Race & Trackday Driving Techniques

A complete reference and learning tool for first time racing drivers or seasoned campaigners. Unlock the secrets of speed, from the basic principles through to advanced techniques and individual circuit tricks. Designed with learning in mind, this shows not only what to do to go faster, but also why these techniques work.

Dedication & Acknowledgements Foreword Introduction Circuit driving terminology
1. Your first time on track - the basics Venue The briefing Track car care Too fast, too soon The ten rules of circuit driving Rule
1: seating & hand positions Rule
2: vision Rule
3: line Rule
4: braking Rule
5: accelerating Rule
6: smoothness, weight distribution, & the 'scale of ten' Rule
7: down-shifting Rule
8: slow in = fast out Rule
9: spinning Rule
10: taking instruction
2. Developing your skills Brake assessment 'But you said never to do that!' Heel & toe Early on the throttle
3. The last few tenths Trail braking Druids hairpin, Brands Hatch Cadence braking Changing the balance of the car mid-bend Left-foot braking The wet The traction circle, & why we haven't discussed it
4. Vehicle types Front-wheel drive (FWD) Rear-wheel drive (RWD) Front-mounted rear-wheel drive (FR) Rear-mounted rear-wheel drive (RR) Mid-mounted rear-wheel drive (MR) Four-wheel drive (4WD)
5. Stability control systems: PSM, ESP, DSC & MSP Understeer under power Lift off oversteer Power oversteer in a rear-wheel drive car
6. Going racing Getting a licence ARDS-registered schools Ideal starting points Personal equipment
7. Race techniques Starts Standing starts Rolling starts Overtaking Improving Data logging Simulation
8. Career
9. Fitness Warm up Stamina Strength Suppleness Spirit Diet Hydration Nutrition
10. Track guides Brands Hatch Brands Hatch Indy circuit Brands Hatch GP loop The wet Overtaking Castle Combe Folly Avon rise/Quarry corner The Esses Old Paddock corner Tower Bobbies Camp The wet Overtaking Donington Park Donington Park National circuit Donington Park GP circuit The wet Overtaking Oulton Park Oulton Park Fosters circuit Oulton Park Island circuit Oulton Park GP circuit The wet Overtaking Silverstone Silverstone Bridge GP Silverstone Arena GP Silverstone National Wet weather - a tale of two tarmacs Overtaking Thruxton Allard Green The Complex 1 Noble Goodwood & Village Church Woodham Hill Club chicane The wet Overtaking Rockingham Turn one Deene hairpin Yentwood Chapman curve PifPaf Gracelands Tarzan Brook chicane The wet Overtaking Snetteron Riches corner Montreal Brundle-Nelson (Esses) Bombhole Coram Murrays The wet Overtaking Goodwood Start straight & Madgwick corner Fordwater St Marys Lavant Lavant straight Woodcote corner Chicane Overtaking
11. Further driving skills & techniques Doughnuts Handbrake turn J-Turn Drifting Steering technique Clutch kick E-drift/handbrake drift Kansei drift (lift-off oversteer) Shift lock drift Feint drift Disclaimer Index Notes