General driving style guidelines.
Practice sessions.
The goal practice session is to run the car and learn the track, work on lines or adjust set-up. Practice is never a time to race. If I am following a car I generally avoid making a âracing passâ in practice. The reason is I have no idea what other guy is doing so I am not going to expect he is always aware of me and where I am. Doing so creates risk of contact and since we are not racing it is easier to back off to get space, run down pit lane for a gap or wait for a point or very safe pass. When I do pass I always leave room for mistake by the other driver.
As a lead car I always watch my mirrors. Significantly faster cars get point bys whenever possible and moderately faster cars get points when I can. If I car has been behind me for a lap or two (even in class) I will general let them by on a straight. The reason for this is two fold. Firstly it is possible I am holding them up and they have chosen not to force a pass. Better to let them by so they do their thing rather than get frustrated behind me. Plus I might learn something following them. The other reason is having some guy on my tail most of the time impedes or put s as risk what I am doing in practice. That could be working on finding speed in a corner or testing a set-up change. Driving in my mirrors is pointless as it will prevent me from focusing on the task at hand. Plus should I over do it in a corner following car can easy turn a âharmless spinâ in two wrecked cars. Most likely my âfaultâ since I spun. Not worth the risk.
Qualfying
This is much the same as practice, but with a realization that guys are looking to get 2-3 fast laps. I go out looking for clear track to get a fast lap. That can involve slowing down to create a gap or waving trailing cars through. When on I am on a flyer I hope for the courtesy of other drives to not get in the way, but I realize if they are on flyer too they have no responsibility to deviate from their line. If I not on a fast lap due traffic or a prior driving error I always work hard to allow car to pass. I try to say on line, but if there is any time I might not be 100% predictable I always provide a strong point by waving my arms with hope that the other can recognize that I am trying to let them by so they donât lose their momentum. If I am done I also pull off track ASAP as to prevent holding up the drivers still on track. Bottomline is that I respect every other drivers right to attempt a fast lap with minimal traffic.
Racing
Outclass vs faster cars
When racing with faster cars around I try to use point bys as well. It is an art to let fast cars by without losing you own momentum or position. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. I always try to make it clear I see the faster and give them space to get by. This can mean delaying turn in so they can turn and I can tuck in behind. My goal over the entire day to present to the faster guys as predictable car as possible. This makes it easier for me to get them to pass me where it minimizes my impact. When they donât know what to expect from me they can try to pass some palce that is less desireable. When faster cars have more confidence the I see them and wonât block them they are more forcefull in their passes which 90% of the time reduces my need to slow behind them.
Out of class similar speed
These are the biggest challenge in racing. They can hold you up and cause issues. Still they always have a right to be on track. You canât expect them to give way although you can hope they respect your class battle. The key is to really understand it your responsibility to get by cleanly. Sometimes you can benefit and other times you canât. If you get hosed... then so be it. That is racing in mixed classes.
IN classâ¦
Ok here is a lot of where issues are occurring now. The first thing to assume is that the other racer is an idiot. If you are following assume that the lead car will slam the door on you from time to time. Realize they you can be right, but still get in a wreck and the best call the IRB can make on who was at fault is determined by where the cars touch. Not what the position was when one car turned. So by being the following driver chances are high you will be on the hook. If you want to pass always try to leave a way out. This means have place to go if you get the door closed on you hard. If you put yourself in a spot where you have zero options the risk of contact has increased 100%. It is far better to wait a corner or two and at this level force the other driver into an error. His slamming the door on you can in fact cause him to lose momentum and then you can use that against him a turn later. So be smart rather than brave when it comes to making a pass
If you are in the lead car the first thing to do is to consider the other guy could be an idiot driving with the red mist. He may dive bomb you at any time and force you off line. You have the right to make on defensive move, but must always gauge if that is smart for the entire lap as well as race. There are times it is far better to concede a corner knowing full well that the passing car will lose all his momentum making that move allowing you comeback on turn later. The other thing is that if you happen to be racing car and lose sight of him before turn in he could very well be making a pass move. If you are not 100% sure the car behind is still behind donât slam the door. Leave that car some room to maneuver and either back out of trouble or come flying by in cloud tire smoke.
Turn 9 at PIR.
This corner is very inviting to pass in. Passes have been pulled off with great success here. Passes also have gone horribly wrong here too. A couple works of advice from having done it right and wrong in turn 9.
If you are the leading carâ¦
If car gets on your inside looking to pass. Donât assume he will make the turn. A good driver should, but it is very easy to get sucked in and hit the bumps and lock up. If the lead car assume the car behind will turn at the apex there probably will be contact. Fault will in fact be determine by where the contact occurred. The NASA CCR specify describe a case where the trailing car goes in too hot and shots though. Lead car turns expecting the trailing car to turn. When the lead car hits pass side of the overtaking car it becomes the LEAD CARâs fault. The reason they stay is you canât assume the driver behind will make the turn. However if the contact is on lead cars driving side fault will most often be assigned to the trailing driver. Still both cars are damaged and both drivers will probably get points. So at turn 9 be aware of guys dive bombing. We are in club racing and no turn is worth hours or $$$ in body work. The other thing to remember is that Turn 9 can be taken 2 wide with ease if both driver leave room for each other. It may or may not be the best thing to do for race strategy, but It can happen safely.
If you are the trailing carâ¦
You have the right to take look. However assume the lead drivers does not see you. If you make a move and the lead car does not see you prepare to either back out or drive away. If you assume he will give space and does not you are going to be at fault in most cases. You can go two wide if the lead driver allows it. However you are putting yourself at more risk. Resist the temptation to stuff it deep. It can work at times, but if you misjudge things (ie lock up or not being able turn in at the apex) chances are nearly 100% of either contact or if you are lucky the other guy being very upset on being ânearly taken outâ. Going in too deep always removes all of your options to avoid contact putting you are at the mercy of the other driver. Again you can pull off good passes there and can go two wide safely if both driver cooperate. Going three wide is asking for disaster despite there is room on the way in. The line gets too narrow given they way to you need to slice across the track to have 3 wide end in anything other than a wreck or one car needing to basically give up and stop or drive straight and never turn. 3 cars may go in, but at most 2 come out.
These are my guidlines and would very much welcome a disucss on these.
