There are many factors at play in car racing for victory: good tactics, a great dose of luck, and of course excellent car control. With regard to the latter, there are a lot of techniques that you can also use in everyday driving… without risking your driver’s license! In this article, we will share 6 of these racing techniques, so stay tuned!
The fundamental rule in any racing course: to look far enough ahead. It will not only make you drive more smoothly, it will also allow you to anticipate any obstacles on the road much better. If you just focus on the car in front, then you will only brake when it starts braking. However, if you look further ahead, you will already know that you have to brake when the car in front brakes.
Having the right seating position has two major benefits: providing maximum support, and maximizing feedback from the car through the seat. For that reasons, put your backrest as straight as possible, so the entire back makes contact with the seat. Similarly, it is best for your upper legs to touch the seat as much as possible. Stay tuned for more racing techniques which are useful in everyday driving!
This technique takes a little longer to master: when braking and decoupling to shift down a gear, you apply a little extra throttle at the same time. This is done either with the outside of your right foot or with your heel (which is why the technique is also called “tip toe”).
In racing, when each second matters, you therefore avoid the effect of the engine brake because of the difference in speed between the gears. In normal traffic, it is somewhat less stressful on your car’s driveline. Be aware that not all cars have the pedals in the right position for easy tip toeing, and it’s best to practice on private property until you can do it smoothly.
Unlike what you were taught at the driving school, “ten-to-two” is not the perfect position for your hands on the wheel. In fact, at “quarter-to-three,” your hands have a lot more reach and control over the wheel. Furthermore, in case your airbag ever deploys, the risk of injury to your arms is somewhat lower than with the driving school position. Stay tuned for more racing techniques which are useful in everyday driving!
This is something you may not be aware of: when you’re taking a turn, you are pulling on your steering wheel. But when, instead, you push with your other hand, you not only keep more control over the wheel. You also get a much better feel for what the car is doing, and you can steer more precisely. Thus, if you have a right turn, push the wheel with your left hand.
The first thing a racing instructor will probably tell you is to ease back on the gas while cornering. If you already have race experience, then you can play with that, but the fundamentals start with “pure” driving: either braking, or accelerating, or steering. Therefore, brake before the corner, and accelerate only when you are out of it. This is always useful when a corner is slippery and you can’t brake while turning…
What do you think about these racing techniques which are useful in everyday driving? Have you ever used any of them in your ordinary driving? If you know any other techniques than what we share in our article, let us know in the comments section below.
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