Professional Racing
Simulation Services

Key Concepts

• Threshold Braking: Apply maximum brake pressure without locking the wheels.
• Trail Braking: Gradually release brake pressure as you enter the corner to maintain front-end grip.
• Reference Markers: Use fixed points on the track (e.g., braking markers, cones, or signs) as visual cues for braking.

Optimizing Braking

• Identify the latest possible braking point for each corner during practice sessions.
• Adjust braking points for track conditions, such as rain or temperature changes.

Example

On a long straight leading into a hairpin, start braking hard at your marker (e.g., the 100-meter board). Gradually ease off the brake as you approach the apex to transition smoothly into the turn.

Types of Apexes

• Early Apex: Suitable for slow corners; prioritizes early acceleration.
• Late Apex: Ideal for high-speed corners; prioritizes a clean exit.
• Geometric Apex: The central point of the corner.

Techniques for Precision

• Visualize the apex before entering the turn.
• Use consistent steering input to smoothly clip the apex.
• Avoid cutting the corner too sharply, which may unsettle the car.

Example

In a sweeping high-speed bend, aim for a late apex to allow a straighter exit path. This lets you carry more speed onto the following straight.

Why Coasting Is Inefficient but can help

• Reduces weight transfer, compromising grip.
• Causes inconsistent lap times.
• Makes it harder to anticipate car behavior.
• In some cases drivers do coast to save on fuel, the car momentum is used more.

Alternatives to Coasting

• Brake Modulation: Maintain light braking into the corner if slowing down is necessary.
• Trail Braking: Transition smoothly from braking to acceleration, gently lift the pedal into the Apex.
• Feathering the Throttle: Apply light throttle to keep the car balanced. Senna had a modulating technique on inputs here.

Example

In a tight corner, avoid coasting by braking until the apex and gradually rolling onto the throttle as you exit. This keeps the car stable and ready for acceleration.

When coasting, the car is decelerating purely from aerodynamic and tyre drag - and pretty quickly at cost of time!

Techniques for Effective Braking

• Hard Initial Pressure: Start with firm pedal pressure to maximize deceleration.
• Smooth Release: Gradually ease off as you approach the corner.
• Trail Braking: Keep light pressure on the pedal to aid turn-in.

Common Mistakes

• Over-Braking: Causes loss of momentum/time and overheated brakes and tires.
• Under-Braking: Results in overshooting the corner, slide or worse a big crash.
• Multi Braking: Leads to instability and unpredictable weight transfer and potential time loss.

Example

Approaching a medium-speed corner, press the brake pedal firmly at first, then smoothly release pressure as you turn in. This helps maintain balance and front-end grip.

Optimal Pressures

• Consult your car or tyre manufacturer's recommendations.
• Adjust pressures based on track conditions (e.g., lower pressures in cold weather for quicker warm-up).
• Monitor pressures throughout the session as they rise with heat.

Example

If your tyres feel too soft and the car understeers, slightly increase the pressures. Conversely, reduce pressures if the tyres feel too stiff or overheat.

Adjustments

• Stiffer Front ARB: Reduces front grip, increasing understeer.
• Stiffer Rear ARB: Reduces rear grip, increasing oversteer.

Example

For a car that understeers heavily, soften the front ARB or stiffen the rear ARB to balance handling.

Adjustments

• Stiffer Springs: Better for smooth tracks, improving response.
• Softer Springs: Better for bumpy tracks, improving grip.

Example

On a smooth circuit, increase spring stiffness for better cornering precision. On a rough circuit, soften springs to maintain contact with the track.

Adjustments

• Lower Ride Height: Reduces drag and center of gravity, improving handling.
• Higher Ride Height: Increases ground clearance for bumpy tracks.

Example

Lower the ride height for a high-speed circuit to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and cornering performance. Check the height under top speed ;)

Camber

• Negative Camber: Improves cornering grip by increasing contact patch during turns.
• Positive Camber: Rarely used; suitable for specific off-road conditions.

Toe

• Toe-In: Enhances stability on straights.
• Toe-Out: Improves turn-in response but might give a more nervous car under braking.

Example

For a circuit with many tight corners, use slight negative camber and toe-out to improve agility and grip.

Types of Differentials

• Open Differential: Simple but inefficient for racing.
• Limited-Slip Differential (LSD): Balances power delivery to both wheels for better traction.
• Locked Differential: Often used in specific conditions like drag racing.

Example

For a track day car, a limited-slip differential helps maintain traction during hard corner exits, reducing wheel spin.

Weight Transfer

• Forward Weight Transfer: Increases front grip under braking.
• Rear Weight Transfer: Increases rear grip under acceleration.
• Lateral Weight Transfer: Balances grip between the inside and outside tires during cornering.

Example

In an S-curve, use gentle steering inputs to minimize abrupt weight shifts, maintaining a stable and predictable car balance.

Heel-and-Toe Downshifting

This technique ensures smooth transitions when downshifting under braking.

• Press the brake with your right foot while blipping the throttle with the side of your foot.
• Match engine speed to the lower gear to prevent wheel lockup.

Example

Approaching a tight corner, brake hard while downshifting. Use heel-and-toe to match revs, keeping the car stable and ready to accelerate out of the turn.

Trail Braking Drill

Practice gradually releasing brake pressure into the corner to improve turn-in balance.

Apex Targeting Drill

Set up cones at the apex to help visualize and consistently hit the correct point.

Throttle Control Drill

Use a skid pad to practice smooth throttle application, avoiding wheel spin or understeer.