Forza Horizon 6 Series 5 features a British Automotive theme running from September 10 to October 8; naturally, Festival Playlist includes rewards from British brands such as Bentley, Ginetta, Jaguar, and Lotus.
However, the update with the most significant long-term impact centers on Drift Attack. Introduced in Series 5, this mode is a permanent addition featuring its own scoring system, leaderboards, and brand-new Clipping Zones, while also adding a new progression track to Collection Journal.
Players will also need to engage with this mode to unlock 1990 Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition.
Series 5 Drift Attack Changes
While FH6 already featured Drift Zones and Horizon Drift, Series 5 introduces a standalone Drift Attack mode at Shimanoyama Circuit.
The gameplay concept is similar to a drift-focused Time Attack: lap performance is measured by Drift Score. Players can tackle the challenge solo or alongside others from their Convoy or Shared World, comparing results via in-game displays and Convoy leaderboards.
Leaderboards also display vehicle drivetrain types, making it easier to compare the performance of different drift builds.
There is no limit on the number of laps for a single challenge session; players can keep driving lap after lap to improve their scores.
Unlocking Drift Attack
Accessing this mode is straightforward: first, you must obtain Yellow Wristband in Horizon Festival Campaign. Once unlocked, head to Shimanoyama Circuit, where the dedicated Drift Attack icon will appear on the map.
In FH6, the challenge begins immediately when you drive through the gantry at the track entrance - no need to navigate through additional event menus.
Drift Attack Scoring
Drift Attack records the highest Drift Score achieved in a single lap; lap times themselves do not determine rankings.
The basic scoring mechanics are similar to Horizon Drift and standard Drift Zones - maintaining continuous drifts, speed, and angle is crucial - but Clipping Zones introduced in Series 5 add a new strategic layer to your driving line.
These zones are located at specific points along the track. Drifting while your vehicle is within a Clipping Zone grants a score multiplier for that section.
Therefore, chasing a high score requires balancing speed, angle, and racing line. Positioning your car at an extreme angle can easily cost you exit speed or cause you to miss the next high-value zone entirely.
Mastering Clipping Zones
When first tackling Shimanoyama Circuit, spend a few laps familiarizing yourself with the layout of the clipping zones, paying special attention to the transitions between consecutive corners. Often, your exit posture from one corner determines whether you can successfully hit the mark in the next zone.
Determine your line before entering the corner, carry sufficient speed into the clipping zone, and then use steady throttle control to manage your drift angle.
If the angle is too steep, your speed will drop rapidly, often requiring you to realign the car; a shallower angle that maintains rhythm makes it easier to cover multiple scoring zones in succession.
Avoid fully straightening out and re-initiating the drift at every single corner. Shimanoyama Circuit is best approached by treating adjacent corners as a single, continuous sequence, allowing the car's weight transfer to flow naturally.
High Score Tips
Familiarity with the track leads to rapid improvement. During your initial laps, ignore the leaderboard for a moment and focus on identifying which clipping zones require an outer entry and where you need to tighten your angle early.
Once you have locked in your line, accumulate your speed and drift angle; this approach is far more stable than trying to chase a high score while still learning the track.
Regarding Forza Horizon 6 cars, there is no need to chase maximum horsepower right away. RWD drift cars that offer smooth power delivery and make it easy to maintain an angle are better suited for learning the racing line.
Once you are comfortable, you can adjust the power output to match your steering and throttle control style. There is no need to quit immediately after a mistake; Drift Attack does not limit the number of consecutive laps, making it ideal for repeatedly running the course to fine-tune your approach to specific key corners.
Unlocking Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition
1990 Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition is a separate reward from the standard weekly prizes in Series 5 Festival Playlist.
This car is part of the new Drift Attack Collection Journal rewards; the current requirement listed for Series 5 is to accumulate 600 points in Drift Attack category.
This same progression category also includes rewards such as Drift Attack Helmet and Race Suit. If you plan to tackle Drift Attack over the long haul, XJ-S FE makes for an ideal milestone: racking up points, mastering clipping zones, and progressing through Journal all happen simultaneously, so you don't need to carve out extra time for a completely separate set of activities.
While Series 5 update introduces a host of British vehicles, the gameplay changes focus primarily on Drift Attack.
Once you master the clipping zones at Shimanoyama Circuit and refine your technique - transitioning from isolated high-angle drifts to a stable, continuous racing line around the track - you will steadily rack up high scores and unlock Jaguar XJ-S Forza Edition as you keep playing.
