Drifting away in San Jose.

'Drifting,' the latest craze in the world of streetcar based racing, will form a very smoky part of the support event programme at the inaugural San Jose Champ Car street race later this year.

The July 29th-31st San Jose Champ Car World Series Grand Prix will be supported by the Toyota Atlantic Championship, Trans-Am, the Historic Stock Car Series and the U.S. Touring Car Championship as well as the 'drifters.'

"The addition of these four support series events and the Drifting exhibition to the San Jose Grand Prix schedule provides northern California race fans with one of the most exciting race weekends ever," said San Jose Grand Prix vice president and general manager Bob Singleton.

"Each of the five races that will be contested is a main attraction in its own right, but when combined gives race fans everywhere something to cheer about. We are proud that we have been able to assemble this line-up and look forward to an outstanding weekend of competition."

All the circuit races will take place on the 1.3-mile, 10-turn San Jose Grand Prix circuit, which winds its way around the HP Pavilion in downtown San Jose. The drifters just need to find a car park somewhere near by.

In addition to the auto races and drifting exhibition, plans for the inaugural San Jose Grand Prix call for a week of activities including music, fairs, charity events and promotional activities.