Finding the Right Line in Racing

In racing, this determines who is good and who is the best. When you ask the best about their racing line, they can often recount it as if it were happening that very moment. This is the level of mastery you can achieve. Let’s begin.

Preparation

Preparation is the number one skill a driver can have. Something as simple as knowing the layout of the circuit/track before arriving to it. If you can walk the track, or get a couple of laps in before your actual race; then you will be better off than other drivers who show up. Another key to preparation is what kind of vehicle you will be driving. The more you know about your vehicle the better. How does it drive, what kind of engine is it, etc.

Sighting

Sighting is a visual skill the driver uses to obtain the fastest lap. Being able to sight laps around a track takes time there is now way to shortcut this. If you don’t ever get out on track, you will find it nearly impossible to achieve a fast lap. The best way to become good and then great at this skill is to understand how to properly do it. When you are driving on the track, focus on two things, your braking point and the apex of the corner. One tip on good sighting is to never look at your braking point, always look past it to the apex.

Consistency

Consistency is a skill that can make the slowest qualifying drivers look fast. This has more to do with racing pace than actual speed on the track. If your lap times are closely together, then chances are someone who is a one-shot qualifier will lose to you in the race. Now don’t read that, and think if I am a tortoise, then I will win. The key is to be faster than the tortoise, yet slower than the hare. To be consistent, is to be balanced. When you are balanced, that is when you are fast.

Application

The final step to finding to right line in racing is application. To apply all of the knowledge and information you have acquired is the hardest and most crucial step. You have prepared by know the layout of the track, or by getting practice laps in. You have perfected your sighting skills by finding all of your braking points and mastering the throttle out of the apex’s. And finally you have learned to consistent with your lap times, not only in qualifying, but also in the race. Congrats, you are now ready to be the fastest driver in the world.

Article written by Michael Adeniken