Adapting to different cars
Jan 20, 2021
When jumping into a new car for the first time you’re able to have a learning experience! Figuring out the nuances of each car is exciting to me, like a new problem to solve. These show up in making small errors that you correct in some way to maximize the car.
My first time in a Super Trofeo, I was out at VIR working with a coaching client. I wasn’t entirely used to the brakes just yet and found myself missing the apex in Turn 4 twice.
For me, I found that I wasn’t using the full power of the brakes on the initial hit to the brake pedal. When jumping from gas to brake you want to have your “peak” pressure be early in the brake zone. With an early peak pressure you can manage the speed of the car more effectively by “trailing” the brake into the turn.
When the brake pressure is too high at turn in, the tire becomes overloaded which can cause the front of the car to understeer resulting in missing the apex.
With the Lamborghini I found it to have good braking force, however unlike the cup cars, it did not like as much brake pressure trailing into the apex.
