by Ross Bentley | Mar 9, 2020 | Ask Ross
Q: “A friend of mine and I have been discussing driving styles lately. We both work in motorsport as technicians/engineers and don’t mind cutting laps on a sim. He has been telling me to try using the brake as a turning tool; i.e., if I’m accelerating out of a corner and I was too greedy on the throttle and have introduced understeer, I should continue accelerating and tap the brakes to not upset the car’s balance too much. This got me thinking about different driving styles. In many racecraft books and tutorials we talk about the ideal line and standard techniques, but when do different driving styles develop in a professional driver and how do you adapt as an engineer when going over the data with the driver?”
by Ross Bentley | Dec 5, 2023 | Ask Ross, Driving Tips
Q: “When and in what type of car can you upshift in a corner? In certain slower corners I’m exiting with an RPM that is low in the torque curve, but a lower gear would be past the redline before I get the car straight. Any adjustments in the turn that would generate more exit speed? (Assuming a corner getting onto a straight, that the car is rotated on entry, a later apex and steady throttle input to use the track.)”
by Ross Bentley | Nov 29, 2022 | Ask Ross
Q: “I recently started racing my Cayman S at Watkins Glen and I’m hooked! I bought your Virtual Track Walk and my dad gave me your book. You talk about upshifting into turn two at Watkins as you enter the Esses and when I have entered, I’m in third. My thought is I want higher RPMs for the elevation change, usually shifting into fourth after turn 3. Is my thinking wrong here? Do I want to be in fourth through the Esses?”
by Ross Bentley | Jan 8, 2018 | Ask Ross
Q: “When I listen to your podcast, a question always pops up to my mind. I know an open mind is very important in all the learning process and I am always trying to keep my mind open. But sometimes other drivers will introduce their method to me, for example, a very different line and braking technique in a certain corner. I tried a few times however it didn’t work as good for me or I didn’t see much different. But I did see some other very reputable drivers also do that. So my question is that in these cases, should I keep trying until it works for me (open mind) or go back to my original driving (not so much open mind?)? Is there a boundary like open mind and too open mind? In this case I want to go back to my original driving, however I am afraid that I am just being closed minded. Thank you!”
by Ross Bentley | Oct 18, 2022 | Ask Ross
Q: When heel & toe downshifting, what’s the right timing for the blip of the throttle?
by Ross Bentley | Mar 21, 2023 | Ask Ross
Q: “When I’m told to look farther ahead, how far ahead, and specifically where do I look?”
