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11-25-2010, 08:34 AM
Michael,
Congrats on moving forward with your comfort level. A couple of observations:
Looking forward yes, but have a target that connects the car's intended direction. There are couple types of references that I find myself using when just lapping or qualifying for a race.
1. Have a definitive brake marker for decell on a long straight. It just does not change much even with perfect corner exit onto the straight. Summit would be the patch of pavement that protrudes on the left side of the track. That is absolutely the latest you want to brake it is down hill and you quickly run into bad grip. Now from there you can brake less or trail softer into the turn.
T4 has an orange dot on the left side of the track that works well for a soft early turn in with no brakes, but also consider looking into the corner for a line that starts opening to the inside of T5.
2. You can also brake down a corner into the two parts; entry to the apex and track out where the wheel begins to open. Tbolt has a couple such corners, T6, T7, and T9 have a specific transition where throttle cures car stability. Working on earlier WOT throttle in these corners makes a big difference in lap times.
3. The rest of a track such as Summit is entirely dependent on car balance vs track position. Eg T5,6,7,8,9 are all about car balance and when to apply throttle, lift, or LFB. Worry less about the apex and more about maintaining traction through transitions. I teach from T6 to T9 to initiate turning when the car goes neutral. Your track position is less critical, but turning while still loaded really upsets the car.
Congrats on moving forward with your comfort level. A couple of observations:
Looking forward yes, but have a target that connects the car's intended direction. There are couple types of references that I find myself using when just lapping or qualifying for a race.
1. Have a definitive brake marker for decell on a long straight. It just does not change much even with perfect corner exit onto the straight. Summit would be the patch of pavement that protrudes on the left side of the track. That is absolutely the latest you want to brake it is down hill and you quickly run into bad grip. Now from there you can brake less or trail softer into the turn.
T4 has an orange dot on the left side of the track that works well for a soft early turn in with no brakes, but also consider looking into the corner for a line that starts opening to the inside of T5.
2. You can also brake down a corner into the two parts; entry to the apex and track out where the wheel begins to open. Tbolt has a couple such corners, T6, T7, and T9 have a specific transition where throttle cures car stability. Working on earlier WOT throttle in these corners makes a big difference in lap times.
3. The rest of a track such as Summit is entirely dependent on car balance vs track position. Eg T5,6,7,8,9 are all about car balance and when to apply throttle, lift, or LFB. Worry less about the apex and more about maintaining traction through transitions. I teach from T6 to T9 to initiate turning when the car goes neutral. Your track position is less critical, but turning while still loaded really upsets the car.