Mastering the Art of Cornering: Techniques and Tips for Safe yet Fast Turns

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to improve your driving skills. One area that often gets overlooked is cornering. It’s an essential part of driving, whether you’re navigating city streets or taking on the twisty turns of a mountain road.

Importance of Cornering

Mastering the art of cornering isn’t just beneficial, it’s crucial for all drivers. No matter if you’re navigating city streets or enjoying the winding mountain roads, proficiency in cornering can make a significant difference in your driving experience and safety. Let’s delve into why this skill is so essential.

Interestingly, accurate cornering can save fuel. By maintaining more consistent speed through a turn, I’m not excessively accelerating or braking which moderates my fuel consumption. This might not seem like a big deal, but it certainly adds up over the long haul improving both my pocket and also our environment.

And let’s not forget safety. Poor cornering might lead to dangerous situations. Whether it’s veering into the oncoming lane, hitting the curb or losing control of my vehicle, non-proficient cornering can be inherently risky. For defensive driving, I always ensure my cornering technique is on point to help avoid these potential hazards.

Proficient cornering also reduces wear and tear on my vehicle. When I take corners smoothly, I’m reducing strain on my suspension, brakes, tires and even the engine. Hence, I’m not just improving my immediate driving experience but also prolonging the lifespan of my car.

Finally, it’s all about comfort. Nobody wants to feel like they’re on a roller-coaster while riding in a car. Smooth cornering offers a more pleasant, comfortable journey for both me and my passengers. Nobody is jolted or tossed around when I navigate corners with ease and precision.

So there you have it. Improving your cornering technique isn’t just about looking good behind the wheel – it has real-world benefits impacting efficiency, safety, vehicle longevity and comfort.

Understanding the Dynamics

Before we dive into the strategies or techniques to improve cornering, it’s really important to first grasp the underlying dynamics. I’ll try to simplify this process as best as possible while avoiding too much technical jargon.

Taking a turn or cornering involves three main stages:

• Entering the turn (or the entry)
• Navigating through the turn (or the apex)
• Exiting the turn

During the entry, the objective is to set up your vehicle for navigating the turn efficiently. It’s crucial here to maintain a steady momentum and consistent speed as you approach the turn. One common mistake that many drivers make is braking too late or too abruptly, which can upset the car’s balance and diminish your ability to accurately navigate the turn.

Next, during the apex stage, you should aim to smoothly trace the inner part of the turn. Here’s where your steering inputs and throttle control greatly affect your car’s balance and the efficiency of the turn. Oversteer or understeer can occur if the inputs aren’t controlled or smooth, making the car unbalanced and the turn less efficient.

The final stage, the exit, is where you gradually accelerate out of the turn, ideally while straightening the steering wheel. It’s during this stage that you’ll experience the benefits of effective cornering, notably smoother rides and increased fuel efficiency. Be careful though, because an explosive acceleration can defeat the purpose of efficient cornering and potentially put you in danger.

When you know the basic stages, you may realize how each stage influences the next, and how altering your actions in one stage can have profound effects on your vehicle’s dynamics throughout the cornering process. In the next sections, we’ll be getting into the strategies and techniques to improve in each of these stages.

Techniques for Better Cornering

Now that we’ve covered the dynamic fundamentals of cornering, let’s dive into specific techniques you can adopt to make your cornering smoother and more efficient.

Trail braking is one technique worth mastering. It requires applying slight pressure on the brakes even when entering a corner, helping to keep the car’s weight distributed to the front wheels, thereby increasing grip and control. The key here is modulation; pressing too hard on the brakes will cause the car to understeer while easing off too quickly can lead to oversteer. Both scenarios can cause loss of vehicle control. It’s necessary to find just the right amount of pressure for control and stability.

Throttle steering is another essential skill. This technique involves using the throttle to help steer the car. When inside a corner, slight adjustments in throttle can shift the car’s weight from front to back or vice versa, subtly affecting the vehicle’s line through the corner. This can be especially useful in rear-wheel drive cars, where the rear wheels transmit power and thereby directly influence the vehicle’s movement.

Then there’s line technique. This entails selecting the best path through a corner to attain the greatest possible speed while maintaining control. For optimal cornering, the line taken should smoothly traverse from the outside to the inside and back to the outside of the road. A driver can gradually accelerate through the turn as long as the chosen track allows them to keep control and maintain good balance.

If you’d like to try heal-and-toe, it’s an advanced technique that involves using the brake and accelerator pedals concurrently with one foot. This technique keeps the engine revs high during downshifting, ensuring a smoother transition and prevents the wheels from locking up. But it’s not for the faint-hearted; it’s complex and challenging, particularly for beginners.

Mastering these techniques can significantly improve cornering skills. Always remember that practice and patience are crucial. And while we’re on the topic of refining cornering techniques, it’s essential to consider the role of tires in performance driving—something we’ll examine in depth in the next section of our article.

Practicing Safe Cornering

Mastering cornering techniques will surely refine your overall driving skills. However, it’s paramount that these techniques are used in a safe and controlled environment. Utilizing them irresponsibly on public roads can endanger not only you but other innocent road users as well.

Track days are the perfect playground for you to hone your cornering crafts. With adequate safety measures and professional supervision, you get to familiarize yourself with your car’s responses and limits.

Safety, above all else, must come first.

Experience, as we know, plays a crucial role in developing skills. There is substantial scope for improvement on track days, provided you are patient and eager to learn. Being experienced doesn’t mean the absence of mistakes, rather it’s the ability to acknowledge your errors and adapt.

One may think, “How do I quantify my improvements?”. Here’s a pro-tip. Consistency in lap times is one key indicator of your level up. If you notice some consistency in your lap times, it’s a sign you’re gaining finesse over your cornering skills.

Here’s some data for better insights.

Let’s talk about the types of tires. I’ll tell you this, your choice of tire makes a dramatic impact on your cornering abilities. But, that’s a topic for another time. For now, remember this – the right set of tires can enhance or inhibit your performance. So choose wisely, and prioritize safety.

Conclusion

I’ve seen firsthand how mastering cornering can elevate your driving skills. It’s all about practice, patience, and prioritizing safety. Track days offer the perfect controlled environment to hone your skills responsibly. Remember, consistency is key. If you’re clocking consistent lap times, you’re on the right track. Tire selection is another crucial aspect. The right tires can significantly enhance your cornering prowess and, more importantly, keep you safe. So, whether you’re a seasoned driver or a newbie, improving your cornering technique is a journey worth taking. It not only makes you a better driver but also adds an exciting new dimension to your driving experience. Let’s keep learning and improving, one corner at a time.