform
Parts
Electronics & tyres
Not Sure Where to Start?
Come down on a track night and have a chat. You can watch, ask questions, and even hire a car for the session before committing to a build.