What “drafting” means in a race

Drafting—also called slipstreaming—means positioning yourself close behind another racer or vehicle to sit in their low-pressure wake, reducing air or water resistance so you can go the same speed with less effort or go faster with the same effort. It’s a common, often legal tactic that shapes strategy in cycling, motorsport, speed skating, open-water swimming, and some forms of running and triathlon.

How drafting works: the physics in brief

At racing speeds, most of the effort goes into overcoming drag. When one competitor cuts through the air (or water), they create a turbulent wake with lower pressure behind them. A follower tucked into that wake experiences less drag. In cycling, aerodynamic drag can account for 80–90% of the resistance above about 30 km/h; reducing that drag by even 20% can translate to meaningful energy savings and higher sustainable speeds.

The effect scales with speed and proximity. Closer following generally increases the benefit, and larger groups amplify it—deep in a cycling peloton, riders can save substantially more energy than a lone follower on a two-rider wheel.

Where you’ll see drafting

The following list highlights the sports and race formats where drafting materially affects performance and tactics.

• Cycling: In road races and criteriums, riders “sit on a wheel” to save 20–40% energy; inside a big peloton, savings can exceed that. Crosswinds lead to “echelons,” where riders stagger diagonally to stay in the sheltered air.
• Time trials (cycling): Drafting is usually banned; riders must keep prescribed separation distances to avoid aerodynamic assistance.
• Triathlon: Top-tier draft-legal events (e.g., World Triathlon/WTCS) allow drafting on the bike; many long-course events (e.g., most Ironman age‑group races) are non-drafting with defined “draft zones” and pass rules. Open-water swim drafting is legal in most formats.
• Running: Behind pacers or within packs, especially at higher speeds or windy conditions, athletes can gain modest aerodynamic benefits (typically around 1–3%). High-profile record attempts have used rotating pacelines and formations to maximize this effect.
• Motorsport: In NASCAR, IndyCar, and MotoGP, slipstreaming reduces drag and enables “slingshot” passes. In Formula 1, drivers also use DRS (a movable rear wing system permitted in designated zones when within one second) to further reduce drag.
• Speed skating: Team pursuit and pack races leverage drafting; following skaters can see large energy savings, with teams rotating the lead to distribute workload.
• Open-water swimming: Following closely behind a swimmer’s feet or at their hip can reduce effort by roughly 10–25%, depending on position and conditions.

Together, these examples show that drafting is a cross‑discipline skill: the medium may change—air, water, or even the specific rules—but the underlying advantage is the same.

What drafting delivers—and the trade‑offs

Below are the main performance advantages and the risks that come with drafting so you can weigh when to use it.

• Energy savings: Lower drag lets you conserve glycogen and delay fatigue, or go faster for the same power. In pelotons, riders often coast more and spike power less.
• Speed and positioning: Drafting helps you hold wheels, bridge to groups, or set up late-race moves. In motorsport, it enables passes on straights.
• Wind management: In headwinds, tucking in can be decisive; in crosswinds, proper echelon positioning prevents being “guttered” off the road.
• Risk of crashes: Close proximity increases the chance of wheel overlap, contact, or sudden braking cascades.
• Aerodynamic “yo‑yo”: In corners or technical sections, compressed spacing can force repeated accelerations for followers, raising fatigue if positioning is poor.
• Legal exposure: In non-drafting formats (e.g., many triathlon bike legs, cycling time trials), riding too close incurs penalties or disqualification.

Used well, drafting is free speed; used poorly or illegally, it can backfire through crashes, surges, or penalties.

How to draft effectively and safely

The list below outlines practical techniques that maximize the benefit while minimizing risk and rule violations.

• Hold a steady line: Avoid sudden braking or swerving; look past the rider ahead, not at their wheel.
• Mind the gap: In cycling, a gap of a few inches to half a wheel saves more, but only if you’re confident; give more space at higher speeds or in gusty winds.
• Offset in crosswinds: Stagger slightly to the sheltered side to stay in the slipstream; join or form an echelon when possible and legal.
• Rotate smoothly: In groups, use organized pulls and soft pedaling when you swing off the front to avoid accordions.
• Communicate: Verbally call hazards; use clear, predictable signals when changing position.
• Know the rules: In non-drafting triathlons, respect the draft zone and pass windows; in cycling TTs, maintain mandated separations.
• Open-water positioning: For swimming, sit just behind the feet to catch the wake or at the hip for better sighting and similar energy savings.

Mastering these basics turns drafting from a risky shortcut into a controlled, legal performance tool.

Rules and legality across events

Because drafting can decide outcomes, organizers set specific rules. Here are common frameworks you’ll encounter.

• Cycling road races: Drafting is integral and legal; sheltering behind vehicles outside neutral service is restricted.
• Cycling time trials: Drafting is prohibited, with defined no-draft distances and time windows for passing; violations bring time penalties or disqualification.
• Triathlon (bike leg): WTCS draft-legal races allow pack riding; many long-course events are non-drafting with set draft zones (often larger for professionals than for age‑groupers) and a required pass completion time.
• Running: No universal anti-drafting rules; pacers are typically allowed in road races but may be restricted in record-eligible attempts per governing-body criteria.
• Motorsport: Slipstreaming is fundamental; series-specific systems like F1’s DRS add regulated overtaking aids in predefined conditions.

Always check the event’s technical guide: small differences in distance, time-to-pass, and enforcement can change your strategy.

Common misconceptions

Drafting isn’t only for elites; even amateurs benefit noticeably, especially in wind. It’s also not cheating unless rules forbid it. Finally, the lead athlete doesn’t “lose” power by being drafted—the follower gains efficiency, while the leader’s main effect is a slightly altered pressure field with negligible disadvantage outside edge cases.

Bottom line

Drafting in a race is the tactical use of another competitor’s or vehicle’s wake to cut drag, conserve energy, and go faster. It’s powerful, often legal, and central to strategy in many disciplines—provided you respect event rules and execute safely.

Summary

Drafting (slipstreaming) is riding, running, skating, or swimming close behind another to reduce aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag. It can save meaningful energy—ranging from a few percent in running to large gains in cycling pelotons and speed skating—and is a cornerstone of tactics in cycling, motorsport, open-water swimming, and more. Know when it’s allowed, practice safe technique, and use it deliberately to shape race outcomes.

How does race drafting work?

Drafting is a racing technique where one car follows closely behind another, benefiting from a reduced-drag slipstream created by the leading car. This creates a low-pressure zone, or “draft,” that lessens aerodynamic resistance for the following car, allowing it to travel faster with the same engine power or at the same speed with less effort. The effect is amplified by multiple cars in a line, making drafting crucial for high-speed sections of a track to increase speed and overtake opponents. 
How Drafting Works

1. Slipstream Formation: Opens in new tabThe leading car pushes air out of its way, creating a turbulent wake of lower air pressure behind it. 
2. Reduced Drag: Opens in new tabThe following car enters this low-pressure area and is pulled forward, effectively reducing the air resistance (drag) acting on its own front end. 
3. Increased Speed: Opens in new tabWith less drag, the trailing car can accelerate to higher speeds, or maintain its speed using less engine power. 
4. Enhanced Effect: Opens in new tabThe faster the cars are moving and the closer they are to each other, the greater the aerodynamic benefit for the trailing car(s). 

This video explains the concept of drafting with a visual diagram: 37sNASCAR on FOXYouTube · Feb 19, 2024
Strategic Implications

• Overtaking: Drivers use drafting on straights to gain enough momentum to use the “slingshot pass,” where they enter a corner high and then dive down below the car they are passing to gain the inside lane. 
• Teamwork: Drivers can cooperate, with the trailing car sometimes pushing the car in front. 
• Pitting: After a pit stop, drivers often look for a partner to draft with to regain lost speed and momentum on the track. 
• Side Drafting: In some situations, a car can use a leading car to its side, rather than directly behind, to help them accelerate out of a corner and set up a pass. 

What is drafting in running?

Drafting is the phenomenon where a moving object follows closely behind another moving object to reduce the air and water resistance [1].

What is drafting in a race?

Drafting in racing is a technique where a driver closely follows another car to reduce aerodynamic drag, allowing both the lead and trailing cars to go faster and improve fuel efficiency. By positioning their vehicle in the lower-pressure, turbulent air wake of the car ahead, the following car experiences less air resistance, effectively “slipstreaming” them. This technique is particularly useful on high-speed ovals and helps to gain speed and make passes.
 
This video explains the basics of drafting and slipstreaming: 1mAccuWeatherYouTube · May 23, 2018
How Drafting Works

1. Reduced Drag: Opens in new tabThe lead car creates a low-pressure zone behind it, the “slipstream,” which reduces the air resistance, or drag, for the car following closely behind. 
2. Increased Speed: Opens in new tabThe reduced drag allows the trailing car to go faster with less engine effort, and this increased speed can also benefit the lead car. 
3. Lower Fuel Consumption: Opens in new tabLess effort from the engine means less fuel is consumed, which can be crucial in longer races. 

Types of Drafting

• Tandem Drafting: Opens in new tabThis involves two cars, one directly behind the other, to maximize the speed gain on straightaways. 
• Side Drafting: Opens in new tabUsed to help a trailing car make a pass, the driver positions their car to the side of the lead car’s quarter panel. This slows the leading car by increasing its own drag, allowing the passing car to move forward. 

This video explains the difference between drafting and side drafting: 59sSpeedway MotorsYouTube · Aug 4, 2025
When Drafting is Used

• High-Speed Ovals: Drafting is most common and effective on high-speed tracks, especially in NASCAR races at super speedways like Daytona and Talladega. 
• Strategic Overtaking: Drivers use drafting to gain a speed boost for overtaking slower cars or making a pass in a strategic way. 

You can watch this video to see how drafting is used in NASCAR: 57sMobil 1 The GridYouTube · Nov 5, 2020
Considerations

• Teamwork and Communication: Opens in new tabDrafting often involves a degree of teamwork and clear communication between drivers to be effective. 
• Risk of Contact: Opens in new tabStaying extremely close to another car carries the risk of contact, which can damage both vehicles and is against the rules in some racing series. 

Does drafting make you go faster?

A person riding in a paceline will use at least 25% less energy for the same speed compared to someone riding alone. Riding in a pack boosts this energy savings up to as much as 30 to 40%. So, drafting will allow you to ride 2-4 mph faster than you can alone, for about the same energy output.