80% of Drivers Make This Racing Technique Mistake - Steering Tip

Summary

In this video, racing coach Samea addresses a common issue in sim racing: a lack of confidence in steering, especially among beginners. He explains how understeering and being afraid to push the car can affect both steering precision and pedal control. Samea encourages drivers to overdrive the car by steering more, particularly mid-corner, to gain better car control. He emphasizes the importance of balancing the car using pedals, particularly in the middle phase of a corner. By mastering steering first, drivers can significantly improve their lap times, reduce crashes, and build more confidence on the track.

Takeaways

• 😀 Steer more to improve your racing technique. If you're not steering enough, it can cause problems with car control, especially when adjusting balance mid-corner.
• 😀 The steering itself is not the cause of crashes or spins. Your ability to control the car with the pedals (brakes and throttle) is just as important for stability.
• 😀 Many new sim racers are unaware that they're understeering. Overcoming the fear of steering too much will help you gain confidence and control over the car.
• 😀 When you're steering less than the car's limit, you lose precision with the pedals and can't manage the balance properly. Being on the limit of steering allows for better pedal control.
• 😀 The first step in overcoming steering hesitation is to steer more, even if it results in understeer or spin. This helps you learn the car's limits.
• 😀 Steering a lot, especially in mid-corner, helps you develop a better feel for the car's balance. If you understeer, you can adjust with pedal inputs to correct the car's behavior.
• 😀 Focus on steering mid-corner to feel the car's sensitivity to small pedal inputs. Small adjustments in throttle or braking can correct oversteer or understeer.
• 😀 If you're afraid of steering mid-corner, you're delaying the problem until later, resulting in a missed opportunity to control the car's rotation at lower speeds.
• 😀 The balance between the brakes and throttle is key. Your steering is the main tool for turning the car, while pedals adjust the car's balance during cornering.
• 😀 Overdriving the car with the steering helps you feel the car's limit first. Pedal adjustments should come after you've learned to steer properly in different situations.
• 😀 Avoid countersteering as a first response to oversteer. Use throttle or brake adjustments to manage balance instead, as countersteering often leads to lost time and a bad line.

Q & A

What is the main issue that the speaker has noticed in their students during coaching sessions?

The main issue noticed by the speaker is that many students are afraid of steering properly, especially mid-corner, which prevents them from effectively managing the balance of the car during racing.

How does the fear of steering impact a driver's performance?

Fear of steering leads to understeering, which results in a loss of precision and feel in the pedals. This makes it difficult for drivers to manage trail braking, mid-corner grip, and overall car control, especially when trying to push the car's limits.

Why does understeering occur when drivers are afraid of steering?

Understeering happens because drivers, when afraid of steering, limit the steering angle. This results in the car not responding properly to steering inputs, and the driver doesn't explore the car's full potential.

What is the recommended first step for drivers who are afraid of steering?

The recommended first step is to steer more, especially mid-corner. This helps drivers experience the car's limits and develop better control over steering inputs.

How does steering more during the middle of a corner help improve driving technique?

Steering more mid-corner makes the car more sensitive to small pedal inputs. This helps drivers better adjust their line by fine-tuning their throttle and brake inputs, allowing for greater control and precision.

What role do the pedals play when adjusting the steering of the car?

Pedals, especially the brakes and throttle, adjust the effectiveness of the steering. For example, using the throttle or brakes at the right time can balance the car's oversteer or understeer, helping to maintain stability during the cornering process.

Why is it important to reach the steering limit before focusing on advanced techniques like trail braking?

Reaching the steering limit is crucial because trail braking amplifies steering input. Without reaching the steering limit, trail braking has little effect, and drivers won't fully benefit from this technique.

What is the difference between overdriving the steering and overdriving the pedals?

Overdriving the steering means pushing the car's steering inputs to their limits, which allows for better car control and adjustment through pedal inputs. Overdriving the pedals without proper steering control can result in inconsistent car behavior and loss of control.

What does the speaker mean by 'the line of the car will always be a closing spiral'?

This means that as the car slows down in a corner, it will naturally rotate more and more. The driver can continue to add steering, but as the car gains speed out of the corner, less steering will be needed to maintain control and drive out of the turn smoothly.

How can a driver avoid spins or crashes when transitioning back onto the power during a corner?

To avoid spins or crashes on corner exits, drivers should ensure they are on the steering limit during the lower speeds of the corner and gradually ease off the steering as they apply more throttle. This helps avoid understeering or oversteering as the car picks up speed.