RTR Shows Us How the Pros Dial In a Mustang for Formula Drift

RTR’s Formula Drift setup focus highlights how a pro-caliber Mustang is dialed for sustained sideways speed rather than just having “negative camber and hydraulic handbrakes.” In the workshop walkaround with Josh Stroud, Formula DRIFT crew chief for RTR Mustang #213, the piece explains why drifting demands different suspension, steering, drivetrain, and body tuning than normal racing. At the weekend event “Battle at the Springs,” RTR’s Spec 5-FD Mustang uses custom geometry such as a lower ball joint placed farther outboard than stock and extended tie rods to create the “bulldog stance” and greater wheel angle. The article also describes rear alignment adjustments aimed at adding “bite,” running Nitto 315-width tires. The competitive context is that Formula DRIFT’s 20-plus years of development has pushed drifting toward measurable technique, with RTR a key U.S. driver of V8-powered performance.