As much knowledge in as few words as possible, for those with short attention spans:
1. When learning a track, for each corner: first find markers to act as waypoints, then find the line with the maximum radius, then modify the line to get the best exit speed, then finally determine the maximum corner entry speed.
1a. A lap is a succession of waypoints for you to hit. Waypoints are things like kerbs to run over, trackside markers, changes in tarmac. The more waypoints you have, the more consistent your lap time.
1b. It is more important to keep hitting your waypoints than to try to drive "fast". If you find yourself off line, do not carry on driving "fast" but rather back off and get back on line. On the other hand, whenever possible, let the car go where it wants to on the track.
2. When coming into a corner, co-ordinate the rate at which you come off the brake pedal with the rate at which you wind up the steering wheel. Likewise, when coming out of a corner, co-ordinate the rate at which you push onto the gas pedal with the rate at which you unwind the steering wheel.
3. Do the above smoothly, making your movements, and therefore the phases of a corner, transition into one another. Keep each tyre/the car on the edge of it's friction circle: being jagged means a trip through the middle of the friction circle, which wastes grip.
4. All we do is drag race between the corners, so the one who gets on the power first, wins. Approach each corner with its exit in your mind.
5. A fast lap time is not something to aim at; rather, it is a by-product of the above. If you want to go faster, concentrate harder.
6. The key to improving is having a plan. If you don't understand what you are trying to accomplish in a practice session, you will spend a lot of time learning very little.
1. Braking too late for a corner;
2. Not using the full width of a track;
3. Continuing to just drive mindlessly around and around, without a definite plan;
4. Repeating the above, over and over.
|
|
|