It's funny to read drifters trying to say drifting is faster. It's not faster under any situation.
I'm not against drifters or drifting, I do it myself now and then. But it is by no means faster.
Simple fact is, a sliding tyre provides less potential for acceleration than a gripping one. If you slide around a corner you are losing speed regardless of what the speedometer says. If you can't get back on the throttle with full grip by the apex, you will never come out of the corner as fast as possible.
I've drifted passed slower racers before in my LX4, but I did it because I had to take a wonky line, and it was my slowest lap. Most of the time It goes the other way, someone drifts and I just pass right by them.