Mixed Condition Driving
Jan 25, 2021
Driving in mixed and wet conditions is one of the times in Motorsport when the driver has the most influence in the overall performance.
On a track that is drying, or getting damp it’s up to the person behind the wheel to make the assessment of grip level. In entering a turn all you have to assess how fast you can go is the visual coming up to the turn. You’ve got to decide whether the track can handle the speed you’re entering with based on a few tenths of a second glimpse of the dampness level of the pavement.
There’s a huge amount of information to process and make a decision, and get it right! Of course the tendency is to err on the side of caution, however when you’re pushing for a win or position this isn’t always possible.
The decision making process when you’re on the limit of grip, and sometimes having to recover when you’re over it is so fast it’s gotta be instinctual to truly get the max out of the track. This is why practicing and driving in wet conditions is so important and it’s valuable track time that is often times passed up on.
