We have some upcoming articles where a basic knowledge of how tires work will be needed so we've put together a brief overview. Tire science is incredibly complex, but there are certain aspects that can be quite important for a racing driver to understand. In this article, we will go over load sensitivity, slip angle and induced drag, as well as slip ratio.
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As a supplement to our Racecar Setup Guide, we've created a flowchart to give those newer to car setup a starting game plan to follow. This chart represents a good basic setup philosophy that covers the primary elements that affect vehicle handling and performance. It will give a driver something to build on and tailor to their own needs as their vehicle dynamics knowledge expands. This flowchart shows a balance-based approach where no advanced telemetry or tools will be needed. A driver will primarily use their ability to detect understeer and oversteer to work toward a good setup. This is an approach that will grow with driver skill and as you become more sensitive to car balance, you will be able to hone in on a better and better setup. We've put together a quick-reference infographic of the racing line covering the whole apex spectrum. From the lowest-acceleration early apex to the fastest late apex. Virtually every vehicle would ideally travel somewhere between these two lines. The graphic covers everything from turn-in points and apex angles to the appropriate steering, throttle, and braking needed along the continuum of apexes. You'll learn what kinds of corners and cars need earlier and later apexes as well as the key differences as your apex angle moves along the inside of the track. See how cars capable of high-acceleration in a corner need a later, slower turn-in and a slower, tighter radius to more effectively use their power during corner exit. We use the term Line Theory for the physics-based set of rules a driver can use to work toward an ideal line on a racetrack. This is great for those drivers who have hit their wall or at least have a few events under their belt and can get around a track somewhat competently. It allows a driver to slowly chip away at their mistakes as they reach ever closer toward their ultimate potential. This guide will give you a procedure to follow to start optimizing the setup on virtually any car. So as not to fill the guide with repeated information, it is assumed the reader has a basic knowledge of racing and setup terms. Readers may want to look through our Racing Terms Glossary first. This guide is primarily aimed at road course racing in cars, but will have some use for kart and oval racing as well. Also, understand that learning vehicle dynamics and setup can be a very complex subject. This guide is simply a jumping off point to hopefully get you in the proper mindset for learning about car setup and we are glazing over a lot of the background information needed to truly understand the "why.” |
Driving tips, setup tech, and other racing knowledge.
1. The Acceleration Point
2. The Ideal Apex 3. The Chicane 4. The Double Apex 5. The Straightaway 6. The 90-Degree Limit |