CORNERING TECHNIQUE: THE THEORY

Written by Scott Mansell - EuroBOSS F1 driver and top UK race instructor. You can always improve your track day driving with instruction; the best way to be a safer, quicker & more confident driver.

As a track day driver, your aim in every corner is very simple: You try to spend as little time in the corner as possible and get maximum speed out of it.  Most of the time these are contradicting theories, whereby maximising one will compromise the other.

To achieve the quickest possible lap time, we have to find the perfect compromise of both.  For example, you may be very fast through a corner - but then the speed you carry down the straight may be hindered.  How you make this compromise will depend on the layout of the circuit and the power and handling of your car.

Driving quickly down the straight is easy - anyone can do that.  Differences in lap time will be found under braking, cornering and accelerating out of the turn.  As discussed in my trail braking article, it is difficult to continually be the on the edge of grip.

The corner exits and straights are very important; you spend much more time going down the straights than you spend in the corners.  Therefore, if you lose 1 mph at a corner exit, the speed lost will have multiplied by the time you reach the end of the straight.  Due to this theory, racing drivers concentrate on driving the corner in such a way to maximise straight speed.

"You need the ability to find the speed and the line through the corner takes the least amount of time and ensures maximum speed down the next straight.  This is where a lot of time can be made up."

You need the ability to find the speed and the line through the corner takes the least amount of time and ensures maximum speed down the next straight.  This is where a lot of time can be made up.

One of the most important skills to learn is to determine the optimum time spent at the limit of grip.

Different drivers can be at the limit of grip, in different ways and not be making the fastest route through the corner.  For example, there are two drivers:  Driver 1 takes a line where he is cornering for a long time, always at the edge of traction.  He hasn't slowed that much, nor will he accelerate early.  Driver 2 brakes hard, has a tighter line and accelerates earlier out of the corner.  Both drivers are always at the edge of grip, whether it be braking, turning or accelerating.  Who is quicker through this section will depend on both the car and the circuit.

"The most important thing is to determine which line and technique gives the best overall lap time. Compromise is an important word here."

The most important thing is to determine which line and technique gives the best overall lap time. Compromise is an important word here.

To determine the best line you have to take into account many different things.  The angle of the corner, the length of the straight afterwards, if there is any camber and how grippy the circuit is.  You also have to think about the car: handling, downforce, power and braking will affect how the corner should be taken.

I hope this short piece has opened your eyes to how difficult it is to take a corner perfectly and how you may feel like you can’t go any faster (as you’re always on the limit), when with a slight change of technique, you can.

There will be more articles very soon exploring in-depth cornering techniques such as; the ideal line, reference points, braking and acceleration.

Let us know what you think...