Why Being Fast Isn't Enough on the Track

The Premise

If you spend enough time at the track, at a certain level, everyone you encounter is going to be fast. It’s a topic those who pursue performance driving should take seriously. When being fast isn’t enough, these are the tips and tricks you need to know. This article is aimed at drivers who we assume are beyond the club level and have entered regional- or national-level competition.

Image: Corvette Forum / User: Shakedown065

Proper Equipment

When you have a group of 100 drivers who can all lap within one second of each other, it’s reasonable to say your driving probably isn’t going to be the winning advantage. In a spread this tight, even 3/10ths of a second can be the difference between placing in the top third or the middle of the pack, which makes equipment vital. And, of all the equipment on your track car, the ones that matter most are your tires. In many classes, this means knowing what tires to have as well as having the freshest rubber possible come race day. But that’s not all there is to it. One often overlooked fact is that all sets of tires are not made equal. Certain stock typically sits on the shelf longer, even if it comes from a reliable source. So, asking for a fresh set, even if everyone is on the same compound, can be the determining factor.

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Knowledge of Chassis Setup

When everyone has fresh rubber, the next question becomes: Who can set their equipment up correctly? Getting sway bars, shocks and springs dialed in, as well as choosing the right brake pads begin to play a major role. Even having the wrong tire pressure when your competition is this good can ruin your results. Testing becomes one of the most essential aspects in any level of competition because this is often where minor tweaks to cross weight or spring rates will reveal themselves to be advantageous, or detrimental to the stopwatch. Spending time in a spec class is great since it forces you to learn this side of the tuning equation.

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Pace Management

Even when everyone is driving to the absolute limit, there are still guys who can preserve the tires better than others. This is not to be confused with being fast. This is traction management. Among the highest abilities, you can obtain in sports car driving is the means to manage traction while on the limit without overheating the tires. Being able to judge how much speed is enough to keep up without sacrificing your own lap times takes years of experience behind the wheel. Often times in racing we see this plan executed in the form of one racer stalking the other until a crucial point in which he attacks with the hope that his competitor has no option but to yield. Once he is around this slower car, he can push and create a gap because he has managed the pace and saved his tires. This is where strategy comes in. 

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Race Strategy

The greatest drivers in the world have the presence of mind to think about what is happening with the race while they are pushing the car to its maximum. The strategy is one of the hardest things to master in a race because it changes in real time at every single moment with zero warning. Everything was looking good to pit on lap 25? Not anymore; the safety car just came out, and that changes fuel consumption, so now it’s time to scrap all the math you’ve just done and recalculate everything all over again. You can feel a part wearing down that might break, but you’re also three laps away from the finish line with a competitor that is gaining valuable time on you. Does it make more sense to let him pass and finish to get points or try to keep him behind you? Some drivers know the points standings while they are driving and can calculate all of this out—while they are out-braking someone. 

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High Level Race Craft

Passing on the limit is ludicrously difficult. At times, it will leave you wondering what on earth you can do to get around the car in front of you. Sometimes the speed advantage simply isn’t there. This is where high-level race craft comes in. Knowing, studying and practicing race craft is your secret weapon on the race track and a wild card that will have other guys scratching their heads. Using other cars and their physical position to your advantage is the only way to have real success on the track. Often times in a race, you can see who is comfortable in traffic and who struggles to use it in a way that benefits their result. It’s certainly not easy. 

Image courtesy of Jalopnik.com 

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Any Other Advice?

Remembering the points made in this article will help you in your next race or open-passing group. If you’re lucky enough to have a buddy who hits the track with you in his or her own car, talk to them about practicing some pick and rolls or trying different passing techniques on the limit in a corner where it’s safe to do so. You’ll learn a lot once you get consistent, make minor setup adjustments and hone your racecraft into a fine art. Master all the techniques here and you’ll have a serious advantage in any race car at any race track you chose to compete in. Practice hard and have fun. Driving is all about out-thinking the other guys.

Image courtesy of Jalopnik.com 

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