Mastering a new track

[Plex]

Seeing a track for the first time is always an exciting moment for a driver, including me. To be successful, you must evaluate a track according to its strengths, weaknesses and quirks. This month, I explain the key characteristics to look for in a track, and tell you which corners are important and which are not. We'll also talk about passing zones, how to find the best racing line, and how to stay one step ahead of changing track conditions.

Tackling Tricky Corners

When you first set eyes on a new track, look for the tricky corners; for example, look for boards that may snag your car, a fast entry going past a corner dot, off-camber turns, etc. A sweeper that enters or exits the straight with a sharp 90-degree corner can be disastrous if you turn too early. A set of lazy S's with corner dots or boards can also spell trouble. These types of corners are the ones that send you walking slowly back to the pits with wheels hanging on by a tie rod.

Know these corners and approach them with caution until you get them down. Finishing all your practice rounds is key to getting your car set up; don't cut your practice time short by breaking your car as you over-drive the turns. Once I've identified any tricky turns, I look for turns and sections that can make or break a lap.

Make-or-Break Turns

Identifying make-or-break turns is not always easy. For example, look at a turn that enters a straightaway. Common sense tells us that the easiest place to make up time is down the straight. To accomplish this, you must enter the straight faster than the next driver (more speed as you enter usually means more speed at the end).

A hairpin turn before the straight is not a make-or-break turn because it must be taken rather slowly. The same applies to a sweeper before a straight; most racers will be able to negotiate this corner easily.

A section that can make or break a lap is a set of S's that leads into a straightaway. Get them right, and your car will rocket onto the straight. Get them wrong, and you might as well enter the straight from a dead stop.

Coming off the straight, it is very common to see a big sweeper or another set of S's. Again, the sweeper isn't a big deal�but you can make up time in the S's.

Also look for the short straight that can be rounded off into a nice arc. Running the right way through this type of section can significantly lower lap times. The easiest way to negotiate such a turn is to straighten it out before you make the second turn. This usually makes the car look as though it's slowly doing a slight S-bend in the straight section. The fast way to do these types of turns is to turn the short straight into a nice radius. Think of it as a micro oval. Drift just far enough to the outside of the straight to give yourself a chance to make the second turn without straightening out the car. This creates the shortest distance between the two turns and allows you to carry the most speed into the next section.

Make-or-break sections tend to flow. This is why the good drivers can capitalize on these sections, and you will, too, with some practice. When you start to see the best lines on the track, you'll be able to better evaluate where to make passes.

Proper Passing

Putting together a clean pass is determined not only by how your car works, but also by the track's design. Typically, hairpin turns and S-sections in the track aren't good passing zones. Passing is as much about opportunity as it is about waiting for the right part of the track. Your passing zone is where you feel most confident on the track. I like to pass coming off a sweeper into the infield, as this allows me to set up and study the car in front of me during the entire straight and sweeper. Two key attributes to pull off a successful pass are patience and awareness�not speed and reflexes, as some might think. Ultimately, size up the car you want to pass, and be ready to move when you're comfortable and the opportunity presents itself. Avoid passing in hairpin turns and on the track's fast sections, and be sure that your pass doesn't put you on the wrong line for the next turn.

TAKE IT TO THE TRACK

The next time you race, check out the track before you practice. Watch the other drivers, find the �tricky� corners, identify the make-or-break sections, study other drivers' lines, look for places to pass and then head out to practice. You might discover that the area you thought would be trouble ends up being your favorite passing spot. The important part is to analyze everything: it's the first step to becoming a better driver. Worry about the �how,� and the �how fast� will take care of itself

Please click on link below to see diagrams

Source: http://www.rccaraction.com/online_ex/joelsB_track.asp